Taps for Louisiana, as state hits rock bottom in national rank
Written by Jeff Crouere
For the second year in a row, Louisiana has ranked last in the U.S. News and World Report state ranking. It is a poor ranking that is very well deserved.
The study focused on 77 different areas in eight major categories, such as crime. Unfortunately, in this area, Louisiana does not compare very favorably. Our state is a very violent one with the highest incarceration rate in the nation. Last year, a criminal justice reform package was signed by Governor John Bel Edwards. The ostensible reason for the legislation was to reduce the incarceration rate. Thus, 1900 “non-violent” offenders were released in November of 2017. Not surprisingly in the span of a few weeks, 76 of these prisoners were arrested again. Their victims would not have been targeted if these criminals were kept in prison.
LAGOP's new page: Gurvich replacing Villere; New Central Committee
Media Sources
The LaGOP has turned a new page. Long-time Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party Roger Villere has retired and the party is pleased to announce its newly elected Chairman, Louis Gurvich and other members of the executive committee. Here is the press release:
Warner Brothers, BRAC Eco. Summit in BR; Jefferson Chamber, LABI, GNO INC
Written by Bayoubuzz Staff
Louisiana Business shorts for today: Warner Brothers, Louisiana Economic Development Summit; Jefferson Chamber Legislative Agenda breakfast with Stephen Waguespack, Michael Hecht of GNO Inc:
Maness: Time to drain the Louisiana swamp too
Written by Stephen Sabludowsky
We know there is a swamp in Washington DC that President Trump promised to drain although some might argue that the only things that have changed are the critters that habituating it. But, other than our Bayous, does the State Capitol in Baton Rouge own its own swamps too?
Pinsonat, Rigamer poll: Louisiana has strong feelings about Internet issues
Media Sources
On Thursday, the Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF) released a poll of Louisiana conducted by a collaborative effort of pollsters Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer, voters have strong feelings about the government and the Internet, in light of the Net Neutrality and the now almost-ubiquitous use of that service in Louisiana and in America.
Maness says Governor John Bel Edwards could be a hero with budget reform
Written by Stephen Sabludowsky
Is Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards ready to be a hero? Is he willing and ready to take the reins, be a leader, pull a “Nixon goes to China” and get the Louisiana budget on a secure and stable process?
These are the basic thrusts of the comments articulated by Rob Maness earlier this morning as he discussed with me, the Louisiana legislative session via Facebook and Twitter Live.
Tidmore: Expect at least one-fourth penny sales tax from special session for fiscal cliff
Media Sources
What’s going to happen with the popular tuition program for Louisiana university students, called TOPS? Will any part of the penny sales tax that was passed as a temporary measure two years ago remain on the books? Back then, the legislature, facing a nearly one-billion dollar shortfall that needed to be made up in a matter of three months, arising from the Governor Bobby Jindal administration budget meltdown worsened by lower oil prices, opted for a single penny sales tax that will sunset later this year.
Taxes, cuts and LABI in cross-hairs of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards?
Written by Bayoubuzz Staff
On Monday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the legislature and the state in opening another special session to try to plug a fiscal hole.
Today, Bayoubuzz launched its first segment of its daily, twice per day segment discussing the legislative session, "Bayoubuzz Live: Louisiana Legislature", streamed to Facebook and Twitter.
Can Louisiana Speaker Barras keep renegade Republicans from defecting with Dems
Written by Jeffrey Sadow
It’s not so much whether Louisiana’s House of Representative’s Republican delegation can unite to address immediate fiscal concerns, but whether some faction of it will defect to hand Louisianans a big tax bill for the foreseeable future.
Cirque du Soleil launches Corteo in New Orleans with Louisiana tax credit program
Media Sources
Cirque du Soleil is returning to New Orleans this month to launch Corteo, its latest North American touring production. The Quebec-based entertainment company has made Louisiana a major hub for pre-production and launch of its North American tours in recent years.
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Live Stream with the Louisiana legislative newsmakers online, Bayoubuzz
Media Sources
The Louisiana legislative fiscal session starts today, is scheduled for no more than 17 days. A week later, the regular session begins. For the first time ever, session watchers will be able to watch live streamed legislature information on Facebook and Twitter and on Bayoubuzz.com.
Here's list of Officers and Board members for LABI for 2018
Media Sources
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is the largest and most politically powerful business group in the state. Last week at the 2018 Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) formally announced its officers and Board of Directors for 2018, along with the members of the 2018 LABI Emerging Leaders Council, a group of distinguished entrepreneurs and young professionals. LABI is pleased and proud to be guided by some of the top leaders and talent from the Louisiana business community from every corner of the state.
Let the Olympic-sized Louisiana fiscal cliff debate begin
Written by Stephen Sabludowsky
So, let the olympic-sized Louisiana legislative fiscal debate match begin!
On Monday, the Louisiana legislature convenes at the state Capitol for another special fiscal session to make an attempt to fix, what we might call, the always-existing revenue hole fiscal cliff.
You think Amazon would pick a "yahoo" state, like Louisiana?
Written by Jim Brown
In the current competition to land a new Amazon second North American headquarters, Louisiana pulled out all stops. It would have been quite a coup for a Louisiana location to land this big prize with some 50,000 new jobs to the winner. But from the beginning, the Bayou State never had a chance.
Dead Pelican
