KPLC Hot Topic

Students Rally In Baton Rouge

     This morning, college students from all over the state will be converging on the steps of the Capitol in Baton Rouge to protest cuts to higher education.  The students view it as an "assault" that's happening over and over again.  And this time, they're making their voices heard.   They're outraged over the recent call by the Jindal administration,  asking state colleges to cut 100 million dollars from their budgets immediately.  For McNeese State University, that means 431 thousand dollars.  7News caught up with Governor Jindal Monday in DeRidder, and we asked him about the criticism he's facing because of these cuts.  But the Governor defended his decision, saying higher education hasn't been cut as much as some other areas.    Still students are angry because they're facing ever increasing tuition,  even while having to make do with fewer professors and less class availability due to shrinking budgets.  The student rally in Baton Rouge gets under way at 11:30 A.M.  What do you think?  Is it fair to cut higher education?  Or Should the Governor look elsewhere to deal with the budget deficit?

Immigration laws

      Arizona's tough new immigration laws have gotten a lot of attention.  And now Texas could be hopping on the band wagon.  Monday, a Texas state representative filed a bill in the Lone Star state that would be similar to the one in Arizona aimed at giving state and local officers the ability to ask for proof of citizenship and arrest illegal immigrants if warranted.   Texas Representative Debbie Riddle introduced a similar measure in 2009 aimed at the illegal alien problem facing border states.  But back then, the measure failed to make it out of committee.  But Riddle says, she believes now is the time to try to pass the law once again.  Riddle said, "I think the people have spoken this last election... They are absolutely sick and tired of people disrespecting and disregarding our immigration laws and they are very concerned about the crime regarding the gang related crime."  If Riddle has her way, Texas could have a tough new immigration law on the books after the 2011 legislative session.  Meanwhile, the legal battle over the Arizona immigration law continues.  Currently, a federal appeals court is examining the law, after a lower court ruled that much of the tough new law is unconstitutional.  With Arizona having such a law, and now possibly Texas considering one as well, do you think Louisiana should join the states passing tougher immigration laws?

Garbage Contract

     It was a "Hot Topic" for Calcasieu Police Jurors last night.  So we're making it the "Hot Topic" this morning.   Is it time that other companies get a chance to bid on the contract for garbage and trash pickup in the rural areas?  Voters just this past October approved a parish sales tax to continue garbage pickup outside the city limits.  But now the question is, which company gets to do the job?  Waste Management has had the contract for the last 18 years.  The current contract expires in December and some police jurors say it's time to give other companies a chance. Juror Chris Landry said, "This contract has been going on for... 18 years without it being sent back out for bids.  And it comes to a matter of what's right and what's wrong.  And that's wrong in my opinion."  But administrative officials want at least a year before possibly making the transition to a new company.  Right now with the current contract, Waste Management is paid 16.68 per household.  But Juror Chris Landry believes there are much cheaper deals out there.  For example, one company that he says would do the job for 15.33 per household, which according to Landry would save the Parish, approximately 809 thousand dollars. In closing, the Police Jury voted to extend Waste Management's contract for one year, to give the Police Jury staff the chance to prepare to open the process up to bidding from competitors.   What do you think?  Has Waste Management had the contract too long without competition?  Or do you feel the quality of service we've been getting is so good, that we shouldn't change anything?

CPSO Plane

       There will soon be a new addition to the Calcasieu Sheriff's Office transportion fleet... a brand new cessna 206 single engine plane, purchased through a Homeland Security grant.    After months of speculation, Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso confirms his office has purchased the plane for $130,000 dollars.  Mancuso says the plane has a value of $520,000.  An additional 80 thousand dollars was spent to purchase important equipment including an infra-red system and radio equipment to be placed in the plane.  The sheriff assures citizens that the plane will not be used for personal use... but strictly for law enforcement purposes in Calcasieu Parish, such as search and rescue operations.  The Sheriff's Office has budgeted 50 thousand dollars annually to maintain and operate the plane, which will be kept at the Lake Charles Regional Airport.  The plane will be flown by a volunteer team of 12 experienced pilots at no cost to tax payers.  What do you think?  Is this plane a good investment for local law enforcement?

Washington Reshuffle

    Election day is over... and Republicans made sweeping gains in the mid-term elections.  Here in Louisiana, Senator David Vitter won a huge victory over challenger Democrat Charlie Melancon.  As well in the Lieutenant Governor's race, Republican Jay Dardenne resoundingly defeated Democrat Caroline Fayard. Now that it seems the Republicans will be in control in Washington, Do you believe it will make a difference in the economy?

Fighting for control

    This is it... the day of reckoning as Democrats and Republicans fight it out for control of congress.  As voters head to the polls today, Republicans are brimming with confidence that they'll take over the house and gain some ground in the Senate.  Republicans need a net gain of 40 seats today to take over the House, and will need to sweep most of the closely contested races to gain 10 Senate seats for a majority. But Democratic party chief Tim Kaine says he believes Democrats will do better than some pundits believe.   What policy changes do you want to see in Congress, after today's elections?