Candidates face off at NSU

Though many of the congressional candidates running in this year’s election have opposing agendas, one item of business remains constant – holding no regard to political affiliation.

Coastal restoration is more than just a concern; it’s top priority on the agendas for all of this year’s Third District Congressional hopefuls.

During last night’s panel discussion held at Nicholls State University, Democrats Orlangee Breech and State Sen. Craig Romero, along with Libertarian James Lee Blake answered questions about the issues plaguing the region, state and nation. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon was invited but did not attend the forum.

Eric Paulsen, news anchor for WWL-TV Channel 4, moderated the event. HTV’s Renee Taylor and the Rajun Cajun’s Kirk Cheramie were the forum panelists asking the candidates prepared questions.

Many of this year’s congressional candidates share similar plans of attack when it comes to funding for costal restoration. A larger share of the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf revenue seems to be the only sure-fire way of ensuring Louisiana’s future and protection, according to discussion at last night’s forum.

“We need federal assistance. We cannot do this on our own.” Romero said. “Congressman Bobby Jindal’s OCS revenue bill is the most important measure affecting you and me.” The State Senator said he would immediately join the team and become part of the delegation that would ensure this funding.

Blake proposed similar tactics. “We need to propose teamwork instead of gridlock, to solve this problem,” he said. Representation from a third party may stop the bottlenecking often seen in Congress, he explained.

According to Breech, Louisiana could rebuild their entire levee system if it could get the oil and gas revenues that are rightfully due to the state.

“If we could get this revenue we wouldn’t be dependant upon the federal government,” Breech said. “We would not have to wait another 15 months for the government to do something to about what’s going on in our area.”

Breech also said she would make sure all of the nation’s congressional leaders understood how vital Louisiana’s coast is in regards to America’s economy.

Romero followed up by saying that the Third District’s congressman should be the “poster child” for coastal restoration. “Every time a congressman from another state sees the District Three representative walk into a room they should say, ‘There’s Mr. or Mrs. coastal restoration’,” he said.

Blake suggested instead of giving trillions of dollars away in foreign aid, the government should keep those funds and allocate them to those suffering in the hurricane-affected region.

“Charity begins at home, right,” he said.

Another heavily talked about issue was the recent homeowner’s insurance spike in Louisiana. Breech said, “I think there has to be some sort of policy set in place on a national level that would prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of homeowners – especially in their time of need.”

Romero drew inspiration for his plan from the state of Florida. He said a catastrophic fund should be instituted at a national level that would relieve insurance companies trepidations when it comes to insuring homes in regions prone to disasters.

“The federal government has to establish a fund nationwide that will help keep the premiums down,” he said.

At the national level, candidates discussed their opinions on universal healthcare coverage.

“Our healthcare costs have gone through the roof,” Romero said. He attributes the high costs to several different factors, one being the influx of illegal immigrants. “We can’t refuse people at a hospital when they come in for emergency care,” he said.

That uncompensated treatment raises healthcare costs for all Americans according to the state senator, and universal healthcare coverage is not the answer. Stopping illegal immigration would lower healthcare costs nationally, Romero explained.

Breech said she is in full support of universal healthcare coverage. “We wouldn’t have to increase taxes to do this,” she said. “We would have to rearrange them.”

Each candidate expressed the importance of voting this Election Day. All three agreed that this election will determine the pace of Louisiana’s progress.

Breech reminded the audience in her closing statements to pay close attention to each of the candidate’s agendas and to vote wisely. She said, “What you’re voting for on Nov. 7 is life or death. If we don’t get levee protection and restore our coast, people will die when the next hurricane comes.”