Collection:LPB

Genre: Debate

Place Covered: Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2015-10-14

Duration: 00:59:47

Subjects: Television debates | Politics | Elections, 2015 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2015 | Angelle, Scott | DARDENNE, JAY | Edwards, John Bel | STATE BUDGET | Tax credits | Dedicated funds -- Louisiana | HIGHER EDUCATION | COASTAL RESTORATION | MEDICAID | Health Care | Transportation | Early childhood education

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Moderator
• Erwin, Barry Moderator
• Sanford, Shauna Speaker
• Hilburn, Greg Speaker
• Alford, Jeremy Speaker
• Angelle, Scott Panelist
• Dardenne, Jay Panelist
• Edwards, John Bel Panelist

Beth Courtney and Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) moderate a live debate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on October 14, 2015, between three of the candidates for Governor: Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle (R); Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne (R); and State Representative John Bel Edwards (D). U.S. Senator David Vitter (R) declined his invitation to attend. During the first round, the moderators and the following panel of journalists ask the candidates questions, Shauna Sanford of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Greg Hilburn of the Gannett Louisiana Newspapers, and Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com. The candidates answer questions on the following topics: their vision for the future of Louisiana; their plans to call special sessions of the Legislature early in their term; the two tax credits they plan to keep; whether they plan to change constitutional or statutorily dedicated funds; changing the higher education funding formula; using the BP Oil Spill settlement money for non-coastal restoration projects; expanding Medicaid; their response to negative attack ads; how they plan to deal with the state’s infrastructure backlog; and funding early childhood education. For the lightning round of questions, the moderators asks the candidates questions on the following topics: if they plan to hold weekly press conferences; who they will endorse in the run-off; and whether they pay sales tax on their Internet purchases. The debate ends with each candidate’s closing statement.