The Evangeline Chamber of Commerce, on Wednesday, hosted a legislative recap event with State Representative Bernard LeBas (D-Ville Platte).
The majority of LeBas’ remarks dealt with the state’s budget which was passed during the regular session of the legislature earlier this year.
“We have a balanced budget,” LeBas remarked. “By law, we have to have a balanced budget, and it was a struggle to get there. We had a $2 billion deficit that we had to deal with, and we ended up with about a $308 million surplus. We try to spend our money as wisely as we can and stay within the budget instead of not wasting it.”
In the budget, according to LeBas, is money for roads. “We did get some approval to get some work done from the parish line on Hwy. 167 forward to at least get shoulders on it and also to improve that Belaire Cove-Grand Prairie curve where it’s offset and where a lot of deaths and accidents happen,” he said.
LeBas continued, “I still have not given up to get some 4-lanes into the parish. We need some 4-lanes to be able to travel out and for people to travel in. If we’re going to grow, we need to be able to have the infrastructure to handle it.”
The state’s roadways and other infrastructure projects will benefit through what LeBas called “stable streams of income” which were set up this past session.
The first stream is from the purchase of federal Garby money in the amount of over $600 million “to start doing road and flood work.”
Another stream will help in refunding the Louisiana Government Assistance Program (LGAP) and Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF).
LeBas explained both were depleted under the previous administration. He further explained both programs are “used throughout the state, and each parish gets the same amount.”
The state legislature voted to fund both programs by extending its contract with Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans. LeBas stated, “Harrah’s promised to build a new hotel and to refurbish what they already have which will generate more tax dollars.”
In addition, the new contract calls for Harrah’s giving $65 million over a three year period. “The majority will go to New Orleans, but some will be added to LGAP and CWEF, which will be a steady stream of money to go into there so we wouldn’t have to just rely on the budget.”
The budget also includes measures to fully fund TOPS, $2.8 billion in higher education, teacher and school worker raises, and $5.6 billion in Pre-K - 12 and special education.
As for Evangeline Parish, the budget included half a million dollars for the recreation district in Ville Platte and work at Chicot Park.
“They’re going to do upgrades and repair the old Governor’s Lodge,” LeBas said. “I’m after them to put in motor home spaces for the big motor homes. These people are wealthy and usually travel in groups.”
He continued, “If you can get 10 to 20 places and 10 to 20 motor homes to come in, that will help the economy and generate money for the park to maintain itself.”
LeBas sits on the agriculture committee and discussed different pieces of legislation which made their way out that committee and won final approval, such as the Truth in Labeling bill.
“The farmers, which are our backbone over here, didn’t like people using cauliflower rice or almond milk,” LeBas said. “During the committee hearing, I said ‘how do you milk an almond.’”
“The farmers thought people were infringing on the name that the agriculture built up,” he continued, “so, the legislature banned people from calling it cauliflower rice. They can call it chopped up cauliflower.”
Another piece of legislation coming out of the agriculture committee deals with marijuana.
“We’re still fighting with marijuana,” LeBas stated. “We did pass some bills to legalize it, but they’re fighting to see who will be in charge of distribution and overseeing it.”
He continued, “We also passed a law to legalize hemp. It’s a very good cash crop and gives a second crop for our farmers, and you don’t have to plant hundreds of acres of it.”
Image
Tony Marks
Editor