Economic development and environmental regulations were among the topics state and federal lawmakers talked about during Friday’s Legis-Gator luncheon, hosted by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said she supports expanding the state’s use of natural gas. As head of the Senate Energy Committee, she said she wants to “design an energy policy that brings strength and great jobs for everyone.”

The challenge, she said, is making sure there are enough skilled workers once area industries begin their expansion projects and providing adequate infrastructure to accommodate the growth.

“I think that together … working across racial lines, working across geographic lines, we can build and are building an extremely bright future for our state,” Landrieu said.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said three new rules that the Environmental Protection Agency are “marching forward” with could slow economic growth in the area. They include a new ozone standard; new greenhouse gas regulations for existing power sources; and a “dramatic expansion” of the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.

“It is very real and very serious,” he said.

Vitter, who has announced his intent to run for Louisiana governor, said Southwest Louisiana is “going to have to race just to keep up” with providing the infrastructure to handle the expected growth.

“We’re several decades behind having the world-class infrastructure we need,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, said federal lawmakers will work to protect the energy industry with tax reform, and that the House Ways and Means Committee has rewritten the entire tax code.

“I was successful in making sure that there were no punitive taxes added to oil and gas,” he said. “We have to do everything we can to make sure this engine for growth will continue and create good-paying jobs.”

Other issues

Landrieu said she is working to keep Fort Polk “functioning and growing.” The Army has proposed cutting the number of Fort Polk soldiers by 6,500.

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, spoke about a House-approved coastal restoration amendment that would increase the state’s share of royalties from the Outer Continental Shelf. Cassidy is a candidate for the Senate seat held by Landrieu.

With the RESTORE Act, she said, it is the first time in U.S. history that anywhere from $5 billion to $20 billion in Clean Water Act penalties will “go somewhere else other than the U.S. general fund.” The legislation was approved after the BP oil spill in 2010.

“It will come to the general fund in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida … so we can use that money to sustain our coast,” she said.

Boustany said the House Ways and Means Committee is working on trade agreements with Asia and Europe that could benefit Louisiana. He said the state has doubled its exports within four years and is “continuing to grow.”

Boustany also talked about working with Landrieu and Vitter on getting legislation approved to build Veterans Affairs clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette.

U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister, R-Swartz, criticized Gov. Bobby Jindal for recently switching his position from supporting Common Core standards several years ago, to opposing them. He said Common Core should not have been implemented without input from parents and teachers.

U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-Minden, McAllister and Cassidy criticized the Affordable Care Act. Fleming said he wants to replace the health care law with a plan that is “affordable and patient-centered.”

Louisiana House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, mentioned the state’s estimated $1.2 billion shortfall for next year’s budget, a constant during each legislative session he’s been involved with. He said it’s time to “break the cycle” of the state’s complicated tax structure and start talking about “sweeping, meaningful reforms.”

“We’ve implemented tax credits, exclusions, rebates, exemptions,” Kleckley said. “In doing so, we have placed an undeserved burden on things like higher education. What positive impact are we really having on business and industry in Louisiana if our education system cannot deliver the skilled workforce needed to propel Louisiana into the 21st century?”

Awards

Kleckley received the Legis-Gator of the Year award for pushing legislation during this year’s session that created the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy fund.

State Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, received the Government Affairs Award for having a voting record in line with what the alliance supported. Landrieu and Cassidy received the Chair’s Award for their work to approve legislation that repealed certain aspects of the Biggert-Waters Act.

The event was held at L’Auberge Casino Resort.(MGNonline)