Education, health care dominate Whitney’s focus

For Lenar Whitney, her work in the Legislature is based on a simple policy of “promises made, promises kept.”

While campaigning for her seat in the House of Representatives in 2011, Whitney advocated for education reform, a reduction in government restrictions and fair opportunities for all Louisianans.

With this year’s legislative session set to draw to a close in less than a month, the Terrebonne Parish representative continues to bring the state’s critical issues to the forefront of discussion.

With the support of many education professionals, Whitney is a strong opponent of Common Core.

“The one size fits all program that Common Core presents to us is not really the solution for education in this area,” Whitney said. “I’m opposed by any attempt of the federal government to control primary or secondary education. Everyone believes in higher standards for education, but standardization at a higher level is not the same as high standards.”

Serving as part of the delegation to make industry education possible with facilities such as the BP Integrated Production Technologies building in Schriever, Whitney believes technical education should be available to students who want to become part of the “highly skilled, technical workforce” in Louisiana.

She credits oil and gas for 17 percent of all Louisiana jobs, and advocates prepping students for those high-paying positions to support the growing oil and gas industry.

“In creating this skilled labor force, our technical colleges need to be funded and our students educated so they can secure some of these highly paid jobs the industry will allow them to move into,” Whitney said.

Also in support of ensuring a skilled and reliable workforce, Whitney proposed House Bill 952, which would require drug testing for applicants who receive or apply for cash assistance or unemployment benefits.

The bill would give the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Department of Children and Family Services the ability to drug test applicants upon “reasonable suspicion,” based on information such as the demeanor of applicants, arrest records or information from previous employers who required drug screenings.

“This bill ensures all Louisianans would be treated fairly and are capable of performing the duties that are expected from them in the Louisiana workforce,” the legislator said. “They should be subjected to the same conditions as people who are working to provide those benefits.”

Upon failing a drug screening, applicants would have to participate in a substance abuse treatment program, as well as a job skills program. If applicants test positive for unlawful substances twice, their benefits would be revoked for one year. Upon the recipient’s third positive test, they would be barred from the benefits program and subject to applicable federal law.

“I think this bill is a start and people are starting to realize that under ‘reasonable suspicion’ this would be something to consider in the legislature,” Whitney said.

This session, Whitney has also given testimony against Medicaid expansion in the state.

“It’s estimated 40 percent of the state of Louisiana will be able to qualify for Medicaid benefits,” Whitney said. “It’ll be the largest expansion of a welfare program in our nation’s history. There is absolutely no way the medical or insurance industry can survive with this expansion.”

The legislator pinpoints taxpayers and doctors as the “biggest losers” when it comes to the expansion, because the taxpayers “simply cannot afford it” and the doctors “will lose good paying patients who have private insurance to customers who will be able to move into the free Medicaid program.”

Although the federal government is expected to match funding for the Medicaid expansion, Whitney said, “the federal match still comes from the taxpayers.”

“We’re living on borrowed money for the federal programs that we currently have in place,” she said. “The money we’re borrowing is going to be paid for by our children and their children for years to come.”

Despite her stance against Medicaid expansion, Whitney believes the state should seek other alternatives to assist the disabled and elderly.

“The Medicaid program was designed to help the poor and needy among us, but the program will be flooded with people who could actually pay for their own insurance premiums, but they are going to be thrown into the same situation as the poor and needy,” she said.

With her district covering portions of Terrebonne Parish north and south of the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as bayou communities such as Pointe-Aux-Chenes and Cocodrie, Whitney said she will continue to protect the freedom and self-reliance of the people she serves.

“They want to be respected as a taxpayer and they want to make sure taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively,” the legislator said.

Since her election, Whitey has realized her position in the state Legislature comes with “101 responsibilities,” but she considers it an honor to serve her district and plans on continuing to serve in her role as legislator.

“It’s a wonderful area to represent and I am enjoying giving back to the community,” she said about her position.

Lenar Whitney