Two days after U.S. House Republicans released the “Road to Recovery Plan” in response to the Democrats’ budget, House minority leader John Boehner convened with U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and local businessmen to garner support for the GOP plan. The private meeting occurred in Cassidy’s District Office. A small news conference followed where Boehner, R-Ohio, explained his view of President Obama’s budget, energy independence and the job market Louisiana college students will face after graduation.”The big issue that we’re dealing with in Washington right now is the president’s budget,” Boehner said. “It raises too much in the way of taxes, and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids.”The energy policy outlined in the GOP plan, which Boehner said aims to help America move toward energy independence, will be particularly helpful for the Louisiana job market because of Louisiana’s large oil and gas industry, Boehner said.”The rebound from this economy is going to take years and years and years,” Boehner said. “And a slow economy means we’re not producing the kind of new jobs that would be available for those getting out of college.”In addition, Boehner said the plan will help protect small businesses and families and expand access to “affordable” health insurance.The meeting in Baton Rouge was part of Boehner’s tour of Louisiana, which included a Friday visit to New Orleans and a Saturday afternoon visit to Lafayette.Cassidy also invited James Riley, real estate professional with NAI/Latter & Blum Inc.; and Lester Mclin, president of McLin & Associates, an engineering and land surveying company; to meet with Boehner.”Small businesses drive the job market in Louisiana and across the nation,” Cassidy said. —-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected]