State Senator Heather Cloud was the guest speaker Tuesday at the Ville Platte Rotary Club meeting. Senator Cloud discussed the recent special session of the state legislature. She fought a measure that would have cost local and statewide businesses through a major increase in unemployment taxes. She said the bill was not publicized so many businesses and property owners were not aware how this bill would have put an additional 30 percent on the back end to each business taxes. Senator Cloud had authored an election integrity bill to help prevent fraud in mail ballots. However the bill was vetoed by Governor Edwards. However she said she is not giving up. She announced that broadband infrastructure will be a major issue in the next session of the legislature. She reported that funds will be available for improvements to US 167 from Turkey Creek to the parish line. Dawn Storms with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry presented Senator Cloud a "Guardian of Small Business " award for her hard work in promoting and supporting small business in the state legislature including assisting banks and lending institutions to help local small businesses with the Paycheck Protection Program. Senator Cloud was the special guest of Rotarian Wayne Vidrine.