Vitter, Kennedy field questions from fiery crowd

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-Meterie) and La. Treasurer John Kennedy (R-Madisonville) prescribed a double-dose of deep cuts and tax reform as the remedy for the nation’s ailing financial system.

Those may be hard pills to swallow, but it’s the medicine voters who are sick of the money problems seem ready to take.

A standing room only crowd gathered at the ULM library conference center to voice their concerns that rising medical costs and entitlement programs will be the death of the nation.

Angry citizens blasted Obamacare as being too expensive to maintain. They also slammed Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, saying too many people using the programs never pay any taxes and use them longer than they should.

A few harshly criticized Congress’ leadership. One man told Vitter that “[Congress] should be ashamed of themselves.”

“I agree,” Vitter responded. Of the record low Congressional approval rating, Vitter said, “I would like to find those [who approve] and ask them how they can possibly think we are doing a good job.”

Vitter, who voted against the debt ceiling bill, echoed his long-standing position that entitlement programs are holding the nation back. He said the U.S. needs a simplified tax code that eliminates special interest exemptions. The ideal code would not increase taxes on the wealthy or corporations because higher taxes would stifle any growth the economy has experienced, he said.

Kennedy, who Vitter called “the leading voice on economic matters in Baton Rouge,” used the forum to address continuing debate about higher education funding in La. He said Baton Rouge’s solution is to raise tuition, a policy he believes will keep people from going to school.

“If anyone tells you there have been a lot of reforms in higher ed., that’s just not true. It’s all lip service,” said Kennedy of recent claims from Baton Rouge that the higher education situation in La. is improving. “Talk is cheap. You’ve got to look at actions.”

To solve the funding shortfalls in education, universities should specialize in select programs and stop competing for various programs some have and others want, the treasurer said.

“I would rather have three great engineering programs than eight mediocre ones,” said Kennedy.

Vitter agrees higher tuitions are not the right solution, and they have probably hurt students. However, he feels the issue should be left in the hands of state lawmakers.