Louisiana 5th District candidates split sharply on Trump, the Iran war and rising costs

The useful part

The online forum, hosted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, featured Republicans state Sen. Mike Echols and Gabe Firment and Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell, along with Democrats state Rep. Asked what Congress should do about inflation and affordability, the Republican candidates largely prescribed the typical conservative fixes: smaller government, lower taxes, deregulation and increased domestic production.

How it works

• Cordell also called for spending cuts but emphasized expanding Louisiana's workforce through higher education, credentials and trade programs.
• Firment said Congress needs to pass a new bill to give farmers certainty and advocated opening new markets for Louisiana timber, reducing regulations and reconsidering how crop insurance is structured.
• Moore similarly tied food assistance to the agricultural economy, saying cuts to SNAP hurt both low-income families and producers.
• About 70,000 households in the previous 5th Congressional District received SNAP benefits, according to federal and hunger-relief data.
• Echols called for producing more goods, reducing federal regulations and lowering individual and business taxes.

What to take from it

Echols described Iran as a "big bully in the Middle East" and said he supported Trump holding the country accountable, while acknowledging the conflict had produced short-term economic pain. Moore and McKay instead focused heavily on the war with Iran, arguing it has driven up fuel and other costs and should be ended. Asked about their support for President Trump's efforts to destabilize the Iranian regime, the Republican candidates toed the line and all said they supported the war.

Example or evidence

• McKay called the war illegal and argued Trump's military and trade policies were destabilizing energy markets and international commerce.
• Moore said Congress should not have entered the conflict without authorization and questioned what plan exists to bring it to an end.
• The candidates also split over federal food assistance while discussing the long-delayed Farm Bill.
• Cathey, a former chairman of the Louisiana Senate Agriculture Committee, said some of agriculture's biggest challenges extend beyond the Farm Bill.

Details worth keeping

Louisiana's congressional election is scheduled for Nov. Firment pointed to Louisiana's recent insurance legislation as an example of using competition and deregulation to lower costs, while Cathey argued federal spending, permitting requirements and regulation are contributing to higher prices. I think that's really going to be a long-term fix," Cordell said.

Related coverage

• Myarklamiss: U.S. Sen. John Kennedy addressed inflation, foreign policy regarding Iran, and local economic development during an Ascension Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Gonzales.
• Westernjournal: It's not exactly a secret that the current Iran conflict has been massively polarizing. According to a September CNN poll conducted by SSRS, many Americans are simply out on the war. More […]
• Cbsnews: Republican Sen.
• Thehayride: District congressional race is heating up, with less than seven weeks to go before Election Day, and what isn't being discussed is anything that would affect the lives of constituents in the district.