Boustany speaks to Crowley Lions Club gathering

Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, addressed area residents during a Crowley Lions Club luncheon at the Rice Palace on Tuesday, speaking enthusiastically about how Louisiana is faring well — thriving in certain areas — while most other states are suffering economic problems.

“We’ve been judged as being a happy state,” he said. “It’s because we know how to balance things. It’s a cultural thing. It’s who we are.”

However, he said the atmosphere in Washington, D.C., remains unchanged.

“It’s very partisan,” said the former surgeon from Lafayette. “President Obama hasn’t been working with Congress. And it isn’t just Republicans who are complaining now, many Democrats are getting frustrated with him as well.”

Boustany touched on several successes that he, as well as the state’s delegation, has been a part of.

“The Restore Act was something we were really happy to get done because it is a formula for dealing with the BP settlement money,” he said. “This will help make sure that money is getting directly to the problem.”

He also mentioned how pleased he was with the Farm Bill (“Important because every community depends on agriculture”) and the Water Bill (“Keeping our channels dredged is important for agriculture and shipping.”).

Boustany, who is in his 10th year in office, also mentioned how proud he was to see veteran’s clinics opening in Lafayette and Lake Charles in the future.

“We’ve finally cleared all the barriers,” he said. “The men and women who served our country will finally be getting better health care.”

Boustany mentioned several things that he would like to see done in the near future. Among these were:

• Supporting the agriculture by opening new markets overseas.

• Stopping tax hikes on the energy sector.

• Replacing the Lake Charles bridge, which was built nearly 60 years ago.

• Completing I-49 South.

Locally, he specifically mentioned completing the I-10 service road in Crowley.

“We are hoping to see groundbreaking by the end of the year,” he said. “This will help Crowley in the same way that the service road in Scott helped that city by adding businesses like Fezzo’s and Don’s (Specialty Meats).

“This is happening because (in La.) we have set the environment for it to happen,” he said. “The I-10 corridor is poised to grow extensively. I’m really proud of our state.”

When it came time for questions, Crowley Lion Tim Mader asked Boustany about congressmen who are detached from their constituents compared to those who remain touch are in tune with their needs.

“This is my tenth year as a congressman and I’m constantly working to build relationships,” he said. “I come home (from Washington) every weekend to stay connected. If you’re not connected to the people you represent you are out of touch.”