Senate race heating up

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 16, 2008 - Page: 13A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Republican John Kennedy on Wednesday downplayed the significance of federal legislation that U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has repeatedly touted as one of her signature accomplishments.

The 2006 measure will gradually give Louisiana a greater share of new royalty payments from oil and gas production off its shores in the Gulf of Mexico.

The issue set off sparks during the candidates’ third debate, which took place at the University of New Orleans.

The hour-long discussion was televised by WDSU-TV in New Orleans as well as C-SPAN 2.

Landrieu is seeking her third term. Kennedy has been state treasurer since 2000. The election is Nov. 4.

Kennedy said the royalty measure will mean “a little more” money to combat coastal erosion but does not take full effect until 2017.

“It is backend loaded,” he said.

In the meantime, he said, the state will lose another 108,000 acres of wetlands that help combat storm surges, or 12,000 acres per year.

Landrieu called the legislation one of her proudest accomplishments, especially since the issue was discussed off and on in Washington for about 60 years before action two years ago.

The Democrat says the change will produce $40 billion in federal dollars for coastal protection in Louisiana over half a century.

Landrieu said she spent 10 years and “led a bruising battle” with members of both parties to get the measure passed and that the new policy has already generated $1 billion for the state.

She said she is also working to accelerate the payment schedule for Louisiana.

Meanwhile, Landrieu accused Kennedy of collecting $350,000 in campaign contributions from firms that did business with the state Bond Commission, which he chairs as state treasurer.