St. Mary delegates discuss hot topics

• By ROBERT R. JONES III
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Sep 10, 2009 - Page: 2BA

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FRANKLIN — State Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Labadieville, and Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, recapped “a rough (legislative) session” on Wednesday during the St. Mary Parish Council meeting.

Discussions revolved around several topics ranging from recent higher education and health-care budget cuts to health care and roads, but both men agreed the parish needed to pull together to protect its interests and ensure a safe, stable economic future.

Harrison said he was concerned about the effects higher education cuts would have on a state in need of a viable work force.

“Going against higher education and health care is difficult as far as who and what do you cut,” he said.

“We are trying to change the way we do business in Louisiana, and I feel education is economic development because it is the only way we will have an educated workforce in the state to attract business to our parish and that is what we were working for.”

When the discussion turned to roads and other projects on the St. Mary wish list in Baton Rouge, Harrison said the local legislative contingent was able to allocate some money for projects but it was important for the parish leadership to prioritize requests in order to maximize the chances of pushing them through.

Jones agreed with his legislative peer, saying they and St. Mary had to be smart in making requests and seeing projects through.

“We have to take opportunities as they present themselves,” he said, referring to parish efforts to have more access for municipalities to have access to U.S. 90.

“We were just able to get $2 million to do this and, after a hellacious fight with the highway department, we were also able to get funds to expand Canal Street in Jeanerette (in Iberia Parish in Jones’ district near Franklin) from U.S. 90 to La. 182. It is important for all the municipalities to have ingress and egress and not be cut off from highways.”