State Senator - 5th Senatorial District

Karen Carter Peterson - ELECTED

NAME: Karen Carter Peterson
YOUR CAMPAIGN WEB ADDRESS: http://www.karenforsenate.com
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: PO Box 56987 New Orleans, LA 70156-6987
Phone: 504-289-3594
FAX: 504-621-1697
Email: karencarterpetersonforsenate@gmail.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Attorney
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business):
Davillier Law Group / Attorney
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date):
Tulane University School of Law, JD 1995
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives 1999-present
CIVIC EXPERIENCE:
Rep. Peterson's present and past professional and civic activities include board membership with the Blood Center of Louisiana, the Louisiana Association for Justice, the YWCA of Greater New Orleans, the Dryades Street YMCA, Kingsley House, the Vieux Carre Alliance, the Coliseum Square Association, the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, the New Orleans Bar Association's Young Lawyers, the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, and the Louisiana State Bar Association's Committees on Public Information, and Bench, Bar Liaison. She has served as a volunteer for the Free Tutoring Program, Inc., the Young Leadership Council's Recreate New Orleans program and as an adult advisor to St. Monica Christian Youth Organization. Mrs. Peterson is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Conference of State Legislators, the National Association of Insurance Legislators, Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority, Hurricane Katrina Memorial Commission, The Task Force on Use of Charity Hospital Facility, Help America Vote Advisory Committee, Louisiana Host Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS:
Democratic National Committeewoman, Member of Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Committee, State Central Committee, and Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee. Beginning at the age of 18, Rep. Peterson began serving as a delegate to Democratic National Conventions. She was elected in 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 to represent Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama respectively.

1. Which of the streamlining recommendations would you support, or what other measures would you support to make state government more efficient and accountable?

Of the 238 recommendations, a significant number addressed three key issues: consolidation or transfer of authority from one agency to another, outsourcing some government services, and changes to the way in which government workers function within the civil service structure. Collectively, these recommended changes are critical not just for budgetary savings, but as an essential component of any high-performing organization, and should be adopted. While the recommendations within these three areas will produce millions in cost savings, a number of critical issues raised during the public deliberation of the Commission's work warrant further consideration for longer-term impact and more significant budget stabilization over time. These issues include: a fundamental examination of the state's revenue structure, unfunded liability from the state retirement system and formalized process for budgeting according to its true priorities. Although the commission's mission was to identify potential cost savings that could be immediately realized through increased efficiency and accountability measures, government should be efficient and accountable regardless of the state's budget situation, the long-term viability of state finances to support critical state functions and services will depend on adopting many of the recommendations identified by the commission, but also be addressing the tough issues of our state's larger revenue structure used to finance the state's budget and its related priorities.

2. How would you change the Minimum Foundation program criteria to provide adequate funding for public school facilities?

The Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) criteria should be changed to provide funding to school districts so that our children attend school in buildings that are warm, safe, and dry. Currently, too many students go to school in buildings that are cold in the winter, hot in summer and wet when it rains. These issues do not even address the safety concerns in our schools related to lead paint, asbestos, rotting wood, and rusted metal. Today the state does nothing to help local school districts address these issues. As a start, I would immediately add a base amount of funding per pupil to the MFP formula for facilities.

3. What would you propose for the charter school movement in Louisiana in terms of a well-tested renewal procedure, an appeal process for charters to remain in operation and /or a closure process?

4. What are your top three priorities for the office and what specific legislation would you formulate or support to implement your priorities?

Economic Development: It is important that we continue to strengthen and diversify our economy both in New Orleans and across and across Louisiana. I would work to formulate legislation to support expanded workforce development to help meet hiring needs of existing employers as well as prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. Further I would continue to support legislative efforts at enhancing and strengthening our ports. Finally, I would seek to make Louisiana a leader in green technology and alternative energy, continuing our legacy as an invaluable component of America's energy economy.

Education: One of my majority priorities for office is continuing to improve our public schools. I would introduce and/or support legislation that has been proven to do precisely that: increase the Minimum Foundation Program to provide more funding for our children, provide state funding for school facilities (like 41 other states) and work to ensure that our schools continue on an upward trajectory through accountability, fostering teacher excellent and improving our lowest performing schools.

Healthcare Reform and Restoration of public hospitals in New Orleans: With the impending passage of national healthcare reform, there will be significant work to be done on implementation at the state level and I look forward to being a leader in helping to address the continued health crisis in Louisiana. Further, we must fundamentally expand our capacity to treat mental health issues and I look forward to continuing to work with members of the New Orleans delegation on both expanding local capacity and improving the quality of care.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: September 2, 2010 11:51 PDT.

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