2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 34
Whom do you
LSU hosts the 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial
Debate in the LSU Student Union Theater
Story: Katherine Manuel and Raymond Constantino
Photo: Aurianna Cordero
Design: Chloe Bryars
T
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he first Louisiana gubernatorial debate was
held in the LSU Student Union Theater and
featured three candidates: current Democratic
Governor John Bel Edwards and his Republican
opponents, businessman Eddie Rispone and
U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham.
The first question centered on Louisiana’s shift
from a budget deficit to a budget surplus under
Governor Edwards’ administration and asked
if the candidates would cut the tax burden on
Louisiana taxpayers. Abraham said he would
“absolutely” cut taxes if he were governor
because Louisiana has the highest sales tax
in the country. Edwards pointed to the state’s
investment in education, including a pay raise
for teachers and continued support for higher
education. “What we don’t want to do is go
back to cutting higher education,” Edwards
said. Rispone also said he would cut taxes as
governor because he believes Louisiana has a
spending problem. “As a businessman, it always
amazed me how we have a budget deficit,”
Rispone said. “How do you have a surplus when
you raise taxes? Because it’s the taxpayers
money, that’s what it is.”
Candidates were then asked if they would
support allowing local governments to
decide whether to give tax breaks, or ITEPS,
to corporations. Edwards noted that smaller
municipalities within the state needed seats at
the table, but Abraham attacked Edwards and
said his policies caused small companies to
leave Louisiana.
The next question surrounded gun control in
Louisiana and if the candidates would support
a state law that would require background
checks for all private sales of firearms.
Abraham described the Second Amendment
as “explanatory” and said he would defend
the Second Amendment as governor. Edwards
pointed to his hunting background and said
he also believes in the Second Amendment.
Edwards said he doesn’t support further
background checks on sales of firearms,
but stated commercial sales should require
background checks. Rispone also voiced his
strong support of the Second Amendment.
He said he would not support extending
background checks, but agreed with President
Trump’s decision to ban bump stocks.
Political communication junior Sarah Procopio
asked in a video for candidates to raise their
hands if they would support funding TOPS at its
current level. All three candidates raised their
hands. Rispone said he would do everything
he could to protect TOPS scholarships, but
wouldn’t make securing TOPS “a political
football.”Edwards said he would support
funding TOPS at its highest level because it
keeps Louisiana’s brightest students in the
state. Abraham said Edwards was the only
governor that actually cut TOPS and that he
would support TOPS to help combat the large
number of Louisiana students leaving the state.
Candidates were then asked about the growing
cost of TOPS for Louisiana and the growing
number of students using the program.
Rispone said the state needs to alter its
constitution to fix problems with TOPS, while
Edwards argued that keeping tuition low
keeps the program’s costs low. Abraham’s
plan would surround increasing jobs for an
increase in revenue. Candidates were then
asked if they would support any exceptions to
recent abortion laws signed into place. All three
candidates stated that they would not support
exceptions in cases of rape or incest. “I believe