Representative
District 43
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Patrick L. Leblanc
147 Easy Street
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
337-269-5977; 337-237-1530
www.voteforpat.org
leblanc_for_rep@bellsouth.net
Republican
ULL graduate, 1977; architecture
1999, Associate Degree, Criminal Justice
Owner/President, The LeBlanc Group, LeBlanc Construction
Youth Program sponsor, coach and assistant coach, 1986-1990; President, Lafayette Jaycees, 1977-1983; Chairman and Board Member, Cajundome, 1994-1996; Lafayete Public Safety Committee Chairman, 1993-1994; Concerned Citizens for Good Government, President, 1995, 1997, 1999; Member, La. Residential Contractor's Licensing Board; Board Member, Lafayette Parish Growth & Opportunity Technical Team; Past President, Member, Acadiana Home Builders |
Elected
Page Cortez
No information submitted. |
| DISASTER PLANNING: Federal responses notwithstanding, what does the State Legislature need to do to be sure our state is prepared and coordinated for a major natural or man-made disaster? |
In times of disaster there can be only one person in charge. That person is the Governor of Louisiana. The Governor has a Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council. The 10-member committee has great expertise with people such as our Adjutant General, Attorney General, Director of Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, etc. The Legislature should be prepared to take whatever action is necessary, upon the call of the Governor, to ensure the safety of our citizens. Otherwise, it should take no action which might be counter-productive to the directives ordered by the Governor of the Director of Homeland Security. |
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| HOME INSURANCE: What can the State Legislature do to assist Louisiana’s citizens obtain affordable home insurance that covers a natural or man-made disaster? |
Upon the advice of the Governor of Louisiana and the Commissioner of Insurance, the Legislature has attempted to bring more insurance companies into our state b providing financial incentives. The Legislature should continue to provide those incentives. Competition between the companies presently here and the new companies which enter the state will drive the cost of insurance down. Louisiana must become more business-friendly to the insurance industry as well as to other industries to ensure a better future for our citizens.
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| HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE: What is your position on maintaining the state hospital system? What is your vision to assist the large number of citizens who cannot afford health and prescription insurance? |
There is a large number of citizens who do not have health insurance in our state. Many companies offer employer-sponsored health insurance which is cheaper than individual insurance. Those without insurance have a “free” (or reasonably priced) LSU Charity Hospital System. Our citizens should not have to endure the long hours of waiting in the Charity system. Every person should pay some fee to our hospitals but it should be based on income. Our Charity System will become competitive with the other hospitals and everyone will have the opportunity for immediate access to first-class health care.
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| WOMEN’S RIGHT: What is your position on the equal pay (for the same job) for women initiative? |
I believe in equal pay for the same job regardless of gender. We must encourage this attitude among all businesses in Louisiana. We must be careful, however, in attempting to implement legislation which might bring about lawsuits which could force businesses to go out of the state or cause others not to come here. This would be harmful to employees because wages would fall because of the competition for fewer jobs. There are federal and state laws which provide remedies for discrimination. I believe employees who believe they are being treated unfairly should talk to their employer directly about the problem. If this does not satisfy the employee a third-party could provide mediation. |
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| TAX BREAKS/VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS: What is your position on giving state financial aid (tax reductions or vouchers) to families who send their children to private schools? |
Each of us has the opportunity to decide whether we want to send our children to private school or to public school. Our public school system must be improved so that we are competitive with other states in the nation. This will require more dollars, not less dollars, to accomplish this goal. Once teacher pay has been raised to a competitive level we will be able to hire better-performing teachers and raise the academic level of public school education in Louisiana to the level now enjoyed by many private schools. I am not an educator and may eventually take a different point of view on vouches but for now improvement in public schools is a priority. |
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| ETHICS: Will you support full disclosure of all income, whether it comes from private resources or from individuals or from PACs, lobbyists, or other special interest groups, for every member of the Legislature? This would include in-kind benefits such as meals, travel, etc., even a cup of coffee. Please explain your answer. |
I support full disclosure of all income by every member of the Legislature. This would include all in-kind benefits. I have refused all PAC dollars because I believe candidates who accept PAC money will consciously or unconsciously lean toward legislation which would be of benefit to those special interests rather than to the general public. I believe we should report every penny we accept and any and every in-kind gift (even a cup of coffee) we receive. The public has a right to know. |
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