A town hall meeting was hosted on Wednesday in Turkey Creek for United States Congressman Mike Johnson to hear the concerns of the people in the southern portion of District 4.
Discussed during the freshman congressman’s visit was infrastructure, tax cuts, and the current financial status of Louisiana.
Introducing Johnson to those in attendance at the gathering was Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud, who provided breakfast and her village’s community center for the event.
When Johnson addressed the crowd of local officials and parish residents, he stated, “Components of the Trump agenda are good for the country.”
Johnson based this off of the major tax reform at the federal level, which the congressman said would allow the average family of four to bring in an “extra $2,074 a year.” Johnson also said that under President Donald Trump, the businesses are experiencing the “largest corporate tax cut in history,” which have allowed “small business tax rates to be cut.”
In terms of infrastructure, Johnson immediately addressed the portion of U.S. Hwy. 167 from Turkey Creek to I49.
“We have to get this road (Hwy. 167) out here fixed,” said Johnson. “When we were traveling in on Hwy. 167, my son Will goes, ‘This road is terrible,’ and it is.”
The portion of Hwy. 167 being discussed, Johnson clarified, is a hurricane evacuation route. This, the congressman said, “gives it a link to some federal funds.”
The problem, however Johnson stated, is that there are “some federal funds that were for this, but those funds were diverted and did not go toward their intended purpose.”
The congressman then pledged to “bird dog” any other situations like that and “do what we can do on the federal level to get this road fixed.”
Johnson went on to discuss the current financial state of Louisiana.
The congressman’s suggestion to fix the problem involves moving away from a centralized government.
Johnson explained, “In Texas, they give power to the local government. The tax dollars stay local that way, which allows the voters to make sure their tax dollars are being spent the way they are intended to be spent.”
The congressman then further explained that in Louisiana “we send all of our money to Baton Rouge, which makes our governor the most powerful in the country. We still have a Huey Long era centralized government, and it hasn’t worked.”
Johnson also touched on a hot topic statewide, which has consisted of a threat that nursing home residents may be evicted if the La. Legislator doesn’t approve more taxes.
According to Johnson, this threat is merely a “scare tactic.”
“No one is getting kicked out of nursing homes,” said Johnson. “Governor Edwards believes government is the solution to every problem and that’s why they want to increase the amount of taxes you send to Baton Rouge. However, I believe that government is the problem, and we need to reduce the size and scope of government to fix the problem.”
In regard to the threat of nursing home residents being evicted, Johnson stated, “The state can’t do it. And, it’s shameful to use people like that for a political play.”
Johnson, whose district stretches from north Louisiana to St. Landry Parish, will be seeking reelection to his current seat in congress this fall.
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ELIZABETH WEST