Posted on 09/08/2004 6:18:25 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Mount outlines her views Candidate decries jobs taken overseas
By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau
LAFAYETTE -- State Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles and a candidate in the 7th District congressional race, said Tuesday she wants to target the tax benefits of companies that send their jobs or money overseas. Mount rolled out her economic plan at a pair of stops in the population centers of the district -- Lafayette and Lake Charles.
She said at a news conference at the Lafayette Museum of Natural History that she wants to study the tax structure to to find ways to cut government support -- tax breaks and subsidies -- of companies that send the jobs they create out of the country.
Mount said she's still studying how to bring about such cuts and tailor them to target the companies that are taking tax breaks but not creating U.S. jobs.
"What we do know is that it's happening," she said.
Mount said she also wants to shift the tax system to get rid of the advantages some companies get from investing their money outside the country.
She said the tax system is out of balance in the rewards it gives companies in comparison to the job creation and economic development the nation gets back from them.
Mount said she wants to find ways to streamline the process industries with a strong presence in Louisiana -- such as oil and gas -- have to go through to create or expand their businesses.
She said she wants to work with federal environmental regulatory agencies to find ways to get companies through the process faster, while still retaining environmental protections.
"We want to put people to work," Mount said.
Mount said she also wants to find ways to increase high-speed Internet access in rural areas of the district.
That's important for education, health care and national security, Mount said.
She said that such things as federal grants could be used to speed up the rural connections process and that partnerships between the public and private sector could help.
On the agricultural front, Mount said she wants to find ways to open new foreign markets and re-open foreign markets, such as Cuba and Iraq, that were once large importers of Louisiana products.
Cuba and Iraq were once heavy importers of Louisiana rice, before economic sanctions shut the markets down.
Iraq's market has begun to re-open, but rice farmers have complained they haven't been able to get help in getting into the market.
Mount is one of three Democrats running in the Nov. 2 election for the district that runs from Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in the west to Lafayette and St. Landry parishes in the east.
The other Democrats are state Sen. Don Cravins of Arnaudville and Malcolm Carriere of Lafayette.
Two Lafayette Republicans are in the race -- retired heart surgeon Charles Boustany Jr. and Lafayette Parish School Board member David Thibodaux.
He has sought this seat in the past, twice I believe. Mount is believed to be a strong candidate for this seat.
This is the seat being vacated by Rep. Chris John, D-LA, John Breaux's hand-picked senatorial successor.
Did willie mention the jobs that frenchie's wife's company sent over seas? 57 plants over seas = gives new meaning to Heinz 57, don't it?
I don't know if State Senator Mount is supporting Kerry. The three LA Democrat icons at the moment, Kathleen Blanco, Mary Landrieu, and John Breaux, are already working for Kerry in LA.
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