TUESDAY: Mike Strain, Joe Delpit, and Ben Bagert

HOUR ONE: 

Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain comments on the recent budget cuts.  Statewide elected officials are claiming the mid-year budget cuts proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair.  Departments managed by statewide elected officials are receiving much larger cuts than than almost all other state departments.
"Statewide elected officials budgets together are less than one percent of the overall state budget, yet they are 16.7% of the budget cuts," Strain says.   

Strain says these cuts aren't fair across the board. 
 
"Budget cuts to the Department of Ag and Forestry are effectively $2.6 million.  If the cut were cut across the board, then our cut would have been $340,000," Strain continues, "We protect a 20 billion dollar industry... there is no alternative to our protection."  

The Department of Agriculture has received mid-year cuts equivalent to $2.6 million dollars and the Tourism Department has taken a $3.6 million hit, while the governor's office has proposed a $10,000 cut to its budget.  Jindal spokesman Mike Reed says the governor's office reduction is in line with other offices.  Strain says it's obvious that statewide elected officials are taking the brunt of the cuts.  

"In order to feed the rest of the world, we have to increase productivity," Strain concludes, asserting the importance of the Ag Center.  "At the end of the day, we have to put the people above our politics... from there we will begin again."  

HOUR TWO: 

Republican Benny Bagert calls for Governor Jindal's resignation.  He is joined by his former Democratic colleague Joe Delpit.  

"If we don't watch ourselves, we are going to have people dying here in the streets here in Louisiana," Delpit says of the closing hospitals.  "On the route we're going on, we're going to be on the same route as the terrorists."  Bagert also affirms that the governor does not have his priorities in order. 

They continue, discussing Governor Jindal's proposal for tax credits and the exemptions.  "I don't think you should have an exemption for this and that because once you get that log rolling everyone gets an exemption," Bagert says.  

Delpit and Bagert speculate who else might run for the upcoming governor's race and who the next governor will be.  

Jim says, "For the most part, it seems campaigns now are run on television," in Louisiana.  

Joe Delpit calls Jay Dardene a "credible candidate." 

MONDAY: John Kaufman, John Kennedy, Dr. Richard Ebright, Mike Rubin, AP Tureaud, Rachel Emmanuel, and Jenson Moore

HOUR ONE: 

Director of Marketing John Kaufman joins the show from the Manship Theatre.  He shares the development of the Manship Theatre over the past ten years and the celebration of the anniversary on Thursday.  

State Treasurer John Kennedy comments on the recent budget cuts and the proposed tax credits.  The biggest income is the inventory tax which comes to about 525 million dollars.  Only 14 states charge an inventory tax. He explains the impact this will have on small businesses.  "I don't the legislature will raise inventory tax," John Kennedy says, "because it will cost too many jobs." 

"If the legislature adopts everything the governor has proposed, higher ed will still be cut 211 million." 

Professor of Chemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University Dr. Richard Ebright shares his opinion on the recent story about the release of a deadly bacteria from the Tulane Primate Center.  "There is minimal risk to the community at this time of the spread of the biological agent... However, this is a major implication of policy."  

Dr. Ebright asserts that it is extremely unlikely it is an act of bioterrism.  

HOUR TWO: 

Mike Rubin, AP Tureaud, and Dr. Rachel Emmanuel of Southern University promote "The History and The Mystery."  Southern University Law School is one of the most integrated schools.  "I didn't get educated, and I struggled with all of the exclusions," AP Tureaud says of his own collegiate experience, "It was miserable." 

Dr. Emmanuel says, "The opportunity to meet our mission at the law center with a diverse student population gives us an opportunity to put at the forefront some of these civil rights issues."  

Mike Rubin says, "Tomorrow will educate people not necessarily about blacks or whites, but things they did not know about." 

Assistant Professor of the Manship School of Mass Communications Jenson Moore remembers the life and death of Spock and analyzes Facebook and the death announcements.  She explains why Star Trek resonated with its time and the following generations.  

"We go through the bereavement process using social networking sites," Jenson Moore says.  She comments on Facebook's new feature that allows you to designate a person to control your pages after your death called a legacy contact.  

They discuss whether people on Facebook should always have a picture on their page.  

FRIDAY: Danny Gregory, Jeremy Alford, Pete Earley, Scott Wilfong, and Dayne Sherman

HOUR ONE: 

Author Danny Gregory shares his new book Art Before Breakfast.  "Creativity is a way we cope with the world." Gregory says that his drawing has a "meditative quality."  Gregory was born in London and grew up in Pakistan and Australia.  He was a White House intern in the Carter administration, a McDonald's fry cook, and worked in half a dozen ad agencies.  

Publisher and editor Jeremy Alford joins the show from LA Politics to discuss the budget.  There will be a 1.6 billion revenue shortfall for the next fiscal year.  Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says they want lawmakers to scale back a dozen refundable tax credits which would save the state 526 million dollars.  They want to raise the cigarette tax by 47 cents.  The cigarette tax could generate about 100 million dollars.  

Ebony Tucker, Director of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, is concerned people who still buy tickets to Cosby's show don't take these alleged victims seriously.  "Particularly these people who are putting these events together," said Tucker. "We would hope the public would be more sympathetic towards the women who have come forward."  The comedian released a statement thanking fans for love, support and trust and added he can’t wait to warm the hearts of the audience with the gift of laughter.

"Just because you like The Cosby Show doesn't mean Bill Cosby isn't capable of criminal activity," said Tucker.

HOUR TWO:

Republican political consultant Scott Wilfong and liberal political blogger Dayne Sherman analyze the proposed solutions by the Jindal administration to the budget problems.  
Even with a cap on certain tax credits, the cut in the proposed budget to higher ed is 211-million dollars.  Nichols offered solutions to further reduce cuts to higher education and one includes raising the cigarette tax and using those revenues to provide families with a tax credit to help offset the costs for higher fees at public colleges.  

The potential drop in funding for health care services is 235-million dollars according to the proposed budget.  Lawmakers who serve on the budget committees seemed to like some of the ideas and Delhi Senator Francis Thompson is glad the cuts to higher ed and health care are not as bad as once feared.  "I'm pleased we have temporary fix fix to the problems that we have," Thompson said.  

Lawmakers will now spend the next several weeks going over the budget and will eventually approve a spending plan in June.  

Wilfong and Sherman comment on "Bobby Jindal on David Vitter: ‘Turn the recorder off, I’ll tell you what I really think about him’" 

"Louisiana is not a pro-choice, pro-gay agenda," Wilfong says.  He asserts that Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Hilary Clinton have "crazy agendas." 

"There is personal animosity between Bobby Jindal and David Vitter," Wilfong says.  

Dayne Sherman says, "Grover Norquist may be more influential in Louisiana than the pope." 

"Had this meltdown not occurred with the David Duke thing, I think Scalise could be speaker now," Sherman continues.  

THURSDAY: Mark Ballard, John Treen, and Mona Simpson

HOUR ONE: 

Mark Ballard from The Advocate joins the show to discuss the challenges Governor Jindal will face in his final months in office.  "It would be about 60 thousand dollars if we docked his pay," Ballard says of Jindal's frequent absences.  He continues, commenting on the budget cuts to higher education.  "There's probably going to be an increase in fees." 

Recent AP news about 150 million dollars to healthcare and 376 million to higher education in tax credits.  Louisiana is over a billion dollars in projected debt.  Ballard says that Jindal is now looking at refundable tax credits.  "He has to balance the budget without everyone hating him... but he can't add new taxes." 

Jim says, "I think they both have healthy assessments of themselves..." of David Vitter and Bobby Jindal.  

"Everything all these politicians say is tainted by their partisanship," Ballard comments.  

Jay Dardenne is the only candidate for governor of Louisiana in favor of Common Core. 

"I kind of saw him running for president from the very beginning," Ballard says of Governor Jindal.  

HOUR TWO: 

Author Mona Simpson comments on her new book, Casebook, about children who spy on their parents through high tech walkie talkies.  

Long time David Vitter critic, John Treen says the Louisiana senior U.S. senator is the front runner in the October 24th Gubernatorial primary.  He is the only politician to ever have been defeated by David Duke.  "I never committed the original sin of being a democrat," Treen jokes.

"I've been told there is another scandal coming about concerning Vitter," Treen says.  He refuses further comment.  

Dean of the Louisiana Republican Party John Treen met David Vitter in 1989.  

Treen comments on the 1989 race in which he was defeated by David Duke.  He says, "It was probably better for me that I didn't win, maybe not for the state, but for me."  "He lied about me, that's how he won that election," Treen says.  

"I don't think you should be so beholden to your party that you blindly vote for whomever candidate they have," Treen says.  He discusses his past voting history on both sides of the aisle.  "I think Romney is one of the best candidates we've ever had."  He argues that experience is the most needed quality for an executive position candidate.  

"One of the things the Republican parties need to do is reach out to the African American community."

He also asserts the troubles with our education system and what can be done to better it.  "I think that taxes are absolutely essential... now to what degree?" Treen comments. 

WEDNESDAY: Alvin Augustus Jones, Lamar White, and Robert Adley

HOUR ONE: 

Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones discusses racial discrimination and the need for a positive African American movement.  He asserts that young black americans need positive role models to be more prevalent.  "You can do a plethora of things other than a rapper or a 'gangsta,'" Jones says.  

Dr. Jones recalls a story from his youth in which he was approached by a white officer, and he knew to "tone the situation down not escalate it."  He says there is a lack of accountability and responsibility.  He argues that young people living out the themes of rap music and pop culture.  "We have to let these young people see a diversity of options, not just rap, not just sports." 

Celebrated blogger of central Louisiana Lamar White Jr. joins the show to discuss Bill Cassidy and the report on his finances that recently came out about his 20 thousand dollar salary from LSU.  He says, "It was a good day for him, and a bad day for LSU."  They debate whether Bill Cassidy should continue work as a physician while he is a congressman.  

HOUR TWO: 

Senator Robert Adley, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee comments on the budget cuts and the effect they will have on roads and bridges in Louisiana.  He will also comment on the Keystone Pipeline.

The budget for the transportation committee has recently been cut $22 million.  He continues, further explaining the debt crisis and how it is negatively impacting the transportation budget.  "There are bridges that are going to be closing down because they are unsafe because we've not got to that 80/20 match."  80% of the budget should be coming from the federal government.  Adley says the budget needs $70 million dollars.

Robert Adley served in Vietnam.  "I believe every man and woman ought to serve some service in their military... It's going down, and I regret that."  He briefly comments on Brian William's recent scandal.  

TUESDAY: Tuomo Reinkinen, Pat Smith, and Phil Preis

HOUR ONE: 

Dr. Tuomo Rankinen joins the show from Pennington Biomedical Center to discuss an ongoing study on genes related to obesity.  In the 1960s, the average American male weight was 160 lbs.  Now, the average weight is nearly 200 lbs.  The average male waist size is 40 inches.  "Abdominal obesity is more dangerous to your health than fat accumulation on your hips," Rankinen says.  He asserts that in this study, more than one hundred markers have been found to be linked to obesity.  

State Representative Pat Smith says Governor Jindal should drop his salary.  She asserts that the state is in a crisis.  "I think he's just left Louisiana in the dust and is on the way to bigger and better things he thinks he'll get to," Smith says of Governor Jindal.  

"When you look at the amount of money he spends on state police that go with him everywhere he goes," Smith continues, "it's a lot of money." 

"Unless we cut TOPS or decouple it from tuition we will be a bankrupt state," Representative Smith concludes.  

HOUR TWO: 

Lawyer and two time Louisiana Gubernatorial candidate says Louisiana should dump the 250 million dollar TOPS program.  He ran for governor in 1995 and 1999.  The TOPS program costs over 250 million dollars.

"TOPS is bad government policy as it relates to LSU... it's such a politically popular program," Preis says.  "They should do away with it across the board... make need based scholarships."  

He argues that students should have a 3.8 average and a financial need to receive a scholarship from the government.  He debates with a caller, Chancellor Wharton about whether the Louisiana should keep the TOPS program and the implications of the alternative.  "To suggest people won't go there because it's not free?" Preis argues Wharton, "I just don't believe that." 

Phil Preis comments on the Common Core standard.  "Common Core is nothing more than an ACT test that is given at the end of each grade... however, it is absolutely 100% the best solution right now," he affirms strongly.