Political analysts say we can look forward to more of the same in Louisiana politics next year. Halen Doughty explains why 2017 is expected to be all about the budget
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Today in Washington D.C, John Kennedy will be sworn into the 115th Congress of the United States as Louisiana’s newest Senator. Michelle Southern reports…:
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The Smoking Cessation Trust has some tips for smokers to quit as their New Year’s resolution. Don Molino has more…
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2016 was certainly an unusual year for Louisiana politics, so what can we expect in 2017? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says next year will be all about the budget. He says we can look forward to another contentious battle over revenue versus spending. He says like last year, we are entering the New Year with a massive budget shortfall.
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Pinsonat says there’s still the possibility of yet another special session next year to address the looming $600 million deficit, which could increase after the Revenue Estimating Conference meets again later this month. He says how Governor John Bel Edwards addresses the budget problems will greatly affect his popularity. He says Edwards is entering the 2017 with a high favorability rating.
Cut 5 (10) “plummet again”
Pinsonat says we also have to elect a new state treasurer, and even that will be about the budget. He says Senator-elect John Kennedy became popular because of the budget crisis. He adds that one of the outgoing State Treasurer’s slogans during his campaign was that Louisiana has spending problem, not a revenue problem.
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Today in Washington D.C, John Kennedy will be sworn into the 115th Congress of the United States as Louisiana’s newest Senator. The former state treasurer says he intends to hit the ground running…:
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Kennedy says he doesn’t think the new Congress and the new president are going to spend a lot of time talking and studying, but that the bills will start moving. He says you can bet a major topic will be how to go about getting rid of Obamacare…:
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Kennedy says he feels the US Senate won’t let the current federal health care system lapse without having something new to take its place. He says one of the biggest things he’s going to try to do for Louisianians is get flood relief here quickly…:
Cut 9 (09) “still affordable”
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Southeastern Louisiana University is urging people to donate their Christmas trees to help save the state’s coast rather than throwing them in the trash. Rob Moreau, manager of SLU’s Turtle Cover Environmental Research Station, says when you put recycled trees into the marsh it can help the shoreline in many ways…
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For more drop off information, visit southeastern.edu/turtlecove. Moreau says they are collecting trees at several places around the Hammond area.
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Moreau says when the Christmas trees are placed along with shoreline, the trees help to trap the sediments. He says eventually, grass begins to grow inside of the tree.
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The Smoking Cessation Trust is offering tips to help smokers quit for the New Year. CEO Mike Rogers says this is a great resolution for people to push for. He says most people who try to quit cold turkey are unsuccessful but they have a great program to help…
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To qualify for the free program you must be a Louisiana resident who has been smoking before Sept. 1, 1988. Rogers says whether you qualify for the program or not, the first step to take when quitting is to set a date to stop smoking and be optimistic.
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Visit smokefreela.org for more info on the program. Rogers says removing cigarettes and tobacco from your home and car will help you not be tempted to smoke. He also suggests getting your teeth cleaned to get rid of smoking stains and improve your outlook.
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Saints Coach Sean Payton refused to address rumors on Monday that he could be coaching elsewhere in 2017. He said it would be silly to add fuel to those reports. Quarterback Drew Brees has said that reports of Payton leaving have been completely made up and said it comes with the territory when you don’t make the playoffs…
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Brees is coming off another great season. He threw for over 5,000 yards for a 5th time. He also tossed 37 touchdown passes and completed 70% of his passes. The 37-year-old signed a one-year contract extension prior to the start of 2016 season…
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This is the third consecutive year the Saints have not made it to the playoffs. But Brees believes the right guys are in the locker room to make New Orleans a Super Bowl contender again…
Cut 18 (20) “very near future”