State of Louisiana Archives: on Environment
Adrian Perkins:
Renegotiate EPA consent decree that nearly tripled in cost
Perkins wants to renegotiate the terms of the original consent decree to upgrade the city's sewage and drainage infrastructure. "We want to try to mitigate any type of financial pressure on the citizens of Shreveport," Perkins said. Burns McDonnell, the
contracting firm, said that the projected amount of $350 million is closer to $1 billion. If the city is not showing adequate progress, it could potentially be fined by the EPA and Department of Justice for failure to meet completion deadlines.
Source: KTBS-TV ABC-3 on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Dec 20, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Supports Coastal Master Plan as essential
We must continue to support the Coastal Master Plan to restore, build and maintain coastal wetlands. It is the responsibility of the state and CPRA to monitor and adapt to the changes to the ever-evolving coast and address as necessary.
The restoration projects create buffers that are essential for storm defense to protect human life and build habitats for wildlife that are vital to our economy, recreation and livelihood.
Source: 225 Magazine on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Sep 30, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Environmental lawsuit abuse is killing thousands of jobs
Environment: Force oil companies to pay for restoration of damaged coastal wetlands?Abraham: No. Says Edwards is waging "war on our oil and gas industry."
Bel Edwards: Yes. Supported parishes suing for paying for restoration costs of Coastal Master Plan.
Eddie Rispone: No. "Lawsuit abuse is killing thousands of jobs."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Clay Higgins:
Pipe system to replenish river silt & fight coastal erosion
Louisiana's coast is eroding... but not because of oil companies. Throughout history, the Louisiana marshland was replenished by river sediments--land-building deposits derived from the Mississippi River overflowing its banks. But in the early 1900s, a
decision was made to levee the river as we know it today. So for the last 80 or 90 years, south Louisiana has been lacking that natural re-building process. Couple that with the land building sediments that are trapped behind locks and dams in other
states, and you have the results we see today. Since 1850 the amount of sediment in the lower Mississippi River has decreased by more than 70 percent. This is a huge problem. And we need to find a proactive solution to fix it. Seems to me like we
could create a sophisticated pipe system that carried river silt and sludge from the northern parts of the river to the Louisiana coast, mimicking the natural replenishing process. In Congress, I will advocate for such a solution.
Source: 2016 Louisiana House campaign website CaptainHiggins.com
Dec 10, 2016
Mike Johnson:
National Environmental Policy is needless red tape
As your Congressman, I will reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a typical example of needless bureaucratic
red tape that hinders real growth, especially as it pertains to our nation's infrastructure improvements. We must reform this costly program and make sure it works to protect our environment without delaying progress.
Source: 2016 House campaign website MikeJohnsonForLouisiana.com
Dec 10, 2016
Thomas Clements:
States should deal with water quality not federal EPA
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "EPA regulations are too restrictive"?
A: States priority over water quality and quantity issues.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Louisiana Senate race by OnTheIssues
Jul 31, 2016
David Vitter:
Coastal restoration with private funding
The four candidates discussed what they would do as governor to repair Louisiana's eroding coast. About 1,900 square miles of coast have eroded into the Gulf of Mexico since the 1930s. Each one backed a $50 billion, 50-year master plan--opposed by many
fishermen--devised by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to slow land loss by diverting the Mississippi River's mud and water into injured estuaries.Vitter said diversions are "going to be the most difficult, the most controversial" aspects of the
restoration plan. He added: "The possible negative impacts are very real." He added that "you have to measure and tweak projects as you go along."
The candidates predicted the eventual cost of coastal restoration would reach $100 billion. 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. Vitter also said he would work with other Gulf states to expand offshore drilling to bring in more funds.
Source: Associated Press on 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate
Aug 19, 2015
Jay Dardenne:
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
John Bel Edwards:
Mississippi River diversion: backbone to coastal restoration
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. The idea is to restore the river's delta-building capacity.Fishermen oppose river diversions because they would alter water conditions and likely make it difficult to harvest shrimp, crabs and oysters where fresh water is
flushed into estuaries.
"Simply put, diversions are the backbone" to coastal restoration, Edwards said. But he said projects need to be weighed against socio-economic factors.
The four candidates did not propose large-scale new mechanisms for
funding the enterprise, even as candidates predicted the cost of coastal restoration would reach $100 billion. Edwards said he would seek to get the federal government to do more to fix Louisiana's problems. "This is a national priority," he said.
Source: Associated Press on 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate
Aug 19, 2015
David Vitter:
Drafted hurricane protection & flood control bill
Vitter's spokesman points to Vitter's work 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 (WRRDA) that he and liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA) drafted and passed with key hurricane protection, flood control and navigation provisions for Louisiana. Another example, he said, is the chemical safety bill he drafted with Democratic Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, which recently cleared the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He also helped draft and win Senate passage, again with Boxer, of a long-term highway funding bill."David Vitter has always fought for Louisiana values and gotten things done," his spokesman
said. "Passing major bipartisan bills like WRRDA, the flood insurance fix, and the Steve Gleason Act; holding agencies like the Corps and FEMA accountable--that's the Vitter record, and nobody can match it."
Source: Times-Picayune coverage of 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
May 29, 2015
Bill Cassidy:
Top priority is coastal restoration
As Louisiana and the United State's economy is dependent on the health of our coast: coastal restoration is one of Bill's top priorities.
He's also been a leader in reforming the national flood insurance program to ensure that flood insurance rates are priced fairly.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Oct 22, 2014
Rob Maness:
Reject Katrina aid bill if pork-laden with other projects
Rob Maness is clarifying an interview he gave to The Hill newspaper in which he said he would have voted against $60-billion aid package for Hurricane Katrina had he been in the Senate in 2005. Maness said he was asked about a Super Storm Sandy relief
bill, he considered "pork-laden," and "a question was tagged on at the end about Hurricane Katrina relief.""If I had been in Congress, I would have been as strong as any advocate for aid for the people of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina." Maness wrote in an email. But he said he still would have voted no because unrelated expenditures were added to the 2005 disaster legislation. "I would have voted no on the pork-laden bill that included $50 million for an indoor rainforest in
Iowa and other spending, and other pet projects," Maness said. "I would have been bold in press conferences denouncing anyone who opposed a clean bill to help the people of Louisiana instead of holding them hostage like the political class did.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune on 2014 Louisiana Senate race
Mar 10, 2014
David Vitter:
Introduced bill to extend National Flood Insurance Program
Vitter introduced a bill that extends by a year the National Flood Insurance Program, which affects 500,000 home and business owners in Louisiana. The bill passed.Vitter prides himself on pressuring federal agencies, such as the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to move on flood-prevention projects.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
John Neely Kennedy:
Wetlands will wash away before 2017 coastal protection
The candidates both supported increased domestic oil drilling and expansion of alternative sources of energy.Landrieu said she was proud of expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, with a large portion of the royalties going to help coastal
protection efforts.
Kennedy responded by saying the state’s entire congressional delegation worked to pass the bill & much of the billions of dollars in royalties wouldn’t start flowing until 2017, after thousands more acres of wetlands had washed away
Source: Associated Press on NOLA.com on 2008 Louisiana Senate Debate
Oct 16, 2008
Foster Campbell:
Ban possession of dogfighting paraphernalia
OnTheIssues Summary:Possession of dogfighting paraphernalia is prima facie evidence of dogfighting. A fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to one year, if a person intentionally does:- Own, possess, keep, or train a dog for
purpose of dogfighting.
- Possession of any treadmill wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other paraphernalia, together with evidence that the paraphernalia is being used or intended for use in the unlawful training of a dog to fight
with another dog
- Tying, attaching, or fastening any live animal to a machine or power propelled device, for the purpose of causing the animal to be pursued by a dog
- Possession or ownership of a dog exhibiting injuries or alterations
consistent with dogfighting, including missing ears, scars, lacerations, bite wounds, puncture wounds, bruising or other injuries
Legislative Outcome: Signed by the Governor. (Act 734 authored by Senator Foster Campbell)
Source: Louisiana 1999 legislative voting records: Act 734
Jun 25, 1999
Murphy Foster:
Ban possession of dogfighting paraphernalia
OnTheIssues Summary:Possession of dogfighting paraphernalia is prima facie evidence of dogfighting. A fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to one year, if a person intentionally does:- Own, possess, keep, or train a dog for
purpose of dogfighting.
- Possession of any treadmill wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other paraphernalia, together with evidence that the paraphernalia is being used or intended for use in the unlawful training of a dog to fight
with another dog
- Tying, attaching, or fastening any live animal to a machine or power propelled device, for the purpose of causing the animal to be pursued by a dog
- Possession or ownership of a dog exhibiting injuries or alterations
consistent with dogfighting, including missing ears, scars, lacerations, bite wounds, puncture wounds, bruising or other injuries
Legislative Outcome: Signed by the Governor. (Act 734 authored by Senator Foster Campbell)
Source: Louisiana 1999 legislative voting records: Act 734
Jun 25, 1999
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021