EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

I'M BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF LPB.

JOINING ME FOR OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT IS THE LEADER OF ONE OF

THE GROUPS SPONSORING THE EFFORT, ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT.

WELCOME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

WHAT A GREAT EVENING. GREAT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

AS PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL OF

LOUISIANA OR PAR AS WE'RE KNOWN, IT'S BEEN MY JOB OVER THE LAST

TEN YEARS TO HELP SHINE A LIGHT ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING

OUR STATE AND OFFER SOLUTIONS. MOTIVATED BY SIGNIFICANT

STATE-WIDE ELECTION THIS OCTOBER, PAR PARTNERED WITH THE

COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA OR CABLE, AND THE COMMITTEE OF

100 TO CREATE AN AGENDA OF SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO RESET

THE STATE'S DIRECTION. ROBERT, WITH NUMEROUS ISSUES

TO FOCUS ON, RESET LOUISIANA HAS CHOSEN FOUR CATEGCATEGORIES,

EDUCATION, STATE FINANCES, TRANSPORTATION AND

INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE'VE GATHERED TOGETHER PANELISTS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS

WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

OVER THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL EXPLORE WHY THIS OCTOBER

ELECTION MAY BE A GOOD TIME FOR RESETTING LOUISIANA.

FIRST, AN OVERVIEW. LOUISIANA'S ELECTION IN

OCTOBER PRESENTS A TURNING POINT FOR THE STATE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO BARRY IRWIN. THIS IS A CROSS ROADS

ELECTION FOR US IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A PERIOD OF BUDGET STABILITY WHERE WE CANNOT

FOCUS ON THAT SO MUCH BUT FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT WILL MOVE US

FORWARD. CABLE IS JOINED WITH THE

PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA AND THE COMMITTEE

OF 100 TO CREATE THE RESET AGENDA.

INCLUDES LONG-TERM POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF

EDUCATION, STATE FINANCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRIMINAL

JUSTICE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VARIOUS

RANKINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT RANK US AS STATES AND ALL THE

DIFFERENT STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THESE ARE PARTS OF ALL

OF THOSE RANKINGS AND WE FEEL THESE ARE ONES WHERE WE CAN MAKE

A DIFFERENCE WHERE IF WE ENACT SOME CHANGE, WE CAN MOVE THE

NEEDLE AND MOVE THE STATE FORWARD AND THINGS THAT WE

BELIEVE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN OVERALL.

AMONG RESETS EARLY RECOMMENDATIONS IS ENSURING

CHILDREN AGE 3 AND UNDER ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN.

THIS IS POSSIBLE IF THE STATE FOLLOWS LA 4 PROGRAM MODEL.

WHEN WE STARTED 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD NO FUNDING, NO KIDS WHO

WERE IN A PROGRAM LIKE THAT. TODAY, WE HAVE ALMOST UNIVERSAL

ACCESS. IF WE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND

BEGIN TO MAKE INVESTMENTS YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR AS WE'VE

DONE IN OTHER AREAS, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES SHOULD BE PUT ON A PATH TOWARDS POST

SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH MORE PROGRAMS LIKE DUAL ENROLLMENT.

THAT'S KIND OF A MIND CHANGE IN K-12 EDUCATION.

THEIR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUST TO GRADUATE.

WE WANT TO GRADUATE MORE KIDS. NOW WE'RE SAYING WE WANT THEM TO

GRADUATE READY TO GO TO COLLEGE WITH A CREDIT WHILE THEY ARE

ALREADY THERE. THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS

SET A GOAL TO HAVE A DEGREE OR HIGH VALUE CREDENTIALS BY 2030.

CURRENTLY, ONLY 44% OF ADULTS DO.

WE THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REALLY STATE-WIDE PLAN,

CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THE ADULTS OUT THERE HAVE

OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO GO BACK INTO POST-SECONDARY

EDUCATION, GET A CREDENTIAL, GET A DEGREE, WHATEVER IT IS THEY

NEED BUT GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AS QUICKLY AS THEY

CAN. WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES,

RESET SAYS THE STATE'S TAX STRUCTURE SHOULD BE EASIER, MORE

COMPETITIVE AND TRANSPARENT. LOUISIANA'S 8% CORPORATE TAX

RATE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 5 OR 6% RATE OF

OTHER STATES. BUT THAT'S NOT THE FULL STORY.

NOW OUR TAX BURDEN IS LOWER 2457B 8% BECAUSE -- THAN 8%

BECAUSE WE HAVE EXEMPTIONS THAT ALLOW BUSINESSES TO RATCHET DOWN

TO THAT. EVERY ONE OF THOSE IS A STEP

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND THE MESSAGE WE SEND IS THAT,

HEY, WE'RE NOT A FAVORABLE PLACE TO COME WHERE MORE QUIETLY, WE

ARE A FAVORITE PLACE TO COME. TAX COLLECTIONS COULD BE

SIMPLIFIED. MOST STATES HAVE ONE TAX

COLLECTOR. IN LOUISIANA, IT'S DIVIDED

BETWEEN THE STATE AND COLLECTORS IN ALL 64 PERISHES.

THEY FEEL LIKE IF THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB THAN THE STATE OR

SOME STATE ENTITY OF COLLECTING TAXES AND KEEPING THOSE CLOSER

TO HOME, THE TRUTH IS WHEN WE'RE GETTING INTO E-COMMERCE AND

AMAZON AND ALL THE ONLINE SERVICES, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT

FOR THEM TO NAVIGATE A SYSTEM LIKE WE HAVE.

WHILE LOUISIANA HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING DEBT IN ORDER TO

PAY FOR STATE WORKERS PENSIONS, BY 2029, THIS SITUATION WILL

IMPROVE. RESET SUGGESTS A BLENDED OR

HYBRID PLAN FOR NEW STATE HIRES. PART A DEFINED BENEFIT SO

WE'RE LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY WHICH STATE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE.

ALSO SOMETHING LIKE A 401K THAT'S PORTABLE SO IF YOU MOVE

AROUND FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER, YOU CAN TAKE THAT WITH YOU.

WHILE RESET DOESN'T TAKE A STANCE ON HOLDING ANOTHER

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, IT DOES SUGGEST THE POSSIBLE

OUTCOMES IF THERE IS ONE. MOSTLY, IT'S A SIMPLIFIED,

SHORTENED, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND CONSTITUTION THAT GIVES CLARITY

TO THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING BUT ALSO GIVES FLEXIBILITY TO THE

LEGISLATURE AND OTHER POLICY MAKERS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS

NEEDED WITHOUT EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS WE HAVE TO GO

TO THE VOTERS AND PASS ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RESET RECOMMENDS CONTINUING TO

ROLL OUT THE REFORMS THAT PASSED IN 2017.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES LIKE THE OPIOID CRISIS COULD

ALSO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A TASK FORCE SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOR

JUSTICE REINVESTMENT. WE THINK THE STATE CAN BE A

CONVENER OF A TASK FORCE LIKE THIS TO TRY AND WORK THROUGH

SOME OF THESE ISSUES IN COMMUNITIES.

BY IN LARGE, IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE MORE SO A STATE ONE.

THE STATE CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN TRYING TO BRING COMMUNITIES

TOGETHER. HELP WORK WITH THEM TO CREATE

FRAMEWORKS WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

COMBATTING OPIOIDS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION AND

INFRASTRUCTURE, RESET PROPOSES ADJUSTING THE STATE GASOLINE TAX

WHICH HASN'T INCREASED IN 30 YEARS.

IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE AVAILABLE FROM

THE GASOLINE TAX GOING TO ROADS, THEY ARE DIMINISHED EVERY SINGLE

YEAR. PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS

BECAUSE OUR CARS BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT.

THE STATE COULD RAISE REGISTRATION FEES FOR ELECTRIC

OR HYBRID VEHICLES AND CONSIDER THE USE OF TOLLS AND MORE

PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS. WITHOUT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE

SPENDING, LOUISIANA RISKS LEAVING FEDERAL DOLLARS ON THE

TABLE. ESPECIALLY IF A NATIONAL

TRANSPORTATION BILL PASSES. MORE THAN LIKELY, THE MATCH

245 WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET WILL BE LARGER BECAUSE THE

DOLLARS ON THE TABLE WILL BE LARGER.

IF THERE'S MORE MONEY OUT THERE FOR US TO GET BUT WE NEED TO

HAVE THE DOLLARS TO PUT UP, WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO

COMPETE WITH THAT. IRWIN KNOWS WHEN SIGNIFICANT

CHANGE HAPPENS FOLLOWING AN ELECTION, IT'S USUALLY WITHIN

THE FIRST TWO YEARS. HE HOPES THAT THE RESET AGENDA

WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE DURING THE SMALL WINDOW OF TIME.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER AN ELECTION, WE'VE DONE

BIG THINGS. WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS WHEN

CANDIDATES AND LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR COMES IN AND WANTS

TO DO SOMETHING BIG, THEY'LL LOOK AT THESE AS SOME OF THE BIG

THINGS THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. HELPING US TO ACCOMPLISH BIG

THINGS TONIGHT IS OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE.

THE LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT, THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, THE

BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER AND EDUCATION ANALYST, MEMBER OF THE

RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE'S ASSOCIATION AND CEO OF THE

AMERICAN COUNCIL LOUISIANA ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

WELCOME TO EVERYONE. EACH YEAR LSU'S PUBLIC POLICY

RESEARCH LAB CONDUCTS LOUISIANA SURVEY.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, RESIDENTS WERE QUESTIONED ABOUT

WHETHER SEVERAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE RESET AGENDA WHEN ASKED

THEIR TOP CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE IN 2019, 34% NAMED

EDUCATION. 32% SAID TRANSPORTATION

INFRASTRUCTURE AND 25% SAID THE ECONOMY INCLUDING JOBS AND THE

BUSINESS CLIMATE. WHEN ASKED THEIR OPINION ON

INCREASING THE GASOLINE TAX BY 5 CENTS PER GALLON, 67% SAID THEY

SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE. BUT ONLY 49% SUPPORTED THIS

AMOUNT. WHEN ASKED THOUGHTS ON CRIMINAL

JUSTICE REFORM MEASURES IN 2017, 70% OF RESPONDENTS APPROVED OF

THE CHANGES. 21% DISAPPROVED AND 9% WERE

UNSURE. AND IN THE 2018 SURVEY, WHEN

ASKED ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO REWRITE THE STATE'S

CONSTITUTION, 46% SUPPORTED THE IDEA WHILE 44% OPPOSED IT.

A NEW STATE-WIDE SURVEY CONDUCTED THIS MONTH SHOWS 81%

BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

VOTE ON A REVISED CONSTITUTION. SO LET'S START WITH OUR OWN

PARTICIPANTS RIGHT HERE TONIGHT. AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHERE

DO YOU STAND ON THE RESET LOUISIANA RECOMMENDATIONS AND

WHAT DO YOU THINK A RESET MEANS TO YOU AND TO THE FOLKS IN YOUR

CONSTITU

CONSTITUENCY. LOGAN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THE RESET.

MY NAME IS LOGAN ANDERSON. I HANDLE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

WHERE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPER.

TO ME, RESET MEANS COMMITMENT TO FORCING OURSELVES TO MAKE TOUGH

DECISIONS. A LOT OF THE ISSUES ON THE

AGENDA WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR

YEARS. SOME OF US HAVE WORKED ON THESE

FOR YEARS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CRIMINAL

JUSTICE REFORM, WE'VE FAILED TO SUBSTANTIVELY ADDRESS THEM.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OURSELVES MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT

SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

WHY IS THIS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR A CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE? SURE.

FOR US, WE SEE BRINGING NEW BUSINESS AND HELPING EXISTING

BUSINESSES GROW AS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR MISSION.

WHEN WE ARE RANKED DEAD LAST IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE AREA, IT'S

TOUGH TO ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US NEVA.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHERE YOU ALL ARE COMING

FROM ON THIS. MY NAME IS NEVA BUTKIS AT THE

LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT. LPB WORKS TO ASSESS STATE

POLICIES SPECIFICALLY THROUGH TAX AND BUDGET TO ASSESS HOW THE

STATE POLICY DECISIONS IMPACT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME

FAMILIES. IN TERMS OF RESET BEING

EDUCATION ANALYST, RESET TO ME MEANS THAT EVERY PERSON IN

LOUISIANA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE,

RACE, GENDER, ET CETERA. AND I COMMEND RESET'S AGENDA FOR

FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD TO HIGHER ED.

SO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THROUGH EDUCATION TO TRY TO

REACH PEOPLE IN EVERY ZIP CODE? I THINK EDUCATION CAN BE A

LARGE PART OF IT, YES. GREAT.

WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT

ARE TIED TO DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

WE HAVE JOHN GALLAGHER WITH US TONIGHT WITH THE MUNICIPAL

ASSOCIATION. TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU'D BE

COMING FROM. SURE.

THANK YOU. I'M JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

I DO COMMEND PAR CABLE AND THE COMMITTEE 100.

WHEN I THINK OF RESET, I THINK OF PUNCHING A BUTTON AND

STARTING OVER. WHEN I GET THAT MIND SET WHEN I

THINK ABOUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS LOCAL TAX COLLECTION.

ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PUSH FOR STATE CENTRAL COLLECTION OR HAVING A

LOCAL COLLECTION. AND THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH OUR

MEMBERSHIP. WE FEEL THAT LOCALS DO A GREAT

JOB IN COLLECTING SALES TAXES AND LOCALS HAVE BEEN LEADERS AND

REALLY TRYING TO BRING REFORM BACK IN THE 90s WITH THE UTC.

THE COLLECTION PORTAL THAT COLLECTS A LOT OF THE E-COMMERCE

SALES TAXES THAT WE FEEL LIKE IS MAKING --

LST. FEEL LIKE OUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE FEEL IT'S WORKING ITS WAY THAT WOULD COMPLY.

THE REASON YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SALES TAX IS LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS ARE SO DEPENDENT ON THE SALES TAX.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES. ABSOLUTELY.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS A BIG PART OF THE WHOLE RESET PROGRAM.

I WANT TO ASK DOREEN. I'M DOREEN AND REPRESENT

CONSULTING ENGINEERS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK IT'S IRONIC WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESET.

I REMEMBER WHEN VISION 2020 WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF POLICY MAKERS

AND WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE.

AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES LOOKING BACK AND SEEING THE SAME

GOALS WE HAD THEN ARE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.

AND FOREIGN GIN EARS, WE'RE AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE

ROADS AND THE BRIDGES. AND RANKED US 48 FOR THE WORST

ROADS AND BRIDGES. SO WE KNOW IF WE DON'T HAVE AN

ACTION PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS

TRYING TO BUILD THIS ECONOMY. THE ECONOMY IS DEPENDENT UPON

BEING ABLE TO MOVE COMMERCE IN THE STATE WHETHER IT'S FOREIGN

PRODUCT SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S FAMILIES TRYING TO GET TO WORK

TO JOBS. IF WE DON'T INVEST IN

OURSELVES, WE CAN'T EXPECT BUSINESSES TO INVEST AS WELL.

THE 80s WERE THE LAST TIME WE PASSED A REVENUE STREAM.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RESET AND LOOK AT WHAT THAT

FUNDING STREAM IS GOING TO BE. IT NEEDS TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND

NEEDS TO BE SOON AND SUSTAINABLE.

OKAY. AND ONE OF THE MAJOR USERS OF

THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS TRUCKERS. AND SO WE HAVE CHANCE WITH THE

TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION. INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US

WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON ALL THIS RESET.

SURE. THANK YOU.

MY CHANCE IS CHANCE McNEALY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE

TRANSPORT. WE'RE A HUGE USER OF THE STATE'S

HIGHWAY SYSTEM. FOR US, WHAT I HOPE RESET MEANS

IS MORE OF A RESET OF OUR POLITICAL THINKING.

IT'S PRETTY EVIDENCE TO OUR INDUSTRY THE FUEL TAX IS THE

TIME TESTED CORRECT WAY TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE.

OUR DRIVERS, WE ARE PAYING THEM. THEIR CLOCK IS TICKING ON HOW

MANY HOURS THEY CAN DRIVE. AND SO THAT CREATES A LOT OF

PROBLEMS FOR US. WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS, IT

AFFECTS EVERY INDUSTRY. EVEN THE PEOPLE PAYING TAXES

ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM AND WILLING TO PAY MORE TO GET IT

FIXED, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.

WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT JEFF.

AND I KNOW YOU ALSO HAVE A KEEN INTEREST?

INFRASTRUCTURE. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT

YOUR THOUGHTS ARE. I'M JEFF KOONTS BY TRADE.

I'M HERE PRIMARY IN MY CAPACITY IS HEAD OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

AT THE BATON ROUGE CHAMBER. AS CITIZENS IN BOTH THESE

CAPACITIES HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND

RESET LOUISIANA IS REALLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE

CONVERSATION. AND MY HOPE IS WHEN A

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS, THEY FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES AND NOT

ALL THE ISSUES THAT SEEM TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME.

THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER.

WE CAN REALLY PROGRESS OURSELVES FROM 2040.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING BACK WITH

REGRET. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE

TIME. FRANK, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE KEEP

TALKING ABOUT IS THE STATE RETIREMENT PROGRAMS.

TELL US ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR VIEW IS.

MY NAME IS FRANK. I'M THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR

THE RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION.

AND MYSELF A RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE.

WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 30 YEARS.

TAKE AWAY OR DIMINISH A BENEFIT THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO

TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS OUR EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE SOCIAL

SECURITY. AND THAT'S THE SAFETY NET IN A

FOUNDATION FOR MOST RETIREMENT PLANS WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE.

THE NOTION IS DIFFERENT FOR A VERY VALID REASON.

WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO ACCOUNT.

WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE NEED TO REPRESENT A

CERTAIN CONSTITUENCY DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE THAT POSITION AND HAVE

A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. THEY'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO

FIND MIDDLE GROUND. I WANT TO FIND THAT BETTER

GROUND. I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS MAYBE

NOT THE BEST THING FOR MOST PEOPLE.

IT'S THE BEST THING FOR OUR PEOPLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UNTIL SOMETHING BETTER COMES ALONG, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE

ADVOCATING AND TAKING A POSITION WE DO.

I'M WILLING TO LISTEN. GOOD TALK.

ONE MORE IN. ALLEY, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

HEY, I'M ALLEY RAWL WITH THE APPEAL CAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC

POLICY.

-- PELICAN FOR PUBLIC POLICY. AS WE TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE

AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL, WE WANT MORE JOBS AND

MORE OPPORTUNITY. SO WE ARE LASER FOCUSED RIGHT

NOW AT THE INSTITUTE ON JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY AGENDA WHICH

OUTLINES REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS SIMILAR TO WHAT RESET IS WORKING

ON. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS

THE TIME TO ELEVATE THE ISSUES AND COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR TALKING

ABOUT SOMETHING SO DIFFICULT. HOW MANY HAVE HAD FRIENDS

MOVE OUT OF STATE BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEKING BETTER

OPPORTUNITIES THERE? MOST FOLKS HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING IS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW.

WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL BE JOINED BY THE PANEL OF EXPERTS TO

FURTHER DISCUSS RESET LOUISIANA.

WELCOME BACK TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

TONIGHT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE RESET LOUISIANA AGENDA.

JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL. MICHAEL OLIVIAE IS CEO OF THE

COMMITTEE OF 100 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COMPRISED OF STATEWIDE PRIVATE SECTOR CEOs.

SERVED AS LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY FROM 2004

TO 2018 AND HIS ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS OF THE RESET

INITIATIVES. CAMILLE IS THE SENIOR VICE

PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND

INDUSTRY OR LAW B. LEADS PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH

INITIATIVES AND FOCUSING ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FROM EARLY

CHILDHOOD TO ADULT EDUCATION. DR. JAMES RICHARDSON IS THE

ALUMNI PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION. SERVED FOR 32 YEARS ON THE

LOUISIANA REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFOR INSTANCE.

SERVES ON THE BOARD OF PAR. ERIC PONTE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF THE LOUISIANA ASPHALT PAVE RIT ASSOCIATION.

ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA COALITION TO FIX OUR

ROADS THAT ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

SERVED TWO TERMS AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM 2008 TO

2015. BEFORE WE GO TO AUDIENCE

QUESTIONS, I'D FIRST LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU FROM YOUR OWN

PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES RESETTING LOUISIANA MEAN TO YOU AND WHY IS

NOW A GOOD TIME FOR US TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT?

WE'LL START WITH YOU MICHAEL. WELL, THE THING ABOUT RESET

LOUISIANA IS THAT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE OF

LOUISIANA CALLED THE COMMITTEE 100 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SINCE 1992, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH PUBLIC

POLICY ISSUES THAT EFFECT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.

WE ARE THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE OF THE STATE.

WE'RE NOT THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHAT WE ARE IS A GROUP OF OVER 100 CEOs WHO WANT TO MAKE

CHANGES IN THE STATE THAT WILL HELP US TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

THIS IS THE BEST TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS

THAT HAVE LONG HISTORIES OF PUBLIC POLICY, GATHERING AND

PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BRING

THESE FOUR AREAS TO THE FOREFRONT.

WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY SEATS BEING CONTESTED.

WE HAVE MORE SEATS AVAILABLE THAN EVER BEFORE.

IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE.

WE NEED TO MAKE DIFFERENCES IN THE FOUR AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN

OUTLINED FROM TRANSPORTATION TO EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

OUR MISSION HERE IS TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THIS COALITION

AND WORK WITH THE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO OFFICE, WORK WITH

THE INCUMBENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

WE HAVE TOO MANY GOOD THINGS. MICHAEL WHO WAS ONCE THE

SALES MAN FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA SO I KNOW YOU KNOW

WELL HOW THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT. CAMILLE, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT

WHERE LAW B IS COMING FROM. SURE.

I HAVE TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MIKE JUST SAID.

I THINK OF OPPORTUNITY. I THINK OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE

CHANGE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE OF

US TO MAKE ROOM TO IMPROVE. THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT AS MIKE

MENTIONED WITH THE TERM LIMITED LEGISLATURE MEANS WE HAVE A

CHANCE FOR 40 OR 50 NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME INTO OFFICE.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW IDEAS AND NEW ENERGY.

IT'S A MOMENT TO SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH THOSE NEW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE

STATE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE STATE

WE LOVE. THERE'S A BIG LEARNING CURVE.

THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE HOPE THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT.

DR. RICHARDSON, WHAT'S RESET MEAN TO YOU?

WELL, IT MEANS MAKING POLICY WHICH WE DO EVERYDAY.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES. AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT

BEFORE, WE GOT ON STAGE. TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT EDUCATION, ABOUT ROADS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE A PRICE TAG.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR.

SHIFT OUR RESOURCES ARRANGED OR HAVE A NEW RESOURCE.

SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

IF WE DECIDE WE NEED TO SHIFT THE RESOURCES AROUND, WE CAN

SHIFT TAXES AROUND TOO. DO WE SET UP TAX SYSTEM THAT

ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE NATIONALLY?

ALSO IN TERMS OF MAKING IT GOOD FOR CITIZENS TO LIVE HERE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INTERTWINED.

THESE ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS WE WANT TO

MAKE IT. BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS

COMPLICATED. WZ WE WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM

AND TALK ABOUT TO NEW LEGISLATURE, CAN'T GET A TYPE OF

A BANNER, RESET, DO THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE

DETAILS RIGHT. WE EXPLAIN THEM TO PEOPLE AND

THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE DETAILS.

I HOPE 24E6B AN APPETITE FOR THE DETAIL.

WE SHALL SEE. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF TAX REFORM

IS THE STABILITY. IT'S PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE

TOO. ERIC, YOU ARE HERE WITH A VERY

SPECIAL PERSPECTIVE ON RESET. I AM HAVING SERVED IN THE

LEGISLATURE AND A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE STATE FOR MANY YEARS,

ECHOING THE SEDIMENTS THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID, IT'S AN

IMPORTANT TIME AND A CRITICAL TIME.

WITHOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

LIFEBLOOD OF OUR STATE TRYING TO GET TO WORK.

OUR BUSINESSES CAN'T EXPAND. EMPLOYEES CAN'T GET TO WORK.

IF YOU ARE GRIDLOCKED. CAN'T GET PRODUCTS TO MARKET AND

IT COSTS ADDITIONAL MONEY, IT AFFECTS EVERYONE.

BEEN SINCE 1984. IT'S PAST TIME AND OVERTIME.

COMES AT A COST. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S

CRITICAL BECAUSE AS ITERATED HERE, WE HAVE A HIGH TURN OVER.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH TURN OVER IN

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND TIME WE VISIT THE ELECTED

OFFICIALS AND REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING OUR STATE

FORWARD. AND TIME WE MOVE OURSELVES

FORWARD JUST IN TRANSPORTATION. EVERY SOUTHERN STATE IMPROVED

AND IT'S TIME WE FIX OUR

LIFEBLOOD. WE'VE GONE AROUND THE STATE

AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN ALL THE AREAS TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR

BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE. FARMERS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET

THEIR PRODUCE TO MARKET AND SO ON.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SOUTH LOUISIANA ISSUE.

IT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE. I WANT TO ASK JOHN TO JUMP IN

HERE. YOU HAD A QUESTION YOU WANTED TO

ASK. SURE.

THANK YOU. JOHN WIBLE.

PRESIDENT LOUISIANA RESEARCH CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND

LEARNING. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE RESET

AGENDA BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF REASONS.

ONE, BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS IT PUTS ON EDUCATION.

AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE THIS EVENING KNOW WE HAVE TO FIX

EDUCATION TO BE ABLE TO FIX LOUISIANA.

WE KNOW PROSPEROUS STATES, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES HAVE

QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION. ONE OF THE CORE ISSUES IS

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION

PROGRESS, LESS THAN 30% ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL.

WE FEEL THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE WE HAVE TO CORRECT TO HAVE

A SKILLED LABOR ALL OF THE WORKFORCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO INVEST IN THAT KNOWING THAT 50%

OF OUR CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM IMPOVERISHED HOMES?

YOU PUT IT INTO SUCCINCTLY WHAT IT IS.

IT'S A WORKFORCE ISSUE. THAT'S IT.

WE'VE GOT TO START THEM YOUNG. AND WE PROVED THE PROGRAM THAT

STARTS TRAINING 4 YEAR OLDS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO

EARLY PRE-K TRAINING WE NEED TO DO IT AT THE 3 YEAR OLD LEVEL.

WE NEED TO DO IT FROM BIRTH TO 3.

AND START FUNDING THESE THINGS. AND THEY ARE LEARNING.

IT'S A POVERTY THING. ALL OF IT IS INTER IN--

INTERTWINED. WHAT YOU SAID, EARLY

CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO THAT.

EARLY INTERVENTION AND LITERACY IS CRITICAL.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO

HELP DRIVE THAT. WE'RE ALL CONCERNED.

AND YOU'VE SEEN THE STATE BOARD TAKE STEPS TO TRY TO ADDRESS

THAT. YOU ARE SEEING THEM RAISE THE

BAR ON WHAT PROFICIENT IS ON READING WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE

FOR SCHOOLS AND KIDS AND PARENTS.

IF KIDS CAN'T READ, THEY CAN'T DO MATH.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED IN THIRD GRADE OR 8TH GRADE.

I THINK THE INTENTION IS RIGHT. I THINK EVERYONE AGREES ON THE

PROBLEM AND I THINK WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

LET ME GO TO ROGER WHO HAS A QUESTION.

AND STAY ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.

I THINK THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

TELL US WHAT YOU ARE WITH AND GIVE US YOUR QUESTION.

I'M WITH THE LOUISIANA UNIFORM LOCAL SALES TAX BOARD.

FAIRLY NEW CREATION OF LEGISLATURE WITH OUR MISSION

BEING TO PROMOTE UNIFORM IN LOCAL SALES TAX.

SALES TAX HAS BEEN MY AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO FACE IS LOCAL AND STATE

COLLECTORS IS THE COMPLEXITY OF LOUISIANA SALES TAX LAW.

THEY ARE OVER 200 EXEMPTIONS ON THE BOOKS.

THOSE EXPECT BOTH IN STATE AND OUT OF STATE RETAILERS.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE.

MY QUESTION IS WOULD RESET BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, IN

GENERAL, SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE EXEMPTIONS TO

BE REEXAMINED PERIODICALLY, TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS.

ONE, TO DETERMINE HAVE THEY PERFORMED WHAT THEIR ULTIMATE

PURPOSE WAS? I THINK WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS

100 OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS. IT'S MIND-BOGGLING TO THINK

THERE ARE 200 EXEMPTIONS BUT 100 OF THOSE ARE TEMPORARILY ASIDE.

LET'S LET MS. CONNOWAY TRY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

AND DR. RICHARDSON MAY HAVE IDEAS.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SIMPLE TAX SYSTEM IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

DETAILED EXAMINATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.

AND I WOULD DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXEMPTP

GOES AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD TAX POLICY.

AN EXEMPTP GOES IN THE STATUTE AND 40 OTHER STATES DON'T EVER

TAX THAT TO BEGIN WITH. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

CERTAIN TYPE OF EXEMPTIONS. AND BEING MAYBE THESE ARE

TAXABLE ITEMS. SOME ARE COMPETITIVE.

HOW ABOUT YOU, DR. RICHARDSON?

WE HAVE THE STATE HAS EXEMPTIONS OF ITS OWN AS WELL.

AND THAT COMPLICATES THE WORLD A GREAT DEAL.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CENTRALIZED SALES TAX.

THAT MEANS EXEMPTIONS FOR THE STATE AND LOCALS ARE THE SAME.

THE SAME TAX BASE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE.

TO GET THERE, IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK.

AND NOT GOING TO BE DONE OVERNIGHT.

THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS TO DO IT WELL.

WE AFFECT PEOPLE AND DON'T KNOW WE'RE AFFECTING.

SOME MAY BE BETTER OFF. SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY GET

EXTRA MONEY. SOME MAY LOSE AND WE DON'T

REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, TO BE HONEST.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CROSS BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO CALL ON GUY

RIGHT NOW TO JUMP INTO THIS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

TELL EVERYBODY WHO YOU ARE AND HIT US WITH A QUESTION.

GUY CORMIER. I WAS A PAST PRESIDENT.

I WORE THAT ELECTED HAT FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THREE COMMITTEE OF 100 THE PAR

AND CABLE FOR GETTING TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THE BOARD OF

DIRECTORS AND LOOK AT TREMENDOUSLY TALENTED PEOPLE

SERVING AND WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR LOUISIANA JUST LIKE MY FOLKS

THAT SERVE. WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE

CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA. BUT THIS CENTRAL SALES TAX

COLLECTION ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN

WHERE THERE'S REALLY NO -- JUST LIKE THIS, THIS COMMITTEE

REPORT, THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO LOCAL INPUT FROM THE TAX

COLLECTORS AND FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS.

THERE'S BEEN NO PARTICIPATION IN GETTING WHAT WE NEED.

WE HAVE A REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE THAT'S SET.

WE NEED TO HAVE A TAX EXEMPTP GOES REVENUE THAT OFTEN MAYBE

MEETS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO REVIEW THESE THINGS.

WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS.

GO AHEAD, DR. RICHARDSON. WE DO LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT

EXPENDITURE IN TERMS OF THE CREDITS WE GIVE.

BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE -- ONCE THEY ARE IN STATUTE, THEY ARE

LAW. SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE

CREDIT IF YOU WANT TO OR IF THAT FITS YOUR PARTICULAR FINANCIAL

SITUATION. I THINK IN THE ELEMENT, I AGREE

ON THE EXEMPTIONS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STEADY

COMMITTEES AND ALMOST EVERY ONE YOU HAVE WILL TELL YOU GET THE

EXEMPTIONS OUT OF THE WAY AND GET THE RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

ALMOST EVERY ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU THAT.

DOESN'T MATTER. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

AND WE TRY TO DO THAT. AGAIN, THE EXEMPTIONS, SOMEBODY

LIKES THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE

THE FACT WE HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST STATE AND LOCAL SALES

TAX. WE'RE REALLY TIED FOR FIRST TO

BE HONEST. LET'S BRING A BUSINESS

PERSPECTIVE IN. I'M WAYNE BROWN.

I'M A BUILDER DEVELOPER. WE'RE ALMOST A 50-YEAR OLD

COMPANY. WE WORK STATEWIDE.

SO ALL THESE REFORMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

I ALSO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE OF 100.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THIS.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND LPB PUTTING ON THIS PROGRAM

FOR INFORMATION. I'M ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE

SUPPORT I'M HEARING FROM THE GROUP ON THESE REFORMS THAT

WE'RE ALL WORKING WITH PAR AND CABLE ON.

ALSO SERVE AS BOARD MEMBER FOR THE LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

HIGHER EDUCATION HADN'T BEEN MENTIONED BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING

THAT UP. I'M VERY HOPEFUL WE COULD

RESTORE OUR FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WHERE WE WERE IN THE

MIDDLE OF SEC WITH OUR STATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIGHER

EDUCATION. I THINK ALONG WITH MISSISSIPPI.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. AND THERE ARE SUCH NEEDS IN OUR

STATE. WE'RE DOING A LOT WITH WHAT WE

HAVE. LET'S BRING THE ACC, ATLANTA

KOEFLT CONFERENCE INTO THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE

LEGISLATURE WHERE THEY CAN WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO FUND OUR

HIGHER EDUCATION AND TAKE CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS?

WE HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK AS YOU'VE SEEN THE FISCAL OUTLOOK IMPROVE, THERE

HAS BEEN BYPARTISAN SUPPORT TO FUND HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE

NEEDS WE HAVE. I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 245.

WHAT YOU SEE MORE OFTEN IS LOOKING FOR BETTER OUTCOMES AT

THE SAME TIME. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HIGHER

GRADUATION RATES WHERE THEY CAN GO TO A JOB RIGHT AWAY.

WHAT I'M ENCOURAGED ABOUT IS TO SEE THE BOARD AND OTHERS REALLY

TAKE THE LEAD. OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

TRYING VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT TO TRY

TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF WORK BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM, GET A SKILL,

GET A CREDENTIAL, GET A DEGREE THAT'S GOING TO PUT THOSE FOLKS

TO WORK. WE HAVE A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC

ABOUT. THE BOARD OF REGENTS JUST

RELEASED LONG-TERM STRATEGY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC

BASE. HERE WE HAVE A RATING AGENCY

THAT RATES OUR BONDS THAT'S LOOKING AT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

AND SAYING THAT'S AWESOME, KEEP IT UP.

60% IS A BIG NUMBER. IF YOU CAN ACHIEVE THAT, IT'S

GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I READ THAT REPORT AND IT HAD

A FEW THINGS TO SAY. ISN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

ERIC, TELL US WHERE WE ARE ON THE OUTLOOK AT THAT.

WE HAD A PARTICULAR APPROACH TRYING TO GENERATE MORE ACTIVITY

FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

WELL, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT WAS 1984 WHEN IT WAS

PASSED FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. AND IT WAS BASICALLY BY THE SIX

SENSE. WE HAVE 39,000 LANE MILES IN OUR

STATE. WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IT WITH

6 CENTS. WE FORMED THE LOUISIANA

COALITION TO FIX OUR ROADS. BASICALLY, AT THIS POINT, ABOUT

100 BUSINESSES HAVE BANNED TOGETHER.

WE'RE 48TH IN THE COUNTRY. THIS YEAR ALONE, 37 BRIDGES ARE

CLOSED. BRIDGES CLOSED FROM LAST YEAR

AND THE YEAR BEFORE. NOT JUST BRIDGES CLOSED.

A LOT OF BRIDGES REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT YOU COULD PUT

ON THEM. FOR SOME BUSINESSES, THOSE

BRIDGES ARE CLOSED. ABSOLUTELY YOU ARE RIGHT.

THE ROAD CAPACITY HAS BEEN DECREASED.

OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, THESE SCHOOL BUSES

HAVE TO GO AN HOUR OUT OF THEIR WAY AND COMING BACK.

DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD ON THAT SCHOOL BUS?

WE HAVE HAD BRIDGES FAILED THIS YEAR.

THE COALITION GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH IDEAS AND

SOLUTIONS. HOW DIRE AND HOW BAD OUR ROADS

AND CONDITIONS. WE'RE DOING A STATEWIDE EFFORT.

I'LL LET DOREEN OR CHANCE JUMP IN HERE ON THIS ISSUE.

I DROVE TO TEXAS RECENTLY AND, MY GOSH, TOLLS EVERYWHERE.

AND THEY ARE NOT JUST PAYING FOR THE ROAD YOU ARE ON.

JUST GETTING REVENUE FROM YOU FOR THAT WHOLE REGION.

I WAS IN ORLANDO RECENTLY AND ALMOST EVERY MAJOR ROAD HAS A

TOLL ON IT. WHY NOT TOLLS IN LOUISIANA?

HOW WOULD THAT WORK? I WONDER IF CHANCE AND DOREEN

MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT. I'D BE HAPPY TO GO FIRST.

WITH RESPECT TO TOLLING, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRAFFIC VOLUME TO

GENERATE SUFFICIENT DOLLARS TO BUILD STRUCTURES IN LOUISIANA

EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE LOCATIONS, PERHAPS A NEW I-10 BRIDGE IN

LAKE CHARLES. WE'RE LIMITED AS FAR AS WHERE

TOLLING COULD HELP FINANCE A

STRUCTURE. FROM A TRUCKING PERSPECTIVE, WE

OPPOSE TOLLS. EVEN AMONG THE ADVOCATES,

THERE'S DISAGREEMENT OVER THAT. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, TOLLING IS

NOT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.

YOU HAVE TO PAY BACK A PRIVATE INVESTOR.

SEEMS TO BE SPREADING IN A LOT OF OTHER STATES.

I THINK WHERE LOUISIANA IS LOOKING NOW ARE ALTERNATIVE

METHODS FOR FUNDING. LOOKING AT PUBLIC PRIVATE

PARTNERSHIPS WHICH RELY ON TOLLS.

LOOKING AT USAGE FEE. GOT TO BE A SOURCE OF FUNDING

THAT'S SUSTAINABLE. THERE'S BEEN GREAT EFFORT TO PUT

SOME SURPLUS DOLLARS TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

BUT THAT'S JUST NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES.

NOT GOING TO BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI.

NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE TUNNEL.

AND I THINK THE STATE AND DOTD IS TRYING TO GET CREATIVE AND

STILL GOING TO REQUIRE SOME REVENUE SOURCE.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE.

$12 BILLION BACKLOG ON CURRENT PROJECTS AND $15 BILLION WE NEED

FOR NEW PROJECTS. WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD THINGS WE

CAN'T TAKE CARE OF. WHAT WE HAVE IS OLD AND AGING

AND NEEDS WORK. PLUS, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WE

DON'T HAVE 245 WE NEED TO HAVE. ERIC, YOU WANT TO CLOSEOUT?

TO THOSE POINTS, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE WE'VE HAD A SURPLUS.

LOUISIANA, WE FAILED TO MAKE

MATCH. WE LOSE $700 MILLION FROM THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NEXT YEAR WITH THE DOLLARS THAT

ARE GENERATED, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE PLAN.

$780 MILLION AND WE WERE FORTUNATE THIS PAST YEAR THAT WE

WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET OTHER STATE'S DOLLARS.

BUT IT'S A BAND-AID APPROACH. $26 BILLION PROBLEM.

THE P3s, ALL THOSE ARE GREAT. BUT TIME TO RESET AND LOOK AT

THIS. IT'S BEEN 35 YEARS AND TIME WE

DO SOMETHING. IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO

GET -- GETS US BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

IT GETS US BACK AND PULLS US OFF OF 48.

SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED A RESET. HOW ABOUT MR. ROBERT BURNS UP

HERE. YOU'VE BEEN AN OBSERVER OF THE

POLITICAL SCENE FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND GIVE THE PANEL A QUESTION.

I HAVE BEEN. I'M ROBERT BURNS.

I'M A VIDEO BLOGGER FROM THE VIDEO BLOG SOUND OFF LOUISIANA.

WELCOME ANYBODY TO GO VISIT IT. LOUISIANA RANKS NEAR THE TOP OF

LICENSING FOR LOW WAGE OCCUPATIONS.

ONLY STATE TO LICENSE FLORISTS. ONE OF THREE STATES TO LICENSE

INTERIOR DESIGNERS. THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE WHICH

IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN VIRGINIA WHICH REGULARLY SUES

STATE BODIES OVER INFRINGEMENTS OVER THE RIGHTS TO MAKE A LIVING

HAVE SUED THE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS TO OVERSEE THE

LICENSING. AND MOST RECENTLY SUED THE

COSMETOLOGY BOARD WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE 500 HOURS AND

THERE'S NO SCHOOL THAT EVEN OFFERS THE PROGRAM EXCEPT FOR

ONE IN MONROE. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE PANEL HOW

MUCH FOCUS DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN THE UP COMING

FUTURE SESSION, FUTURE GOVERNOR TOWARD ROLLING BACK MANY OF

THESE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS THAT IN REALITY DON'T PROTECT

THE PUBLIC BUT SERVE AS BARRIERS TO ENTRY.

THEY SUPPRESS UPWARD MOBILITY AND IN MANY INSTANCES, THEY

CONSTITUTE TRADE UNIONS AND A RIGHT TO WORK STATE.

AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND WHY DON'T WE LET ALLEY

ANSWER THIS. THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW VIEWS ON

THIS. AND I THINK HE CITED IT.

THE ARCH BRIDGE INSTITUTE DID A STUDY IN TERMS OF LOW WAGE

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE HOW IT AFFECTS UPWARDS MOBILITY.

WHEN YOU ARE IN A STATE THAT HAS POVERTY RATES, SOME OF THE WORST

IN THE NATION, YOU WOULD THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME CORRELATION

THERE. WE'RE AN OUTLIAR.

OF ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU WOULD THINK

YOU'D BE ABLE TO REMOVE SOMETHING LIKE OCCUPATIONAL

LICENSE FOR HAIR BRAIDING. WE HAVE SUPPORTED THAT

LEGISLATION MULTIPLE YEARS IN A ROW AND IT HAS FAILED.

ARBITRARY OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT IS SOMETHING THE NEXT

LEGISLATURE MUST ADDRESS. THERE'S NO GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS WHERE WE'VE WORKED ON THIS IS IN

REENTRY. WHEN FORMER OFFENDERS ARE

RE-ENTERING SOCIETY AND WE HAVE LICENSING BARRIERS ALL OVER THE

PLACE, WE'RE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT.

VERY SIMPLE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE SIMPLE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS

RESET NEED TO BE PART OF THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE

CHALLENGING FACING PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ON LOW INCOME LEVEL.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THEY FACE.

JAMIE, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR

ORGANIZATION. JAMIE CARSON.

IN LOUISIANA, THERE ARE WIDE DISPARITIES BETWEEN BLACK AND

WIDE HOUSEHOLDS. MUCH IN THE SEGREGATION THAT

CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I'M WONGEDERING WHAT CAN THE RESET AGENDA DO TO ADDRESS THIS

ISSUE? MIKE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ON

THAT QUESTION? THAT'S A BIG ONE.

BECAUSE OF THE LEVELS OF POVERTY, IT COMES RIGHT BACK.

POVERTY, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, ALL OF IT.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS LEADING US TO HAVE A BETTER

OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO COMPETE.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU

ARE SAYING AND THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE AWARE.

GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE.

OFFERING TO THE LEGISLATURE SOLUTIONS.

DON'T JUST TELL THEM GO DO IT. BUT SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT.

THAT'S THE BIG THING WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO LAUNCH

INTO THIS THING. FIRST, WE'RE NOT PARTISAN.

WE WANT TO SEE GOOD THINGS DONE IN LOUISIANA AND WE WANT TO TELL

THE LEGISLATORS WE'RE GOING TO BE YOUR SUPPORTER.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU COVER. WE WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE BOTH

THE BILLS, CALL OUT THE BILLS. DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED

TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE CHANGES. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN

DO IS TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE NEED, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE DONE AND

HELP THEM OR GIVE THEM THE SOLUTIONS.

AND YOU'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT AND STUDY TO INCOME

DISSPART. CAN YOU REFLECT ON THAT?

FIRST; IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

IT MAY TAKE 20 YEARS. AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT TONIGHT, THE ROADS AND

INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LONG-TERM GOALS,

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. WE BETTER BE PATIENT.

IF WE THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATURE ITS FIRST TERM IN

OFFICE IS GOING TO SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS, WE'RE KIDDING

OURSELVES. I THINK THE FIRST THING WE HAVE

TO BE CAREFUL, IF WE DON'T STARTED TO, WE'LL NEVER GET

THERE. NOTHING HAPPENS WHILE WE

WAIT. THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT TO START. SOME OF THE THINGS MIKE'S

TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE, THAT'S CRITICAL.

THEN SOME OF THE 24I7KS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THE CRAZY

RULES WE HAVE, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT PRETTY FAST.

WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE CRAZY RULES QUICKLY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL.

WORKING WITH THE FLORIST OR THE BRAIDERS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO

LOOK LIKE A HIGH-PROFILE ISSUE. JUST BARELY SNEAKING THROUGH AND

EASY TO DEFEAT. FOCUSING ON OPPORTUNITIES, A

LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE

THE OPPORTUNITIES. FOCUSING ON ANY INSTITUTIONS

THAT HAVE BARRIERS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

INSTITUTIONS IN ALL THEIR FORMS AND DIG IN AND BE AWARE OF.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

JOHN GALLAGHER TALK A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE STATE VIEW.

WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE, THERE ARE CITIES THAT ARE REALLY

DOING PRETTY WELL. AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER TOWNS

REALLY STRUGGLING. I WONDER IF THAT'S THE FUTURE.

FOR THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE LOCAL AREAS AROUND THE

STATE. WONDER IF YOU CAN REFLECT ON

THAT. WE HAVE SOME DOING VERY WELL.

WE HAVE SOME THAT/OWE SOMETIMES I SEE IT AS NO FAULT OF THEIR

OWN. SOME BACK INTO THE 70s AND 80s

THAT WERE JUST BLOWING AND GOING.

AND WHEN I-49 CAME ALONG, IT WAS REROUTED AWAY AND TOOK THE

LIFEBLOOD OUT OF THOSE WHEN THE INDUSTRY WENT DOWN AND MILL

STARTED CLOSING. SPRING HILL IS AN EXAMPLE.

AND A LOT IS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

I HEAR THE LEGISLATURE. SMALL TOWNS NEED TO GO AWAY.

I FIND HARD TO SWALLOW. WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT WHERE

WE'RE TEAMING WITH A POD CAST COMPANY.

GOING TO START FEATURING THE SMALL TOWNS.

WHAT'S THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR THESE SMALL TOWNS?

I HEAR YOU ARE TAKING AWAY FROM THEM.

YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF THE FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AND

WORKING WITH THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND

WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES,

SMALLER WATER SYSTEMS ABOUT CONSOLIDATING AND HELPING THEM

WORK THROUGH THE USDA. IS THE STATE DOING ENOUGH?

I THINK THE STATE -- I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST SAY HEY STATE.

I THINK THE LOCALS NEED TO AND WE NEED TO AS A GROUP LOOK AND

CONSIDER IF YOU NEED TO RAISE YOUR WATER RATES, I KNOW USDA

GETTING THE GRANTS IN ORDER TO APPLY, YOU HAVE TO RAISE YOUR

WATER RATES AND LOOK AT CONSOLIDATION.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON PROGRAMS TO TRY

TO GET -- THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES YESTERDAY

ABOUT RURAL COMMUNITIES. YOU SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CHALLENGE IN RURAL AREAS. FROM MY INDUSTRY, WE'RE

TRYING TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FINANCING AND WHAT SYSTEMS CAN

DO. CUTTING EDGE THAN AN INVESTMENT

EARLY ON CAN REAP BENEFITS LONG-TERM SO YOU ARE NOT HAVING

SO MUCH MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF

TIME. ONE SENTENCE TO CLOSEOUT WHAT IS

THE ONE THING YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE AWAY FROM TONIGHT.

MICHAEL, GO. THEY GOT TO ASK THEIR ELECTED

OFFICIALS WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THESE FOUR ISSUES AND WHAT CAN

YOU DO? WHAT SMALL TOWNS AND LARGE

TOWNS NEED ARE JOBS. THAT'S LOOKING FOR KIDS HERE

WHERE THEY CAN FIND A JOB. DR. RICHARDSON.

EVERY PROBLEM WE HAVE IS NOT SOMETHING CREATED IN THE LAST

YEAR OR TWO YEARS. IT'S BEEN CREATED OVER 20 YEARS,

30 YEARS OR 40 YEARS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG TO

SOLVE THEM. WE NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE, ON THE

GO, START RIGHT NOW AND NEED TO BE PATIENT.

CAN HE CAN'T KEEP BLAMING ALONG.

I DIDN'T GO BACK THAT FAR. AGAIN, THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN

AROUND FOREVER. WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION IN FRONT OF OUR LECTED

OFFICIALS. OKAY.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT.

WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR PANELISTS, MR. OLIVIAE, MS.

CONNOWAY. WHEN WE COME BACK, A FEW CLOSING

COMMENTS.

A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION. I THINK WE ALL NEED PATIENCE.

SOMETHING I'M SHORT OF MOST OF THE TIME.

WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.

NO FIGHTS BROKE OUT. IT WAS PRETTY GOOD DEAL.

ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY AND I

KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS ON THE 28TH RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATES IN A DEMOCRACY.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE.

ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR

THIS EPISODE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR

WEB SITE AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.

YOU'LL FIND A LINK THERE TO THE RESET PROPOSALS.

AND VOTING INFORMATION. IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON

TONIGHT'S SHOW, CLICK THE JOIN THE CONVERSATION TAB.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. ACCORDING TO A STUDY RELEASED

LAST YEAR, LOUISIANA RANKS AMONGST THE TOP THREE STATES

MOST VULNERABLE IN A TRADE WAR WITH CHINA.

JOIN LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE NEXT MONTH AS IT TRAVELS TO

ALEXANDRIA LOUISIANA ON TARIFF TENSIONS OCTOBER 23RD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.

FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM CALL 800-973-7246 OR GO ONLINE

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