[StBernard] Strengthening Emergency Preparedness

[Westley Annis]

July 14, 2009 


Strengthening Emergency Preparedness




Last week I signed three bills into law that will strengthen our state's
emergency preparedness procedures and our ability to respond following a
disaster. House Bill 893 and Senate Bills 279 and 137 will ensure a more
efficient response following disasters and help keep our families safe.

HB 893 will require new gas stations in certain parishes to, as the
Associated Press
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=Cd14bUgRFhsISmebL14iATY
%2boY%2f%2fxhzbI39Ho8AauOs%3d&digest=nvOF53BEANtYRy4HgaRgUA>  reported,
"have generators or other alternate power sources so they can keep the
lights on and the gas pumping after a hurricane or other disaster."
Following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, a significant problem arose when
responders and residents were not able to find fuel because gas stations
simply did not have the power to pump it due to significant breaks in south
Louisiana's power infrastru cture. By requiring new gas stations to be
prepared, we can ensure swifter recovery efforts following hurricanes and
other disasters. Read More >
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=CjCXwKyFzuclSZqPA64scAi
u4KB6uSTYdlUpOUIYrs4%3d&digest=Rqjv0fSK29xxTyJssAOutA> 



Welcoming Foster Farms


We traveled to Farmerville last Saturday to celebrate the opening of the new
Foster Farms plant. Along with Foster Farms CEO Ron Foster and local, state,
and federal officials, we cut the ribbon on the new facility that will, as
the Monroe News-Star
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=Y2vJX4i6L9NksSM2qrBivSJ
EdL3kBi17%2foS1q98gSlY%3d&digest=lGIa4 wKOzJUqhrIxqp2AKw>  reported, "employ
1,100 workers by September."

Saving the Farmerville facility was a huge victory for not just Farmerville,
but our state as a whole. We fought day and night for months to find an
agreement that would keep the plant running, saving thousands of jobs in
Northeast Louisiana and showing the fighting spirit that we have here in
Louisiana. I also want to thank Foster Farms for their commitment to
Louisiana and to getting this deal done. Read More >
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=pSAMYl1AkXUEGCxHONET%2f
5yDNv7LTKEmho%2bvWFRP324%3d&digest=t%2fArwtDeZp6FuJBM3V3iDg> 



Improving Health Care Outcomes


We welcomed the creation of the Electronic Health Records Loan Program last
week, which will, as reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune
<http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-34/1247221707217270.
xml&storylist=louisiana> , "help hospitals and doctors go digital with
medical records." The program was created with the signing of SB 246, and
calls for the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to loan federal
dollars to physicians and hospitals in order to purchase and employ the use
of electronic medical records.

Electronic medical records are paramount to the future of health care, and
will reduce errors, increase efficiency, and lead to better health outcomes.
Also, as we know well here in Louisiana, electronic records can aid in the
devastation following a natural disaster, when paper records can be
destroyed, damaged, or lost. Read More >
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=j5wcc
YLsNPM%2fVtLH6jCsP9138tCEvBjHLvTF04PRnqM%3d&digest=0b2sMr31dkRj%2fgeyBAMhPw>




Encouraging Investment in Louisiana


 
<http://images.publicaster.com/ImageLibrary/account848/images/09-07-14billsi
gningSMALL.jpg> I signed nine separate tax incentives into law last week,
which will encourage investment in Louisiana and, as the Monroe News-Star
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=k735Hg0k1U7g5h%2fzb0xYa
Yh%2bkgkuQbQ6RfIlrFWSKh4%3d&digest=YVfLSotj8F4FlbKQFkPtew>  reported, "make
Louisiana more competitive with other states." Three of the bills provide
important tax credits and incentives to the film industry, which has had a
growing presence in our state and brings millions of dollars here annually.

Additionally, HB 110 creates a tax credit for clean burning motors, HB 790
extends the research and development credit, and HB 215 creates a cargo and
infrastructure tax credit for our ports. These bills will encourage the
development of new technologies and investment here in Louisiana. Read More

> <http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickTh

ru.aspx?pubids=KTMFFNrz4RTsx8LBzKo0Bnrz1tJuWP8olMZCDXmTzrc%3d&digest=z%2bLFv
UEDCyw6nDtUaTVsPA> 



Launching the Louisiana Working Tour


We launched our Louisiana Working Tour last week in Baton Rouge - which will
take us to all 64 parishes in the next few months and highligh t the
importance of job creation to our state's future. As the Monroe News-Star
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=J1W0ZugeOo3z7abKM%2bT1k
hmRr5L0CT3GLNhcO7TAtvo%3d&digest=rqv01LcmeTQu%2b9sUEEZypg>  wrote, "nothing
is more important to [our] administration than economic development." Along
with Baton Rouge, in the past week we visited Shreveport, Cottonport,
Winnsboro, and Cameron. 

A strong economy is the key to the future of our state, and we have
continued to outperform the national economy. Last week saw the release of a
report that, as written in the Alexandria Town Talk
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=0Nrex5YaF%2f4uUyG2h6XVi
8%2fK9YJbrwSeC1LUB8dObXo%3d&digest=54EfwmlXplkBT96yFEnohQ> , allows us to
"Add the price of housing to the list of ways Louisiana is bucking the
national economic trend." According to a national firm, L ouisiana is one of
only five states where the price of homes has increased in the past year.
Our goals continue to center around creating a strong economy that gives
Louisiana families the opportunity to follow their dreams right here at
home, and I look forward to traveling the state in the next few months as
the Louisiana Working Tour continues.

Sincerely,


 Governor Bobby Jindal