Will Restricting School Choice Help Louisiana?
Governor John Bel Edwards clearly has different ideas about how to improve Louisiana education than former Governor Bobby Jindal.
Guest Commentary: Lawsuit Reform in the 2014 Legislative Session
The Louisiana Legislature kicked off the 2014 regular session last week, beginning a series of discussions about the most important issues facing the state. Already it is clear that lawsuit reform will be front and center in the debate.
Smart on Sentencing, Smart on Crime: An Argument for Reforming Louisiana’s Determinate Sentencing Laws
A new study details how Louisiana can reduce its prison population and corrections spending without lessening public safety by eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders and reforming its habitual offender law.
Something Like a Slur
Because Bob Mann holds the Manship Chair in Journalism and is the director of the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs at Louisiana State University, and his accusations center around the issue of racism, I feel compelled to respond to his claims.
The Trouble with Medicaid
Louisiana legislators may not have the power to fix what is wrong with the federal welfare state. But they can refuse to expand it in their own backyards.
New Study: Governor Jindal’s Tax Reform Plan Benefits Louisiana Economy
The study finds that the Governor’s tax reform would create 11,810 new jobs in the state by 2017– or roughly 3,000 jobs per year directly relate to these tax changes—while maintaining revenue neutrality.
Don’t Forget Course Choice
Act 2 moved Louisiana forward from an anachronistic model of education into a student-centric one that allows each child to master her learning before she moves on to another concept. It is an important model for the nation that puts the emphasis on learning outcomes and student success.
Louisiana Pensions Among Most Underfunded
A study of the 100 largest public pension plans in the U.S. highlights Louisiana’s pension fund troubles.
Data Shows Louisiana Schools’ Hiring and Benefits – Not Vouchers – the Cause of Budget Woes
Louisiana’s public schools put themselves in a precarious position by hiring more teachers and administrative personnel, even while the number of students declined. Generous pension and benefit plans have exacerbated this problem.
Louisiana’s Business Climate Rated Highly in Recent Studies
It is widely expected that tax reform will be the Jindal administration’s primary goal in the 2013 Louisiana legislative session. In a recent Advocate report, Tim Barfield from the Department of Revenue addressed the need for reform, pointing out that it is the “sticker price” and not the actual tax burden that is hampering “Louisiana’s efforts to attract businesses.”