“This is going to be a tough session to pass anything because the state faces another deficit of more than $1 billion,” said Sen. Alario. “But it seems to me that there is going to be an urgent need for the expansion of Delgado Community College on the West Bank as the recession continues and increasing numbers of students will be looking for educational facilities close to home that are geared to job preparation.” Sen. Alario, who is working closely with other West Bank legislative delegation members, including State Sen. David Heitmeier, R-Gretna; State Rep. Ricky Templet, R-Gretna, and State Rep. Robert Billiot, D-Westwego, says because of the state deficit, “our West Bank delegation may end up spending more time on defense, protecting what we already have from cuts. But, I think our political and civic leadership on the West Bank should be behind the expansion of our Delgado facilities. It does a great job and can be even better.”
Sen. Heitmeier says he feels that Louisiana companies aren’t getting a fair shake from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when it comes to allocating millions of dollars of sub-contracting work. “Somehow, all the work seems to go to out-of-state companies,” he says. Sen. Heitmeier has sponsored seminars with the Corps attended by more than 400 Louisiana companies looking for work. “The Corps is now aware of the desire of Louisiana companies to be included in their loop,” said the senator. “At this session, we are also planning to pass resolutions urging the Corps to include Louisiana companies when they put out bids. While resolutions don’t have the force of law, it will be one more wakeup call to the Corps that we hope they will take seriously.”
Sen. Heitmeier said he is also working closely with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La. to bring Corps officials around to the view that Louisiana companies are as well-qualified or more qualified than companies in other states. Rep. Templet said he is working to be sure that state funding continues for the West Bank multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force that has severely disrupted the illegal trafficking of drugs. The Task Force includes the Jefferson Parish Sheriff ’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Gretna Police Department, the Westwego Police Department and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff ’s Office.
“These law enforcement guys are doing a great job of busting drug dealers and cutting the lines of illegal drug trafficking,” said Rep. Templet. “We need to be able to assure them of a continuous source of funding so they can continue to do the work they’re doing so well. Gov. (Bobby) Jindal tells me he agrees with me, so hopefully we can get some help in Baton Rouge.” State Senator John Alario can be reached at alarioj@legis.state.la.us; Senator David Heitmeier can be reached at heitmeid@legis.state.la.us; State Rep. Ricky Templet can be reached at templetr@legis.state.la.us, and State Rep. Robert Billiot’s email address is billiotr@legis.state.la.us.
By: Allan Katz
March 2010
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