KPLC Hot Topic

Tax Breaks For Big Oil

      What do you think about the big tax breaks for big oil companies?  Should they still be getting those tax breaks in light of the huge profits they're making now?  That was the subject of debate on Capitol Hill Thursday.  Frustrated with the high prices at the pump, congressional democrats put the heat on top oil executives, proposing a bill that would eliminate tax breaks for the companies.  The Democrats claim such a move would raise billions of dollars and help reduce the deficit.   But the oil companies fought back, saying it's unfair to single them out... and that doing away with their tax breaks could make things worse for consumers.  While Democrats are calling for an end to tax breaks for the oil giants, Republicans want more areas in the country to be opened for drilling.  But neither proposal is likely to help drive down prices at the pump?  Are you for or against eliminating the big tax breaks for oil companies? 

Cigarette Tax

     It could soon cost more to purchase cigarettes and tobacco in Louisiana.  Lawmakers are considering an almost 200 percent tax increase.  If passed, it would raise the state tax on cigarettes from 36 cents a pack to $1.06 a pack.  Smokers say enough is enough!  What do you think of House Bill 63?  Are smokers being made an easy target for taxes?

Reynaud Stays Open For Now...

     Reynaud Middle School stays open for now... but its future remains uncertain.  That as the Calcasieu School Board last night determined that it's out of the board's hands at this point to close the school.  That's because of an agreement that was made with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education several years ago to give Reynaud Middle School a chance to make improvements.  The School Board is going back to BESE now with reasons why it wants to shut the school down.  So right now,  the ball is in BESE's court, as to what happens to Reynaud. The board voted 8 to 7 to submit a plan to BESE and The Recovery School District to close Reynaud Middle School. The board will also submit the plan to the federal court to get an opinion on the legalities of the move.  What is your reaction to the Calcasieu School Board's decision to pass this on to BESE? 

To flood or not to flood?

     What a dilemma the state is facing!  Open the Morganza Spillway and risk flooding large parts of south Louisiana, including Morgan City... Or keep it closed, and risk the rising Mississippi River swamping LSU and other infrastructure in South Baton Rouge.  There's unofficial word that the Army Corps of Engineers will likely open the Morganza Spillway between Saturday and Tuesday.  And if that happens, areas from Pointe Coupee to St. Mary Parish could see up to 25 feet of water.  This is a flood that officials say hasn't been seen since the Great Flood of 1925.  Landowners and farmers in Morgan City are busy preparing for the worst.  What do you think?  Should the Morganza Spillway be opened at the expense of those landowners in order to protect Baton Rouge?

Changes At Contraband Days

          Contraband Days Festival is in full swing at the Lake Charles Civic Center.  And this year, festival organizers have made lots of changes, for example the elimination of parking fees.  But are those changes bringing more people to the festival?  Attendance is slightly down.  But organizers still describe it as normal.  Other changes are the layout of the festival itself.  The carnival is now on the north side of the Civic Center.  And the new promenade allows festival goers to sit back and relax for a while.  Organizers are anticipating big crowds this final weekend.  Contraband Days runs through this Sunday.  What do you think?  Will the changes bring more people into Contraband Days?... Or do you think cost is still an obstacle?

Seeing Is Believing

     Three days after U.S. forces killed Osama Bin Laden, there's a decision.  No photographs of the terrorist's body will be made public.  The President says presenting the photos as a trophy would go against what americans stand for.  Key Republicans are backing his decision.  Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said, "I don't see any point in the macabre picture."  And Arizona Senator John McCain said, "I think there's ample proof it was Osama Bin Laden."  Do you agree with the decision not to show the pictures of Bin Laden's body?

Another School Closure?

     Could the Calcasieu School District be closing another school?  Talk surfaced last night at the school board meeting of possibly closing Reynaud Middle School.  It was just two years ago Lake Charles Boston High School was closed.  And now this. The talk comes amidst concerns of a looming budget deficit for next school year.  Tuesday night, the budget committee presented a list of proposed cuts to make up for a more than two million dollar deficit.  According to research from the chief financial officer, closing Reynaud Middle School would save the parish 2.3 million dollars.  School Board member Bill Jongbloed says there're only 150 students at Reynaud, and therefore he doesn't think its financially prudent to keep a school open with such a small student body.  If Reynaud is closed, the students would attend either Oak Park or Molo Middle Schools.  The other cost cutting measures that are on the table include the salaries for 15.5 elementary school teachers, 24.5 middle school teachers, and 9 high school teachers.  The full school board will take up the recommendations next week at the regular meeting. What do you think about the budget committee's proposals, especially the closure of Reynaud Middle School?

Bin Laden dead

      From Ground Zero to the White House, America continues to react to the death of Osama Bin Laden.  What is your reaction to the news that the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks is now dead?  And do you think his death will really make a difference in the terror threat around the world? 

Born in the USA?

Wednesday morning President Obama attempted to put to rest a controversy that has dogged him for more than two years. Was he really born in the USA, and therefore eligible to be president? Wednesday, the White House released a more detailed version of the president's birth certificate.

Does this end the "birther" debate?

Ending oil industry tax breaks?

President Obama repeated his call Tuesday for an end to $4 billion in oil industry tax breaks as gas prices approach $4 a gallon.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the president said the oil industry is profitable enough without the tax incentives and that the money should be spent on alternative energy sources, and conservation.

What's your reaction to the President's proposal?