Jay Dardenne in 2015 LA Governor's race
On Abortion:
Sweeping ban on human cloning would harm medical research
All four major contenders in the Louisiana governor's race oppose abortion, a popular stance in a state considered one of the most anti-abortion in the nation.The three major Republican candidates--Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Lt. Gov.
Jay Dardenne and US Sen. David Vitter--describe their opposition to abortion as they campaign. Vitter criticized Dardenne in a recent debate, saying Dardenne has voted `six times for abortion and against life.` Vitter's campaign has hit Dardenne on the
subject several times.
In response, Dardenne said he didn't vote to support abortion rights, but was scored poorly by Louisiana Right to Life because of votes as a state senator on several bills involving cloning & stem cell research. He said concerns
were raised that the bills, which sought to ban human cloning, were too sweeping and could harm medical research. `I think it's a little misleading, not on the part of the scorers, but on Vitter's part, to not characterize me as pro-life,` Dardenne said.
Source: Okla. News on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
Oct 8, 2015
On Abortion:
Exceptions for rape & incest victims are ok
The four major candidates differ on the exceptions they're willing to consider in their opposition to the abortion procedure. All four men say they don't object to an abortion when a mother's life is in jeopardy.
Angelle and Vitter don't support exceptions for rape or incest victims; Dardenne does. Edwards said he'd consider such exceptions if they were the `legislative will.`Another difference of opinion involves term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to
block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, which doesn't provide abortions in Louisiana. All three Republicans say they support Jindal's decision. Edwards said there should be more investigation of claims that the organization was illegally profiting
from fetal tissue sales, which Planned Parenthood denies. He also said Louisiana must make sure other health care locations are available to provide services before blocking Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.
Source: Okla. News on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
Oct 8, 2015
On Drugs:
Opposes legalizing marijuana
Asked two questions about marijuana, none of the major candidates said he had ever smoked marijuana,
and all four opposed legalizing the drug, as other states have done.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
Oct 1, 2015
On Education:
Common Core's high standards move LA in the right direction
We need to build on the compromise reached by the Legislature this session to keep the current Common Core standards in place while the BESE works with parents, teachers, and administrators to develop even stronger Louisiana-based standards.
The current high standards have started to move Louisiana schools in the right direction, and it is important that we keep that momentum going.Implementing higher standards won't change our schools overnight.
We need to give teachers and administrators the necessary time to implement these standards.
In the long-term, our education system will dictate the strength of our economy. High standards that allow our children to compete with students
across the country and the world will ensure we have the competitive workforce necessary for continuing to grow our economy. It also ensures that our kids are prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor's campaign website JayDardenne.com
Sep 9, 2015
On Government Reform:
Tighten disclosure rules for lobbyists, to limit influence
There is simply too much money being spent to influence lawmakers. Since 2009, lobbyists have spent more than $3 million entertaining legislators and executive branch employees. However, only 21% of the lobbyist filings name the individual on whom the
money was spent. There will always be money in politics--it is a fact of life. But we should do more to ensure that money doesn't have a corrupting influence. As Governor, I will:- Force lobbyists to identify individual lawmakers or government
employees who they spend money entertaining.
- End the practice of candidates and officeholders using campaign contributions for personal perks.
- Tighten the rules allowing communication and coordination between candidates, their campaigns, and Super
PACs that support them.
- Stop the revolving door between government and lobbyists by expanding lobbying prohibitions.
- Ban state employees from immediately going to work for companies that receive state contracts.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor's campaign website JayDardenne.com
Sep 9, 2015
On Education:
TOPS cannot be sustained without capping costs
Education will be my first priority, meaning I'll fund it first. I'm a huge supporter of TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) and think it is the most popular thing that the Legislature of Louisiana has ever done.
However, it cannot be sustained under its current cost, as it was underfunded by $19-million this fiscal year. I would have signed the bill to cap TOPS, a measure that Governor Jindal vetoed.
Source: WRKF 89.3-FM on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2015
On Health Care:
I would accept Medicaid expansion, under certain conditions
I wouldn't accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, at least not right out of the gate. But one of the first things I would do is establish a task force, and give them a time limit. And say you're going to have 30 or 45 days,
Mr. Task Force, to bring me a waiver proposal that we can submit to CMS in Washington that will justify us taking the Medicaid money. I am especially more open to this since our state has cancelled the Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood.
Source: WRKF 89.3-FM on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2015
On Environment:
Coastal restoration with federal funding
The four candidates for governor each said fixing Louisiana's dire coastal land loss will require moving ahead with plans to divert Mississippi River water into disappearing estuaries. The candidates discussed what they would do as governor to repair
Louisiana's eroding coast. Each one backed a $50 billion, 50-year master plan devised by Gov. Jindal's administration to slow land loss by diverting the Mississippi River's mud and water into injured estuaries. Fishermen oppose river diversions because
they would alter water conditions and likely make it difficult, and perhaps impossible, to harvest shellfish where fresh water is flushed into estuaries.Dardenne said he would campaign for more federal funding. "We need the assistance of America to
make sure this program works," he said. "Everybody needs to know this is America's wetlands." Vitter said he would seek to engage private companies, such as oil and gas companies, in spending more on the coast. Edwards and Dardenne offered similar ideas.
Source: Associated Press on 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate
Aug 19, 2015
On Crime:
Let New Orleans police itself; remove state police sometime
Three of the four Louisiana gubernatorial candidates said the extra Louisiana State Police presence in the French Quarter should probably not remain in New Orleans "indefinitely"--and will eventually have to be withdrawn.Edwards was the most emphatic
about establishing a timeline for state police withdrawal. Dardenne and Angelle were a bit more speculative about when the troopers should be pulled out of New Orleans.
"I am convinced that this is the appropriate solution for now," said
Dardenne. "I don't know that it is going to go on indefinitely
Still, U.S. Sen David Vitter broke with the rest of the pack, saying the Louisiana State Police should have a permanent detail in the French Quarter.
He doesn't have confidence that Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the New Orleans Police Department would be able keep a lid on crime without the extra help.
Source: Times-Picayune on 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate
Aug 8, 2015
On Health Care:
Don't leave LA at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats
Dardenne is in favor of administering ObamaCare in a responsible way that benefits everyone. He believes we should not be held hostage to federal rules. What Edwards is proposing is irresponsible and would leave us at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats
to dictate policy here in Louisiana. Shortly after the AARP forum, the two candidates continued the lively debate on Twitter. Edwards overlooked all the negative impacts that come along with the federal mandates as they're currently written:EDWARDS: q
@JayDardenne says he would delay Medicaid expansion and receipt of $16B of our tax dollars to submit waiver, delaying care.
DARDENNE: @JohnBelforLA has a ton of promises, but not the experience nor the votes to get any of his proposals through.
I can get it done.
EDWARDS: Thanks for pointing out that expanding Medicaid requires no vote. So no reason to stall, hurt citizens and waste tax dollars.
DARDENNE: Placing Louisiana on the hook, under the current ACA rules, is foolish and insolvent.
Source: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate on Twitter.com
Aug 8, 2015
On Health Care:
Don't accept Medicaid expansion as-is; get LA waiver
The candidates debated on Twitter about Medicaid expansion and an ObamaCare waiver for Louisiana:EDWARDS: Waiver removes flexibility in how to spend the tax $ we won't get for the 18 months you delay.
DARDENNE: Untrue.
Waiver that #PutLouisianaFirst gives us a chance to address the issue w/o breaking the backs of the taxpayers.
EDWARDS: Continuing to send our federal taxes to other states while we wait for waiver hurts taxpayers. Not the other way around.
DARDENNE: You're writing a check Louisiana just can't cash in the long run. Those are empty promises, friend.
EDWARDS: End the deception. We are paying the taxes already and refusing the care. That is the real story.
DARDENNE: Edwards wants to accept
Medicaid expansion "as-is" coming from DC. I don't. I want to "Put Louisiana First" with a flexible waiver.
EDWARDS: We pay the taxes, and currently refuse to accept them back. Dollars comes from Louisiana taxpayers, not DC.
Source: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate on Twitter.com
Aug 8, 2015
On Social Security:
Merge Elderly Affairs & Veterans Affairs into one department
Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne intends to elevate the Office of Elderly Affairs to a cabinet level position by merging it with the Department of Veterans Affairs. "This is not an expansion of government; it's another example of how we can do more with
less and put a renewed emphasis on the needs of our aging population," Dardenne said, and added that more than 50% of our veterans are over the age of 60.Currently, the Office of Elderly Affairs is part of the Office of the Governor.
It was created in 1956 by the Legislature as the Commission on Aging. The office serves 800,852 Louisiana residents aged 60 and older, or roughly 18% of Louisiana's population.
The Department of Veterans Affairs was created in 2003 to provide health
care, education, disability benefits, long care, and burial honors services to Louisiana's 330,000 veterans. "Obviously, not every veteran is elderly, but there are similarities in service needs and health concern shared by both groups," Dardenne said.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor's campaign website JayDardenne.com
Aug 5, 2015
On Government Reform:
Don't bring dysfunctional Washington politics to Louisiana
Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne is making an issue of Sen. David Vitter's "ineffective" congressional record. Dardenne insists that Louisiana voters don't like the "dysfunction," in Washington and that Vitter has been a major contributor to the partisan
divisions that often paralyze Congress: "You have to wonder how effective he is going to be as governor when he couldn't get much done when he served in the State Legislature, in the House of Representatives and in the United States Senate,"
Dardenne said. "We don't want to bring Washington politics to Louisiana."Vitter's spokesman said his boss is anything but ineffective, working with Democrats & fellow Republicans to move legislation important to the nation and the state of Louisiana.
He points to the Water Resources and Development Act, with key hurricane protection; the chemical safety bill; a long-term highway funding bill; and a bill barring the federal government from coercing or incentivizing states to adopt Common Core.
Source: Times-Picayune coverage of 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
May 29, 2015
On Immigration:
Don't increase enforcement against employers of illegals
Dardenne voted Nay on SB 753, the "Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill". The bill passed the Senate 26 - 9. 2006 SENATE BILL NO. 753 (Substitute of Senate Bill No. 650 by Senator Cravins):
AN ACT relative to employment of certain aliens; to prohibit the hiring of an alien who is not entitled to lawfully reside or work in the United States; to require the filing of an affidavit with a licensing agency ;
to notify the attorney general or local district attorney when an employer who operates a business in the state knowingly employ s an alien who is not
lawfully entitled to reside or work in the United States; to provide for issuing a cease and desist order; and to provide for penalties.
Source: VoteSmart voting records: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial race
Nov 1, 2006
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018