EDUCATION

The single most important issue in the 6th congressional district is education. We must improve secondary education in the capitol region to enhance our economic potential. A world class K-12 public education system is the goal. Every child should have the opportunity to get a quality education. For the last eight years I have been an advocate for early childhood development centers, an advocate for charter schools, and a founding incorporator of “Yes We Can”, an initiative to improve education through public engagement in Baton Rouge.

In higher education one of our most powerful economic development tools is in the area of research and development in higher education. We must insist that the flagship agenda for Louisiana State University be realized. Doing so will lead to world class capabilities in a number of areas most notably in medical and nutritional research. Southern University and the Community and Technical College system have historical missions, and enhance our regional research capabilities and workforce development opportunities.

HEALTH CARE

Providing accessible, affordable, high quality health care has always been a priority in my legislative agenda. I will continue to be a major proponent for the expansion of health care centers and primary care throughout Louisiana. I led the effort to get 40 million dollars to build new health centers, and believe that healthcare should be available and affordable to everyone.

TRANSPORTATION

Traffic congestion and substandard roads are one of our greatest obstacles to business growth and our quality of life. I believe that we can improve congestion on our interstates and highways by using innovative financing. Financing options will supplement and leverage funds we use from traditional revenue sources. Public-private partnerships, grant anticipation tools, and selected financing options recommended by the Federal Highway Administration will allow for a “speedy” answer to our congestion woes.

FOREIGN POLICY

American foreign policy has been severely damaged over the last seven years. We must take extra steps to undue the damage. We must move away from positions that isolate us from the rest of the world. 

I believe in democracy security and liberty as guiding principles for the world.

We must rebuild our alliances. We must repair our relationships around the world. If we do that America and we will be safer.

We must strike against anyone that does American citizens or American interest harm.
However we should never be fearful of negotiating and the utilization of diplomacy.

America’s leadership must be restored abroad by strengthening NATO and our alliances.

ENERGY AND OIL

We spend 800 million dollars a day on foreign oil. We send our dollars to some of the most volatile regimes in the world. We must end our dependency on foreign oil by decreasing our demand for it. America must look inward to end its dependency on foreign oil. Our strategy should consist of short term and long goals.

Short term

Release 70 million barrels of oil held in our strategic oil reserves. By doing so we will immediately reduce the demand for foreign oil  thus reducing the price of gas at the pump.

Long term

Raise fuel efficiency standards on cars and trucks.  Fuel efficiency standards have remained the same for 20 years. We must get serious about reducing our fuel efficiency standards and investing in new technology. We can provide automakers with incentives to start making the shift. Flex fuel vehicles that run on blended fuel and electric cars and hybrids,  are valid options.

There is no one quick fix to our energy problem. We must consider all available options and I believe that America  should develop a mix of alternative energy sources. This mix  will  include solar, nuclear, biomass and geothermal.

We should require that a percentage of   the nations power supply come form renewable sources by 2020.

Cap and Trade policy

Energy policy and  protecting our environment should go hand and hand. We will work to reduce our carbon emissions  by 80% by the year 2050.

A cap and trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. An auction of credits to pollute will ensure that polluters pay for every ton of emissions released into the environment. This system is better than just giving emissions rights away to coal and oil companies.