Laura Bond, Reporter
12-30-2008
QUITMAN — Gov. Bobby Jindal shook hands, posed for pictures and addressed residents’ concerns one-on-one when he stopped by Quitman Fire Station on Monday afternoon for a town hall meeting.The governor spoke in front of a group of nearly 100 men, women and children, primarily from the Quitman and Jonesboro areas, about the past year’s state legislation regarding ethics, business, education and healthcare before he welcomed them to come forward where he greeted them individually and listened to their concerns.
Some residents did not present questions or issues to Jindal, but merely showed up to see the governor face-to-face.
“I didn’t have any questions — I just couldn’t believe he was here,” Quitman resident Mitch Shoemaker said. “This is such a little town.”
Quitman Mayor Pro-tem Todd Culpepper said when he learned on Christmas Eve that Jindal would visit, many residents appeared to be most interested in what the governor would have to say about the economy and the paper mill in Hodge, Smurfit-Stone, shutting down temporarily due to the economy.
“I’ve got about 430 workers (at Smurfit-Stone) who are off right now, because the economy is terrible,” said Robert Tyler, president of the local United Steel Workers Association. “We’re hoping to be back around Jan. 11, and I wanted to find out what Jindal has been hearing about it.”
Jindal said he had been in communication with the national company since he got in office, and a team has been formed between state and company employees to encourage Smurfit-Stone to invest and expand in Louisiana. What will happen with the company’s local site, however, is not clear at this point.
“We’ve been aggressive in putting out financial incentives for them, but obviously they have been impacted by a credit freeze across the country,” Jindal said.
The trickle-down effects of the large budget cuts to higher education facilities also prompted some concerns among residents during Monday’s visit.
Louisiana Tech junior Heather Dunham said she was worried about whether financial aid would still be available when she starts medical school.
Quitman High sophomore Sean Tyler said his concerns pertained to the continued existence of TOPS, which covers in-state tuition for Louisiana students who meet certain academic criteria.
“I just want to make sure TOPS will still be there when I start college,” he said. “I hope it will be there — I need it to be there.”
Jindal said although higher education may face additional cuts next year due to an even greater budget shortfall — estimated at approximately $2 billion — financial aid, such as TOPS, loans and Pell grants, will not be affected.
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