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Louisiana Citizens for Kerry-Edwards
The election of 2004 involves a number of issues which are critical to the future of Louisiana: Restoring our coast to a sustainable condition; Saving our shrimp and sugar cane industries; Developing greater energy independence for the U.S. in a diverse and sustainable way; Making affordable health care available to Louisiana’s seniors, veterans, and other citizens in need.
Our state is at a crossroads, and our economy and environment are at stake. John Kerry and John Edwards are the only Presidential candidates committed to addressing these issues in a way that can ensure a sustainable future for Louisiana. Louisiana’s Coastal Crisis All of the industries and communities in southern Louisiana face an even more direct threat: the loss of coastal wetlands and the protection from hurricanes that they provide. Louisiana’s coastal marshes are nurseries for seafood, and a major hurricane buffer for communities, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. The total value of the infrastructure at risk in Louisiana’s coastal zone – business, energy, industrial, transportation, etc. – has been estimated at $100 billion. The collapse of Louisiana’s coastal system is a national catastrophe, but convincing the Congress and the Bush administration of this fact remains a significant challenge. The total cost of restoring Louisiana’s coast to a sustainable condition has been estimated at $14 billion dollars over the next 20 years, so a long-term authorization would enable the state to avoid returning to Congress every year for more funding. The state and its federal partner agencies identified the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) as a key legislative vehicle for a major authorization for long-term funding for coastal restoration in Louisiana, and undertook a massive study in 2003 to meet the Congressional deadline for 2004. After holding up release of the report for several months, the Bush administration submitted a scaled-back restoration package to Congress for inclusion in a 2004 WRDA Bill. This “near-term” restoration package would allocate $1.2 billion for a series of projects with a 10 year window of completion. While this package, if passed, would be helpful to some areas of Louisiana’s coast, it is a far cry from the comprehensive restoration program that is needed. And time is growing short. For more information (links do not constitute endorsements): www.savelawetlands.org; www.crcl.org; www.americaswetland.org.
The Kerry-Edwards Coastal Commitment At his first campaign visit to Louisiana, John Kerry stood with Senator Mary Landrieu and pledged to make saving Louisiana’s coast the national priority it deserves to be. “Louisiana’s coastal land loss is swallowing up the state’s economy and its future,” Kerry stated in his April 2004 visit to Shell Beach in St. Bernard Parish. John Kerry and John Edwards are the only Presidential candidates who support giving Louisiana a “fair share” of the federal offshore oil revenues derived from our coast and offshore waters, which may be the only available source of significant fiscal resources to meet this challenge, thanks to the massive deficits brought about by the fiscal policies of the Bush administration. It is clear that a variety of legislative and fiscal strategies will have to be utilized to meet Louisiana’s coastal challenge, but the first step is the commitment to get the job done. Saving Louisiana’s coast is the most vivid example of the conviction shared by John Kerry and John Edwards that protecting our environment is the key to a strong economy. “Kerry Says Bush Ignoring Coast; Visit touches on fishing, erosion,” Advocate, 4/22/04; http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/theadvocate.
Louisiana Shrimp & Sugar Cane At Risk Louisiana is the leading source of domestic shrimp in the U.S., and has one of the few highly productive wild coastal fisheries left in the world. But the state’s coastal fishery is facing serious economic and environmental threats, including cheap foreign imports and a massive “Dead Zone” that forms in nearshore waters west of the Mississippi River each summer. On the economic side, Louisiana’s shrimpers have faced a succession of challenges from regulations, high fuel prices, and the “dumping” of imported shrimp. They have met the first challenge, but the second and third have put the industry at serious risk, with a growing number of jobs on boats and in processing plants being lost. In late 2003, Louisiana shrimping groups joined with shrimpers from other Gulf and southern states to file an anti-dumping petition against 6 foreign countries. In July 2004, the Department of Commerce made preliminary rulings for tariffs against those countries, at far smaller rates than what the southern shrimpers and processors had sought. A final decision will be made by December 2004. Louisiana and southern shrimpers are actively pursuing the development of local and regional “niche” markets for their product, if they can survive the next few years. Without a significant change in policy, that survival is in doubt. Louisiana’s sugar cane industry is one of the state’s long-standing success stories. Our state is one of the top sugar-producing states in the nation, producing approximately 20% of domestically grown sugar. Louisiana’s sugar cane industry employs 27,000 people in 15 sugar mills, two refineries, and hundreds of farms. A half-million acres are planted with sugar cane in Louisiana each year, many of which have soils that cannot grow other crops productively. Both of these domestic industries have been put at risk by the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) negotiated by the Bush administration. The CAFTA agreement would allow higher levels of foreign shrimp and sugar to enter the U.S. market, without ensuring that American producers can compete on a level playing field. The CAFTA treaty reflects a “free trade” dogma followed by the Bush administration that makes no provisions for the survival of Louisiana’s shrimp and sugar cane industries. Neither Louisiana’s shrimpers or sugar cane farmers are “anti-trade”, but they do demand trade agreements that are fair and do not put our own producers at a disadvantage when competing with heavily subsidized foreign imports. Characteristically, the Bush administration has made contradictory statements to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation and sugar industry representatives about whether sugar would be included in the final CAFTA agreement. The Congressional vote on CAFTA, along with the final decision on the anti-dumping tariffs on some foreign shrimp, have been put off until after the election. Louisiana’ shrimpers and sugar cane farmers have learned the same lesson as many other Americans: trusting the Bush administration is a risky business.
For more information (links do not constitute political endorsement): Southern Shrimp Alliance – www.shrimpalliance.org American Sugar Cane League – www.amscl.org Kerry-Edwards Positions on Fair Trade and Rural Communities The Kerry-Edwards trade plan calls for an immediate review of all existing trade agreements, for real enforcement and strengthening of trade rules, and for removal of tax incentives that subsidize the export of American jobs. John Kerry and John Edwards oppose the CAFTA treaty agreed to by the Bush administration, and have called for its re-negotiation. They cite in particular the lack of strong and enforceable labor rights and environmental protection standards in the CAFTA agreement, which will damage our Central American neighbors as well. Kerry and Edwards have singled out the Bush administration’s failure to negotiate an agreement that will allow U.S. sugar farmers to survive. Kerry spoke of the need to help shrimpers and commercial fishermen during his April visit to Louisiana. The state’s productive wild coastal shrimp fishery is a marked contrast to the environmentally destructive shrimp farming operations that have spread in Asian and Central American countries, and there is growing discussion of how to include commercial fishers and shrimpers in the next Farm Bill. Kerry and Edwards support “country of origin” and “truth in” labeling provisions to help consumers have information about which agricultural and fishery products are of American origin. They are committed to helping rural communities regain safety and prosperity. Their commitments to expand renewable energy and expand farm conservation practices to combat climate change will also benefit Louisiana’s sugar cane farmers through the production of ethanol and the establishment of carbon sequestration credits. See “Kerry Statement on CAFTA”, www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004?0528c.html; “Helping Farmers and Rural Communities”, www.johnkerry.com/issues/agriculture. “Kerry Says Bush Ignoring Coast; Visit touches on fishing, erosion,” Advocate, 4/22/04; http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/theadvocate.
Louisiana Energy Resources This same conviction is at the core of the Kerry-Edwards energy plan to make America more energy independent. This plan includes focusing on areas of existing energy production, such as the central and western Gulf of Mexico, and at the same time diversifying energy sources. Louisiana can play an important role in both areas. The energy production and delivery system in Louisiana is critical for the U.S. economy on a daily and immediate basis. The existing and planned infrastructure for oil and gas production in deep water fields off Louisiana’s coast remain an important source of jobs and revenue for the state. That infrastructure is at growing risk from the deterioration of Louisiana’s coast, and any disruption from hurricane damage could have an immediate negative effect on the national economy. As a major area of domestic energy production, Louisiana plays a key role in the Kerry-Edwards plan to ensure energy stability for U.S. consumers as we diversify our energy sources. Their plan aims to also strengthen national security while growing our economy and protecting our environment, all of which are key concerns for Louisiana citizens. The Kerry-Edwards plan to increase the use of domestically available renewable fuels such as ethanol also provides an opportunity for the state’s sugar cane industry to expand the value of their crop. John Kerry and John Edwards also plan to ensure that 20 percent of America’s electricity is produced from renewable sources by 2020. Louisiana’s offshore waters are a major wind corridor in the U.S., and there is already an innovative project seeking funds to utilize obsolete oil platforms for wind energy production. See “A Plan to Explore and Develop New Energy Sources”, www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/sources.html.
Accessible and Affordable Health Care As a state with a large working class and high levels of poverty, Louisiana should be concerned about the Bush policies on health care. In Louisiana, health care costs and premiums are increasing faster than workers’ earnings, family premiums have increased dramatically, and 10,000 people have lost health insurance since 2000. John Kerry and John Edwards are committed to affordable health care for every American, especially children, seniors, and veterans. Their plan includes cutting health care costs for small businesses, lowering prescription drug prices for seniors, and ensuring quality care for veterans. The Bush-GOP Medicare Plan of 2003 has not met with acceptance from most seniors, including those in Louisiana, who distrust its claims to lower costs and expand access to affordable medicines. John Kerry has pointed out that the Bush Medicare Plan’s costs were concealed, and has called on the President to approve state pilot programs to help individuals and states re-import quality medicines. See “Kerry Asserts Bush has Misled Voters; Democrat Says Medicare Costs were Hidden,: Washington Post, 9/15/04; www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20570-2004Sep14. “Affordable Health Care for Every American,” “Kerry’s Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors,” www.johnkerry.com/issues/healthcare. Voting for Louisiana’s Future The convergence of these issues has serious implications for Louisiana’s future, as well as that of the country. The fiscal policies of the Bush administration and GOP-led Congress have made funding national priorities like saving Louisiana’s coast much more difficult. Louisiana will have to make the case that our state’s pressing problems must be addressed even as fiscal responsibility is restored to the federal government. John Kerry and John Edwards are the only candidates who have demonstrated the values and commitment to meet Louisiana’s needs and help the state achieve a sustainable future. “$3 Trillion Price Tag Left Out as Bush Details His Agenda,” Washington Post, 9/14/04. www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A18876-2004Sep13.
Steering Committee: Dr. Michael Caire, Monroe Brenda Dardar Robicheaux, Raceland John D. Daigle, New Orleans Dr. Michael Robichaux, Raceland Dr. Barry Kohl, New Orleans Thomas Robichaux, New Orleans Alan & Deborah Langhoff, N.O. Dr. Florence Robinson, Baton Rouge Hugh Penn, New Orleans Mike Stagg, Lafayette Joel Walzer, New Orleans
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