Local State Senators recap the Legislative session

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MONROE, La. (KNOE) - With the legislative session officially wrapped up in Baton Rouge, State Sens. Katrina Jackson-Andrews and Stewart Cathey Jr. have returned home and believe redistricting was the elephant in the room this year.

Sen. Jackson-Andrews said she views this last legislative session as “unusual” due to redistricting that she did not support.

“The reason was how the districts were drawn, the elimination of one of the minority districts, and also the testimony where every map was just strictly based on party lines instead of people,” Jackson-Andrews said.

While Sen. Cathey voted against the previous map two years ago, he now approves of the new map.

“So, I’m glad that we’ve actually got something that makes sense that puts the 5th Congressional District back the way that it was that makes it a Northeast Louisiana center district that really focuses on agriculture and the people here in Northeast Louisiana,” Cathey said.

Both agreed on a number of bills including infrastructure improvements, workforce development and assistance for expectant mothers.

“There’s a yearlong waiting list,” Jackson-Andrews said. “I passed a bill that will allow for pregnant mothers who are at that income or below, at or below the income requirement to go in and apply for CCAP benefits from the first day they test, pregnant, right?”

“We know that the mother is going to have a child,” Cathey said. “She is pregnant. Why would we not want her to be applying for assistance so that as soon as she delivers the child, she can get the assistance that she needs?”

Sen. Jackson-Andrews hopes to see completion of some of those infrastructure projects by next session.

“Now in getting it closed out, that means architects, engineers, and the contractors will be in that building getting it retrofit for all the programs they’re going to offer,” Jackson-Andrews said. “That’s going to be a huge addition, expansion, let me say this because OIC has been around, that’s going to be a huge addition to workforce training in this area.”

Cathey is excited to see what recent economic development could produce in tax revenues.

“I’d love to see us, hopefully the anticipated revenues that we see or we’re expecting to see following the tax reform session last year,” Cathey said. “Hopefully that catches up, which would then essentially allow us to cut some taxes next year.”