State of Louisiana Archives: on Families & Children

John Bel Edwards: Reasonable accommodations for health of mom and baby

Eddie Rispone: Warning on flavored e-cigarettes, like regular cigarettes

Eddie RISPONE: You know, I think that's like cigarettes in general, we should put the warning on those. And we should look at reducing the use of those things. Now about giving an executive order to do away with them, I don't think I'm prepared to say that tonight. Really not. But if the evidence shows that something needs to be done, we need to move forward with that and address it from a health standpoint.

Gov. John Bel EDWARDS: The President is looking at banning the flavoring of the cigarettes, and I happen to think that that's probably a smart thing to do, to limit these e-cigarettes, especially the flavoring of it.

Rep. Ralph ABRAHAM: As a physician, I can tell you that they do cause damage. If you're over 21, I certainly don't recommend that. but it is a personal choice. Below 21, I think we need to put the regulation that we have on other cigarettes in place.

Eddie Rispone: Talk to your kids to discourage e-cigarette use

Eddie RISPONE: I'd do everything I could to discourage you from using e-cigarettes just like regular cigarettes; both of them are very harmful to their health. And I would actually do as best I could to research it, sit down with them, bring them to some experts and explain to them the hazards of doing that.

Gov. John Bel EDWARDS: Part of the problem is many people believe it is a safer alternative, when in fact it is not. And certainly the flavorings lend themselves to children being attractive, but I would tell them, please not to do that.

Rep. Ralph ABRAHAM: Look, an optic is worth 1000 words literally. I would show them a lung that has been damaged by e-cigarettes. I've seen them and it's impressive. So they would get the picture literally.

John Bel Edwards: Ban flavorings in e-cigarettes that target teens

Eddie RISPONE: I think that's like cigarettes in general, we should put the warning on those. [But no] executive order to do away with them.

Gov. EDWARDS: Well, the first thing we would do is sit down with the Secretary of Health look and see what the facts are. I am growing in my concern. It seems like every single day, they're more reported cases of young people who after only a short period of time of smoking these e-cigarettes, and the vaping, they're developing very serious, irreversible lung damage. So I have heard the President say that he is looking at banning the flavoring of the cigarettes, and I happen to think that that's probably a smart thing to do. I think that's why children are attracted in the first place. We will take action on it one way or another, to limit these e-cigarettes, especially the flavoring of it, in the legislative session coming up next year.

John Bel Edwards: People believe e-cigarettes are safer, but they're not

Eddie RISPONE: I'd do everything I could to discourage you from using e-cigarettes just like regular cigarettes; both of them are very harmful to their health.

Gov. John Bel EDWARDS: We know e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, I believe that smoking is harmful to your health. I don't believe that e-cigarettes are healthier--they're not a healthier alternative. And so I will do everything that I can to try to convince my children but also anyone out there to not smoke. And part of the problem is many people believe it is a safer alternative, when in fact it is not. And certainly the flavorings lend themselves to children being attractive, but I would tell them, please not to do that.

Rep. Ralph ABRAHAM: Look, an optic is worth 1000 words literally. I would show them a lung that has been damaged by e-cigarettes. I've seen them and it's impressive.

Ralph Abraham: I don't recommend vaping, but it's a personal choice

Gov. John EDWARDS: The President is looking at banning the flavoring of the cigarettes, and I happen to think that that's probably a smart thing to do.

Rep. ABRAHAM: Well, let's just pause for a minute. I know we're talking mostly young people here and we have lost three LSU students in the last two weeks. So thoughts and prayers; anything other than oxygen that you put in your lungs is not good. As a physician, I can tell you that. On the e-cigarettes, the vaping--I've seen the pathology reports. And they do cause damage. Now, it's a personal choice. Certainly if you're over 21, you smoke a cigarette, I don't recommend it. If you do e-cigarettes, I certainly don't recommend that either. But it is a personal choice. Below 21, I think we need to put the regulation that we have on other cigarettes in place, if the data drives us to a more concrete conclusion, then we follow the data.

Ralph Abraham: Show kids pictures of e-cigarette-affected lungs

EEddie RISPONE: I'd do everything I could to discourage you from using e-cigarettes just like regular cigarettes; both of them are very harmful to their health.

Gov. John Bel EDWARDS: Part of the problem is many people believe it is a safer alternative, when in fact it is not. And certainly the flavorings lend themselves to children being attractive, but I would tell them, please not to do that.

Rep. Ralph ABRAHAM: Look, an optic is worth 1000 words literally. And even though they're young, my grandchildren, I would show them a lung that has been damaged not only by cigarettes, but by e-cigarettes too. I've seen them and it's impressive. So they would get the picture literally.

John Bel Edwards: Family Services placed 735 kids in foster homes despite cuts

John Bel Edwards: Catholic upbringing shapes commitments to community & family

John Bel is married to his high-school sweetheart. The Edwards family attends St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite.

Husband, father, public servant, veteran, man of religion, small businessman Edwards will put Louisiana families and Louisiana workers first.

David Vitter: Prostitute was "serious sin" but made me a better family man

Vitter, whose phone number was found in the logs of a Washington, D.C. prostitution ring in 2007, said family remains the "greatest strength" his life, and that the D.C. Madam episode "redoubled my focus on living true to those commitments."

"Obviously I've stumbled in my marriage. Obviously I've committed serious sins that I've talked about in my past," Vitter said.

Melancon said Vitter's questionable character helped motivate him and others to get in the race against the incumbent. "It's about honesty and integrity in Washington and that is one of the key ingredients and the reason why I think everyone got in this race to challenge Mr. Vitter," Melancon said.