Insure that proper coordination exists between the state and all other agencies ie civil defense, 911,police agencies water systems electrical companies local police mayors, parish councils etc. to insure that citizen safety is first and foremost.

Realizing that Disaster Planning is primarily an administrative function and the responsibility of the administrative branch, the legislature can have oversight over the funding mechanism and some review of the planning process. Based on the disastrous disaster plan we recently experienced, the first thing I would want to see in a plan, before approving funds for additional planning, is to identify who is in charge of what. The legislature can be involved in oversight of the planning process and through staff and appropriate committees, can be involved in the development of disaster plans.

Louisiana needs to coordinate all police, firefighters, bus drivers, etc. before another disaster is realized.  We obviously cannot rely on the expedient aid of other levels of government and a regional and state response can better understand the needs of its people.  We learned a lot from Katrina and Rita.

Offer one comprehensive plan to entice private companies to do business in La. The state should not be in the property and casualty business.

The legislature can set rules to protect the public against fraudulent insurance operations and assure that companies play by the same rules. It can also establish uniform building codes for specific areas.  Insurance is a contract between the insurer and the insured and the legislature is limited in what it can do to regulate rates. Property & Casualty insurance like auto insurance will have to follow the economic laws of risk. High risk property, like high risk drivers will have to pay higher rates and the state cannot subsidize one area at the expense of another.

The high price of insurance on homes is holding back Louisiana’s full recovery from the Hurricanes of 2005.  The first way to help to lower these rates is to insure those who write insurance that Louisiana is fully dedicated to strengthening our levees and wetlands so that they protect those is lower areas, thus protecting all from higher insurance rates.

We need a smaller State system but more clinics especially in rural areas. We should let the money follow the patient so that they may choose the nearest facility.

The Charity Hospital System is overburdened and cannot serve the needs of an aging and economically depressed population. Supplementing the services provided by the charity system with private care will allow for more timely diagnostics and preventive care, thereby reducing the net cost of the health service.

The next legislature will have to work to pass legislation that will shift our existing State hospital system towards a “money following the patient” system both allowing the poor to receive first class healthcare while allowing LSU to focus on becoming a world class medical university by teaching rather than having to focus on both care of the poor and teaching.

I believe that equal pay for the same job is the only fair way to go, sex should not be a factor.

Everyone deserves equal pay for equal work.

I believe in equal pay for equal qualifications and jobs for women.  Louisiana, in particular, is behind other states in the difference in pay between men and women.

We should recognize that parents who send their children to private schools also pay taxes to send their children to public schools and as such should be compensate in some way

Private and parochial schools are a valuable part of the state educational system and contribute to the overall educational process. Tax breaks and/or scholarships assist many parents/taxpayer who choose private or parochial school for the education of their children.

By encouraging parents to take their children out of the public school system we lose more parental involvement and students that are good influences on their peers.  I am not for tax reduction on those who send their children to private schools since private schools also receive public funds.  It is also my job as a representative to be a voice for those who do not have a voice.

Absolutely.  We must change the perception of our great state.

I support full disclosure. No explanation needed.

You may want to log into my web site and read a letter that I published in the Daily Advertiser on February 1, 2005: www.raymondlalonde.com.

I will support full disclosure of all income for every member of the legislature. If the public is able to follow the money they can see exactly who their representatives may really be representing.