Is the visit by President Biden to Louisiana the sign that the state has returned to the national stage as an influential powerhouse with the ear of the commander in chief? Not quite.
We went to Pearson Cross, Political Analyst and Associate Dean of Political Science at UL Lafayette.
He gave us this tongue in cheek assessment: “I would be hesitant to call Louisiana a rising star on the national stage, I think it’s much more likely that Louisiana is a perennial appearance on the national stage, given that we are Disasterland!”
In fact, Cross doubled down on his comment by adding: “I wouldn’t say we are a rising star, I would say we are a constant source of irritation and a constant recipient of federal funds for all the mad disasters we seem to have.”
“We get more back from the federal government than we give in,” Cross adds. “And we regularly get a huge infusion of cash when we have a hurricane or other disaster. I don’t think this is going to change any votes nationally.”
So why is Biden coming to a state whose congressional delegation, save one democrat, is completely red?
What the President’s visit will do is highlight the need for major infrastructure investments. And using Louisiana’s aging and sorry state of infrastructure as an example could bring much attention to the matter statewide and nationwide.
Air Force One set to touch down at Armstrong International Airport this afternoon between 3 - 3:30 p.m. and is scheduled to be at the Sewerage & Water Board around 4:30 p.m.
