Barry Ivey Takes a Stand on the Issues

BARRY IVEY

1. Why are you offering yourself for service in the Legislature?

I am an ordinary citizen who is very concerned about the direction of our government and the erosion of our freedom. I want to make a difference, defend our Constitution and do my part to limit the power of government. That’s why, when I heard that Rep. Richardson may be resigning, I began thinking about running for this position. This is a good time in my life to run for office.  My wife, Julie, supports this decision. Our four children are now in school. Our business has become very successful in the past few years, and I now have the resources to run a viable campaign without becoming beholden to any special interests or to the political establishment, which I oppose.

It’s very difficult for candidates to be anti-establishment when they are relying on the establishment to fund their campaigns. It is hard to be an independent voice when you have to rely on lobbyists and people who have massive government contracts for your campaign contributions. I won’t have that conflict of interest. I have funded most of my campaign myself. I will be an independent voice, and that’s why I’m running.

2. What special qualifications do you possess which would allow you to make a major contribution to the people of District 65 through your service in the State Legislature?

District 65 is one of the most conservative areas of our state. I can best represent the people of our district because I am a “movement conservative” who will passionately address the broad spectrum of conservative issues: limiting government, reducing the budget, promoting a “culture of life,” defending traditional marriage, protecting our Second Amendment rights, supporting parental choice in education, and creating a business friendly climate that is the best in America. Many conservatives get elected to office, but don’t lead on these issues. Worse, many compromise and become useless to our movement. Many vote to slowly increase budgets. That’s how our parish, state and federal governments got into the mess we now face — “conservatives” voting to increase government spending. The city-parish budget has increased 40 percent in eight years while “conservative” council members have supported most of the increases.

The state budget has increased from $10 billion to $25 billion in 15 years as “conservative” lawmakers have supported most of the increases. When I am a legislator, I will make sure there is a voice at the microphone letting the citizens of this state know what is going on. I will oppose the growth of government. I will protect the freedoms of the people of District 65 from slowly eroding. I have the temperament and courage to stand on the floor of the House and fight, even if the other 104 members disagree.

b. If you currently hold public office, what have you accomplished and what policies, legislation, public works, or other actions have been the hallmark of your service?

I do not currently hold public office.

3. a. Four years from now, what of statewide significance would you hope to have accomplished as a member of the State Legislature?

I hope that I will be able to help rally conservatives who have been elected to the Louisiana Legislature to fight the establishment. I want to begin a complete review of all state government operations and come up with a plan to reduce the size of state government. I believe that we will find massive duplication, inefficiency, and useless programs. By 2015, I hope that we will have mobilized conservative legislators into a more effective group and reduced the size of state government.

b. With respect to House District 65, what legislation, appropriations, or public works projects would you hope to enact or have completed during the next four years? Please be specific.

The widening of Greenwell Springs Road by adding shoulders, the completion of the work on the Central Thruway/O’Neal Lane, and the extension of Hooper Road across the Amite River to Watson without the imposition of tolls.

c. With respect to East Baton Rouge Parish, what legislation, appropriations, or public works projects would you hope to enact or have completed during the next four years. Please be specific.

I would like to address the problem we have with violent crime.

d. Do you support or oppose the proposed Baton Rouge Loop? Why or why not?

I oppose the Baton Rouge loop because I do not want to see communities such as Central cut in half by a massive freeway. I want to look at alternative plans to build a bypass south of the metropolitan area or to improve existing roads to solve traffic problems. We do not have a problem getting around Baton Rouge. We have a problem getting through Baton Rouge.

e. Do you support or oppose the sale of state-owned or locally-owned facilities such as the Port of New Orleans to foreign governments such as China or to foreign corporations?

Oppose

4. In your opinion, what is the purpose of and what are the limits of civil government?

As a traditional conservative with strong libertarian leanings, I believe that government should exist in order to protect our individual liberties. The government should provide a strong national defense so that we are protected from other nations that seek to take away our freedom. Inside our borders, we must have police forces to protect individuals from others who may infringe upon their liberties.  We must have a court system to settle disputes between our citizens.  When government ventures outside of its basic functions, it tends to accumulate power that infringes upon our God-given freedom.

5. Can you identify up to five laws, five agencies, and/or five taxes or fees that you would support repealing or reducing?

I support a 5-year phase out or immediate elimination of the personal income tax, the corporate income tax, and the corporate franchise tax.

6. Jindal has proposed doing away with corporate and personal income taxes in order for LA to be economically competitive with states like Texas.

a. Do you agree with this proposal and if so, what would you specifically suggest implementing to accomplish this?

I am undecided. As of the date that I am completing this survey, Governor Jindal has not yet released his specific proposal. I need to see the specific language in the bill before I can commit.

b. Do you agree with his proposal to raise sales taxes by an amount equal to the reduction in income taxes?

Again, I have not seen such a proposal and I am told that it keeps changing based on input from legislators. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate the personal income tax.

Conservatives need to think strategically about this issue. It’s very important to the future of our state. Let’s see the bill and then we can make a decision.

7. a. What specific changes could be made in Louisiana’s budget to ensure the best prioritization of use of public funds?

The most important change would be to reduce taxes. Since the Louisiana Constitution requires a balanced budget, that would force legislators to make cuts. We must prioritize the programs that are legitimate functions of government such as public safety, road construction, etc.

b. Will you pledge to vote against any attempt to raise taxes or impose new taxes during the next four years?

I oppose all tax increases. Also, I will not vote for any tax reform plan that is not revenue-neutral or better, meaning that a tax reform plan must not be an overall tax increase.

c. Will you oppose the use of one-time money for state operating expenses?

Yes

d. Do you support or oppose raising legislative pay?

Oppose

8. Will you support the Right to Life without any exceptions, other than to save the life of the mother?

Yes. I am 100 percent pro-life. My wife and I are actively involved with a crisis pregnancy center, helping young women who are experiencing unplanned pregnancies. I will be a leader on the issue of life.

9. a. Do you support or oppose Louisiana opting out of the federally-mandated health insurance plan?

Support opting out

b. Do you support or oppose banning taxpayer funds from Planned Parenthood?

Support the ban

c. Do you support or oppose requiring private insurance plans to offer contraceptive coverage to all employees?

Oppose requiring contraceptive coverage

10. Do you support or oppose legislation that restricts gambling in Louisiana? What restrictions would you favor?

Support restricting gambling. Gambling is a tax on people who are bad at math. 🙂 The state should not be spending taxpayer money to encourage our citizens to spend their hard earned money on lottery tickets.

11. a, Do you support or oppose defining marriage as an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman?

Support traditional marriage

b. Do you support or oppose homosexual partners jointly adopting children in Louisiana?

Oppose

c. Do you support or oppose creating a special protected class on the basis of “sexual orientation”?

Oppose this and all other “special classes”

12. a. What are your thoughts about the growing prison population?

It is a burden to the taxpayers and the system needs to be reevaluated.  Our priority should be keeping violent criminals off of the streets.

b. Do you support early release for some felons or building more prisons?

Generally, building more prisons. Protecting our citizens from violent crime is my priority. We must focus on stopping real crimes and not feeding bureaucracies.

13. Do you feel the “war on drugs” has been effective or ineffective?  Why or why not?

Ineffective. Obviously, drug use is widespread across America and throughout our community. The ultimate answer to drug abuse is not government action, but, on a non-governmental level, healing our society. Fathers need to be more responsible and work harder to keep their families together. Parents need to spend more time with their children. Our society needs to be healed. We need to love each other, as Christ taught us to do. People use drugs because they can’t deal with reality. The answer lies with each of us, not the government. And that’s true with so many things in our society.

14. Rate your philosophy about how the United States Constitution should be interpreted on a scale of 1-10 with “strict constructionist approach” being a 10 and a “living document approach” being a 1?

11

15. What should the legislature do to protect our citizens’ right to keep and bear arms?

Everything possible, since this right protects all of our other rights. Some Louisiana legislators and some other states are exploring various types of legislation to nullify or challenge unconstitutional federal statutes or executive orders. This is a direction we should examine.

16. What is your opinion on the recent education “reforms” adopted by the Louisiana Legislature (i.e., School choice, vouchers, tax credits and teacher tenure)?

I favor them, though, as a conservative, I prefer tuition tax credits to vouchers. Tax credits would give the government less opportunity to interfere in private education. Once we see how the tax reform package turns out, we may want to attempt to convert vouchers to tax credits.

17. LA law states No person shall be required, as a condition of employment, to become or remain a member of any labor organization, or to pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind to a labor organization. Do you support this law?

Support. I support the current law

18. What would be the single most important way to help small businesses grow and expand in Louisiana?

Reducing taxes and regulations

19. Do you support or oppose the teaching in public schools of the scientific pros and cons of controversial subjects such as climate change, human cloning and evolution?

Support teaching all sides of these major issues

20. a. With respect to Louisiana’s Public Records Law and its Open Meetings Law, will you oppose any effort to weaken these laws?

Yes

b. Will you support applying the Public Records Law to the Governor’s Office?

Yes