Former democrat, now republican, and Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Hunt Downer spoke to students Wednesday and insisted this year’s governor’s race boils down to one word – jobs.
Downer said Louisiana had the largest job growth in the nation from 1996-2000.
“What happened to that?” Downer said.
Downer said the key to creating more jobs was to downsize government regulation on companies, taxes on manufacturing equipment and eliminating corporate income taxes, something neighboring states such as Texas and Mississippi have put into place.
Downer also talked about the problem of out-migration, the issue that young, able workers are leaving the state to pursue jobs in more desirable places.
“They’re not leaving because they don’t like it here,” Downer said. “It’s because they don’t have jobs.”
Downer said the problem is the out-migration of high-paying, upper-end jobs that could have been filled by expanding business in Louisiana.
“Give them a reason to stay here other than the food is great,” Downer said. “We’ve got great food, great hunting, great fishing. If you don’t have the money to buy the bait, what good is it?”
Monet Bates, a political science junior, said she believes Downer is a down-to-earth leader and will work hard for Louisiana.
“I worked on the transportation committee [in the State Legislature] this past summer, and he is a really good speaker,” Bates said. “He is up-front and blunt. He wants to get things done.”
Downer addressed questions about everything from higher education to agriculture.
“We have stressed quantity of colleges instead of quality; now there’s a college in everyone’s backyard,” Downer said.
Downer said in Louisiana only 30 percent of students are enrolled in community college, 20 percent less than the average around the country.
Downer suggested Louisiana encourage students to enroll in community college or technical schools to learn skills immediately applicable to the work force.
Limiting LSU’s admissions policy and increasing the number of students enrolled in community colleges also were part of Downer’s stance on education.
Downer also said he would like to increase funding to LSU and other four-year universities to encourage a higher quality of learning.
“The old universities didn’t care how many graduated, they just wanted more money and more people,” Downer said. “There’s still a lot of resistance to change.”
The pro-life candidate, who is also a general in the Louisiana National Guard, talked about increasing teacher pay to attract better teachers. Downer suggested a “trickle-up” policy, which would set pay for teachers and teaching assistants before administrators and the bureaucracy.
Howard Bushey, an English literature and political science senior, said he has seen Downer’s leadership skills in the Louisiana National Guard.
“He’s Gen. Downer to me,” Bushey said. “I have seen the job he’s done for the military, and I think he would bring that leadership to the state.”