Dear Friends:

By the time you receive this newsletter I will be in Baton Rouge preparing for the upcoming legislative session.  I will be attending a series of Appropriations Meetings meant to deal effectively with the extremely challenging budgetary process we are currently facing. The 2009 Legislative Session opens officially on April 27, 2009 and will adjourn on June 25, 2009. Please take this opportunity to review the SURVEY that I have enclosed. I would appreciate it if you would respond and return it to me as soon as possible. Your opinions, ideas, and input are extremely important to me.

The State Budget:
We are all intimately familiar with the challenging economic times we are facing in Louisiana and across the Nation. Our State Budget process will be as complicated as ever, as we face the prospect of budget cuts versus spending.  This challenge also presents opportunity--the opportunity to prioritize spending and move forward in a more prudent manner. Difficult decisions face Louisiana and we are committed to addressing them.

Federal Stimulus Spending:
President Barack Obama has championed, and the United States Congress has approved, a wide-ranging Economic Recovery Package designed to put Americans to work, improve our infrastructure and ease the burden and suffering of working families across the Nation. The Legislature is primed to put these available resources to work for the families and businesses of Louisiana. We are committed to ensuring that ALL available allocations to the State of Louisiana are put to effective and efficient use to ensure a solid economic foundation for the future of Louisiana's people and businesses.

LSU/VA Hospital:

A world-class, academic medical center in downtown New Orleans is critical to our recovery and the future economy of our region. It is imperative that we receive all federal monies related to the construction of the LSU Hospital. Whether through renovation or new construction, transparency and openness in the process should be the focus of local, state and federal government activities. As the VA Hospital process moves forward, a frank and open discussion of the alternatives for the LSU Hospital is necessary.  This issue will be addressed in this Legislative session.

Education:
Charter Schools in New Orleans continue to lead the way in the rebirth of our Public Education System. Sophie B. Wright Middle School in our District is a prime example of a charter school that works. The Legislature must continue to work on the progress that Charter schools can achieve. Furthermore, we must work to ensure that proper facilities and funding for capitol improvements are available for school districts to ensure a safe, clean and welcome learning environment for our children.

Criminal Justice:
A State-wide Witness Protection Program will ensure protection of key witnesses, which in turn will lead to the trial and conviction of violent offenders. I have introduced legislation that will create a Statewide Witness protection Board made up of nine (9) members from the law enforcement and criminal justice communities. This will allow district attorneys to encourage witnesses to participate in the process, which should lead to more convictions.

Juvenile Justice reform is critical to lowering our nation-leading incarceration rate AND to create the workforce that our State needs to succeed and compete in the global marketplace. When children make mistakes and commit crimes incarceration may be an appropriate punishment. But, their confinement must result in bettering that child through education, rehabilitation and job training. We fail our children when we fail to provide a meaningful chance for reform.

Transportation:
I have requested that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development inspect the Jackson Avenue Ferry Terminal in our district. It is in disrepair, not handicapped accessible and, although located on our important Riverfront, it is not secure. Please provide me with input related to this facility, as important decisions about its future may be made in this session.

Coastal Restoration/Hurricane Preparedness:
The Legislature continues to grapple with the issues of restoring and improving our coastline and preparing for future storms. I will fight for the allocation of an additional $300 million dollars in surplus funds for Coastal Restoration and Hurricane Preparedness Projects. As we continue to recover from past storms, addressing these issues is paramount to building and growing our economy.

Even though I will be extremely busy in Baton Rouge for the next several months, my legislative aide, Brenda Trammell, can always be reached at (504) 556-9970. You can also reach me at the Capitol by calling (225) 342-6945 or via e-mail at legerw@legis.state.la.us. I continue to be truly honored to represent District 91 in the Louisiana Legislature and appreciate your taking the time to respond to the attached survey.

Sincerely,

Walt

Your responses and comments are valuable.   Please let your voice be heard. Send your answers in soon -- in person, by mail, by fax, by e-mail or online.

Do you believe that it is necessary to have a Louisiana State Constitutional Convention to modernize and make changes to our State Constitution?

Are you in favor of increaseing the homestead exemption?

If you answered "yes" to question 3, to what level are you in favor of increasing the homestead exemption?

If you favor increasing the homestead exemption, would you support an increase in business taxes to fill the void left by the increased homestead exemption?

Should tax credits for alternative energy usage, (adding solar panels or using wind energy) be expanded to include businesses as well as homes?

Should Louisiana continue to fund our state colleges and technical colleges at the same level as last year?

Do you support the building of a new LSU hospital or a renovation of the old Charity?

If State funding is limited this year, what are our most important spending priorities? Please list these in the order of importance, from 1 to 6.

Have you used the Jackson Avenue Ferry to Gretna in the last 6 months?

If you answered yes to the previous question, how many times have you used the Jackson Avenue Ferry to Gretna in the last 6 months?

Please enter any other comments here.