Letlow Hears Complaints, Requests
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
U.S. Senate candidate Julia Letlow listened on Tuesday to a wish list of items that local officials are requesting from the federal government, while she absorbed a variety of complaints tied to the rising costs of living.
Letlow, a Republican and a member of The House of Representatives, faces Democratic candidate Jamie Davis on Nov. 3.
Her campaign stopover in Opelousas at the Indian Hills Country Club was among several on Tuesday, as Letlow toured several parishes 42 days before the election.
Each elected official, members of the St. Landry Republican party, local law enforcement officers and representatives from hospitals located in Opelousas and Eunice, told Letlow about their concerns during the event hosted by St. Landry Parish government.
Parish president Jessie Bellard attended the event, but did not ask any questions during the discussion.
Bellard said following the event that Letlow has been cooperative in assisting St. Landry with past requests for federal help.
Letlow acknowledged that rising costs are affecting Americans.
It cost $100, Letlow said, to fill the SUV that she used on Tuesday to arrive at her other stops in St. Martin, St. Mary and Rapides parishes.
During an interview following the meeting, Letlow said cost increases and inflation are tied to escalating energy prices.
Letlow said that she and other federal lawmakers are aware of what Americans are experiencing with inflation and are working with the administration to provide an end to the Iranian war.
About The Economy
Administrators from Mercy Acadiana Regional in Eunice and Opelousas General hospitals told Letlow that they are concerned about the Medicaid cuts contained over the next several years in the Big Beautiful Bill.
The cuts in the legislation not only reduce the amount of Medicaid reimbursements that assist rural hospitals, but the bill also reduces prescription drugs used to treat Medicaid patients, who make up a large share of patients at rural facilities, administrators from both hospitals indicated.
Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc said for rural parishes like St. Landry, cost of living is a major concern.
“It affects everything that you do here. Real people are having to make real decisions in the rural areas,” said LeBlanc.
Municipal Concerns
Leonville Town Clerk Christine Tidwell said small town administrations and their constituents are having problems navigating high prices.
Residents, she said, are concerned about high insurance premiums, health care premiums. Requests for infrastructure assistance, Tidwell said, are difficult to obtain due to numerous instances of “red tape,” which require hiring grant writers.
LeBlanc and Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux, said their departments often require federal money for manpower increases and equipment.
Wish Lists
Parish Council member Timothy LeJeune told Letlow that St. Landry and neighboring parishes need a juvenile detention center.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be located in this parish. The costs for juveniles are draining our budgets right now, but there is no money right now for that,” LeJeune said.
What Letlow Said
Letlow said $3.7 million was recently awarded to LSU in order to study flood insurance mitigation.
Louisiana residents, said Letlow, have perennial concerns about flood insurance costs.
Economically, Letlow said area parishes should be encouraged by the SpaceEx project.
The proposed project is expected to become a job incubator for the Acadiana area, with an announced 1,500 permanent jobs and about 5,000 initial employment opportunities.
“What that means for this area is phenomenal,: said Letlow.
