1 00:00:14,982 --> 00:00:17,517 EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING. 2 00:00:17,685 --> 00:00:20,520 AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. 3 00:00:43,977 --> 00:00:47,213 HELLO AND WELCOME TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE. 4 00:00:47,380 --> 00:00:51,285 I'M BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF LPB. 5 00:00:51,452 --> 00:00:55,088 JOINING ME FOR OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT IS THE LEADER OF ONE OF 6 00:00:55,255 --> 00:00:58,758 THE GROUPS SPONSORING THE EFFORT, ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT. 7 00:00:58,925 --> 00:01:00,027 WELCOME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK. 8 00:01:00,193 --> 00:01:02,597 WHAT A GREAT EVENING. GREAT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. 9 00:01:02,763 --> 00:01:05,865 AS PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL OF 10 00:01:06,033 --> 00:01:09,903 LOUISIANA OR PAR AS WE'RE KNOWN, IT'S BEEN MY JOB OVER THE LAST 11 00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:14,342 TEN YEARS TO HELP SHINE A LIGHT ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING 12 00:01:14,475 --> 00:01:18,645 OUR STATE AND OFFER SOLUTIONS. MOTIVATED BY SIGNIFICANT 13 00:01:18,812 --> 00:01:22,515 STATE-WIDE ELECTION THIS OCTOBER, PAR PARTNERED WITH THE 14 00:01:22,683 --> 00:01:26,253 COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA OR CABLE, AND THE COMMITTEE OF 15 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:30,257 100 TO CREATE AN AGENDA OF SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO RESET 16 00:01:30,423 --> 00:01:33,760 THE STATE'S DIRECTION. ROBERT, WITH NUMEROUS ISSUES 17 00:01:33,927 --> 00:01:40,700 TO FOCUS ON, RESET LOUISIANA HAS CHOSEN FOUR CATEGCATEGORIES, 18 00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:44,103 EDUCATION, STATE FINANCES, TRANSPORTATION AND 19 00:01:44,237 --> 00:01:46,207 INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 20 00:01:46,373 --> 00:01:49,777 WE'VE GATHERED TOGETHER PANELISTS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS 21 00:01:49,943 --> 00:01:52,045 WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. 22 00:01:52,212 --> 00:01:55,515 OVER THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL EXPLORE WHY THIS OCTOBER 23 00:01:55,682 --> 00:02:00,120 ELECTION MAY BE A GOOD TIME FOR RESETTING LOUISIANA. 24 00:02:00,253 --> 00:02:04,558 FIRST, AN OVERVIEW. LOUISIANA'S ELECTION IN 25 00:02:04,725 --> 00:02:06,627 OCTOBER PRESENTS A TURNING POINT FOR THE STATE. 26 00:02:06,793 --> 00:02:13,267 THAT'S ACCORDING TO BARRY IRWIN. THIS IS A CROSS ROADS 27 00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:15,468 ELECTION FOR US IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. 28 00:02:15,635 --> 00:02:19,305 BECAUSE WE HAVE A PERIOD OF BUDGET STABILITY WHERE WE CANNOT 29 00:02:19,473 --> 00:02:23,010 FOCUS ON THAT SO MUCH BUT FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT WILL MOVE US 30 00:02:23,177 --> 00:02:24,778 FORWARD. CABLE IS JOINED WITH THE 31 00:02:24,912 --> 00:02:28,882 PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA AND THE COMMITTEE 32 00:02:29,048 --> 00:02:32,185 OF 100 TO CREATE THE RESET AGENDA. 33 00:02:32,352 --> 00:02:36,390 INCLUDES LONG-TERM POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF 34 00:02:36,557 --> 00:02:40,360 EDUCATION, STATE FINANCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRIMINAL 35 00:02:40,527 --> 00:02:42,628 JUSTICE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VARIOUS 36 00:02:42,797 --> 00:02:45,232 RANKINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT RANK US AS STATES AND ALL THE 37 00:02:45,398 --> 00:02:48,102 DIFFERENT STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THESE ARE PARTS OF ALL 38 00:02:48,268 --> 00:02:51,838 OF THOSE RANKINGS AND WE FEEL THESE ARE ONES WHERE WE CAN MAKE 39 00:02:52,005 --> 00:02:54,908 A DIFFERENCE WHERE IF WE ENACT SOME CHANGE, WE CAN MOVE THE 40 00:02:55,075 --> 00:02:57,377 NEEDLE AND MOVE THE STATE FORWARD AND THINGS THAT WE 41 00:02:57,543 --> 00:03:00,113 BELIEVE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN OVERALL. 42 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,985 AMONG RESETS EARLY RECOMMENDATIONS IS ENSURING 43 00:03:05,152 --> 00:03:08,955 CHILDREN AGE 3 AND UNDER ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN. 44 00:03:09,122 --> 00:03:16,097 THIS IS POSSIBLE IF THE STATE FOLLOWS LA 4 PROGRAM MODEL. 45 00:03:16,263 --> 00:03:20,367 WHEN WE STARTED 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD NO FUNDING, NO KIDS WHO 46 00:03:20,533 --> 00:03:23,837 WERE IN A PROGRAM LIKE THAT. TODAY, WE HAVE ALMOST UNIVERSAL 47 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:25,805 ACCESS. IF WE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND 48 00:03:25,972 --> 00:03:29,610 BEGIN TO MAKE INVESTMENTS YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR AS WE'VE 49 00:03:29,777 --> 00:03:32,145 DONE IN OTHER AREAS, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 50 00:03:32,312 --> 00:03:35,782 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES SHOULD BE PUT ON A PATH TOWARDS POST 51 00:03:35,948 --> 00:03:39,285 SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH MORE PROGRAMS LIKE DUAL ENROLLMENT. 52 00:03:39,453 --> 00:03:42,288 THAT'S KIND OF A MIND CHANGE IN K-12 EDUCATION. 53 00:03:42,455 --> 00:03:45,058 THEIR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUST TO GRADUATE. 54 00:03:45,225 --> 00:03:49,295 WE WANT TO GRADUATE MORE KIDS. NOW WE'RE SAYING WE WANT THEM TO 55 00:03:49,463 --> 00:03:52,532 GRADUATE READY TO GO TO COLLEGE WITH A CREDIT WHILE THEY ARE 56 00:03:52,698 --> 00:03:59,138 ALREADY THERE. THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS 57 00:03:59,305 --> 00:04:04,645 SET A GOAL TO HAVE A DEGREE OR HIGH VALUE CREDENTIALS BY 2030. 58 00:04:04,812 --> 00:04:06,980 CURRENTLY, ONLY 44% OF ADULTS DO. 59 00:04:07,147 --> 00:04:12,018 WE THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REALLY STATE-WIDE PLAN, 60 00:04:12,185 --> 00:04:14,855 CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THE ADULTS OUT THERE HAVE 61 00:04:15,022 --> 00:04:18,625 OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO GO BACK INTO POST-SECONDARY 62 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:22,528 EDUCATION, GET A CREDENTIAL, GET A DEGREE, WHATEVER IT IS THEY 63 00:04:22,662 --> 00:04:25,532 NEED BUT GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AS QUICKLY AS THEY 64 00:04:25,665 --> 00:04:27,868 CAN. WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES, 65 00:04:28,035 --> 00:04:31,305 RESET SAYS THE STATE'S TAX STRUCTURE SHOULD BE EASIER, MORE 66 00:04:31,472 --> 00:04:36,008 COMPETITIVE AND TRANSPARENT. LOUISIANA'S 8% CORPORATE TAX 67 00:04:36,177 --> 00:04:40,080 RATE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 5 OR 6% RATE OF 68 00:04:40,247 --> 00:04:43,417 OTHER STATES. BUT THAT'S NOT THE FULL STORY. 69 00:04:43,583 --> 00:04:48,288 NOW OUR TAX BURDEN IS LOWER 2457B 8% BECAUSE -- THAN 8% 70 00:04:48,422 --> 00:04:51,425 BECAUSE WE HAVE EXEMPTIONS THAT ALLOW BUSINESSES TO RATCHET DOWN 71 00:04:51,592 --> 00:04:53,360 TO THAT. EVERY ONE OF THOSE IS A STEP 72 00:04:53,527 --> 00:04:57,530 THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND THE MESSAGE WE SEND IS THAT, 73 00:04:57,697 --> 00:05:02,970 HEY, WE'RE NOT A FAVORABLE PLACE TO COME WHERE MORE QUIETLY, WE 74 00:05:03,137 --> 00:05:06,573 ARE A FAVORITE PLACE TO COME. TAX COLLECTIONS COULD BE 75 00:05:06,707 --> 00:05:08,542 SIMPLIFIED. MOST STATES HAVE ONE TAX 76 00:05:08,708 --> 00:05:11,412 COLLECTOR. IN LOUISIANA, IT'S DIVIDED 77 00:05:11,578 --> 00:05:14,948 BETWEEN THE STATE AND COLLECTORS IN ALL 64 PERISHES. 78 00:05:15,082 --> 00:05:18,585 THEY FEEL LIKE IF THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB THAN THE STATE OR 79 00:05:18,718 --> 00:05:22,488 SOME STATE ENTITY OF COLLECTING TAXES AND KEEPING THOSE CLOSER 80 00:05:22,655 --> 00:05:26,327 TO HOME, THE TRUTH IS WHEN WE'RE GETTING INTO E-COMMERCE AND 81 00:05:26,460 --> 00:05:29,195 AMAZON AND ALL THE ONLINE SERVICES, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT 82 00:05:29,362 --> 00:05:31,698 FOR THEM TO NAVIGATE A SYSTEM LIKE WE HAVE. 83 00:05:31,832 --> 00:05:35,302 WHILE LOUISIANA HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING DEBT IN ORDER TO 84 00:05:35,468 --> 00:05:41,808 PAY FOR STATE WORKERS PENSIONS, BY 2029, THIS SITUATION WILL 85 00:05:41,975 --> 00:05:44,645 IMPROVE. RESET SUGGESTS A BLENDED OR 86 00:05:44,812 --> 00:05:50,783 HYBRID PLAN FOR NEW STATE HIRES. PART A DEFINED BENEFIT SO 87 00:05:50,950 --> 00:05:53,720 WE'RE LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY WHICH STATE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE. 88 00:05:53,853 --> 00:05:58,192 ALSO SOMETHING LIKE A 401K THAT'S PORTABLE SO IF YOU MOVE 89 00:05:58,358 --> 00:06:01,595 AROUND FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER, YOU CAN TAKE THAT WITH YOU. 90 00:06:01,762 --> 00:06:05,465 WHILE RESET DOESN'T TAKE A STANCE ON HOLDING ANOTHER 91 00:06:05,632 --> 00:06:08,835 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, IT DOES SUGGEST THE POSSIBLE 92 00:06:09,002 --> 00:06:13,507 OUTCOMES IF THERE IS ONE. MOSTLY, IT'S A SIMPLIFIED, 93 00:06:13,673 --> 00:06:17,377 SHORTENED, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND CONSTITUTION THAT GIVES CLARITY 94 00:06:17,510 --> 00:06:21,648 TO THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING BUT ALSO GIVES FLEXIBILITY TO THE 95 00:06:21,782 --> 00:06:26,118 LEGISLATURE AND OTHER POLICY MAKERS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS 96 00:06:26,287 --> 00:06:28,722 NEEDED WITHOUT EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS WE HAVE TO GO 97 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:31,892 TO THE VOTERS AND PASS ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. 98 00:06:32,058 --> 00:06:35,128 IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RESET RECOMMENDS CONTINUING TO 99 00:06:35,295 --> 00:06:38,465 ROLL OUT THE REFORMS THAT PASSED IN 2017. 100 00:06:38,632 --> 00:06:42,202 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES LIKE THE OPIOID CRISIS COULD 101 00:06:42,368 --> 00:06:46,840 ALSO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A TASK FORCE SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOR 102 00:06:47,007 --> 00:06:50,177 JUSTICE REINVESTMENT. WE THINK THE STATE CAN BE A 103 00:06:50,343 --> 00:06:52,845 CONVENER OF A TASK FORCE LIKE THIS TO TRY AND WORK THROUGH 104 00:06:53,013 --> 00:06:55,315 SOME OF THESE ISSUES IN COMMUNITIES. 105 00:06:55,482 --> 00:06:58,618 BY IN LARGE, IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE MORE SO A STATE ONE. 106 00:06:58,785 --> 00:07:02,555 THE STATE CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN TRYING TO BRING COMMUNITIES 107 00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:04,725 TOGETHER. HELP WORK WITH THEM TO CREATE 108 00:07:04,892 --> 00:07:08,695 FRAMEWORKS WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES 109 00:07:08,828 --> 00:07:11,298 COMBATTING OPIOIDS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. 110 00:07:11,465 --> 00:07:14,200 WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION AND 111 00:07:14,367 --> 00:07:18,638 INFRASTRUCTURE, RESET PROPOSES ADJUSTING THE STATE GASOLINE TAX 112 00:07:18,805 --> 00:07:20,907 WHICH HASN'T INCREASED IN 30 YEARS. 113 00:07:21,073 --> 00:07:24,077 IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE AVAILABLE FROM 114 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:28,548 THE GASOLINE TAX GOING TO ROADS, THEY ARE DIMINISHED EVERY SINGLE 115 00:07:28,715 --> 00:07:30,317 YEAR. PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS 116 00:07:30,483 --> 00:07:33,053 BECAUSE OUR CARS BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. 117 00:07:33,220 --> 00:07:36,857 THE STATE COULD RAISE REGISTRATION FEES FOR ELECTRIC 118 00:07:37,023 --> 00:07:40,193 OR HYBRID VEHICLES AND CONSIDER THE USE OF TOLLS AND MORE 119 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,663 PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS. WITHOUT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE 120 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:47,000 SPENDING, LOUISIANA RISKS LEAVING FEDERAL DOLLARS ON THE 121 00:07:47,167 --> 00:07:49,737 TABLE. ESPECIALLY IF A NATIONAL 122 00:07:49,870 --> 00:07:54,007 TRANSPORTATION BILL PASSES. MORE THAN LIKELY, THE MATCH 123 00:07:54,173 --> 00:07:56,477 245 WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET WILL BE LARGER BECAUSE THE 124 00:07:56,610 --> 00:07:58,478 DOLLARS ON THE TABLE WILL BE LARGER. 125 00:07:58,612 --> 00:08:02,015 IF THERE'S MORE MONEY OUT THERE FOR US TO GET BUT WE NEED TO 126 00:08:02,182 --> 00:08:05,485 HAVE THE DOLLARS TO PUT UP, WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO 127 00:08:05,618 --> 00:08:08,888 COMPETE WITH THAT. IRWIN KNOWS WHEN SIGNIFICANT 128 00:08:09,055 --> 00:08:11,792 CHANGE HAPPENS FOLLOWING AN ELECTION, IT'S USUALLY WITHIN 129 00:08:11,958 --> 00:08:15,028 THE FIRST TWO YEARS. HE HOPES THAT THE RESET AGENDA 130 00:08:15,195 --> 00:08:18,332 WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE DURING THE SMALL WINDOW OF TIME. 131 00:08:18,498 --> 00:08:21,768 THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER AN ELECTION, WE'VE DONE 132 00:08:21,902 --> 00:08:24,637 BIG THINGS. WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS WHEN 133 00:08:24,805 --> 00:08:29,275 CANDIDATES AND LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR COMES IN AND WANTS 134 00:08:29,442 --> 00:08:32,378 TO DO SOMETHING BIG, THEY'LL LOOK AT THESE AS SOME OF THE BIG 135 00:08:32,545 --> 00:08:37,217 THINGS THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. HELPING US TO ACCOMPLISH BIG 136 00:08:37,383 --> 00:08:44,190 THINGS TONIGHT IS OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE. 137 00:08:44,357 --> 00:08:49,763 THE LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT, THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, THE 138 00:08:49,930 --> 00:08:54,067 BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER AND EDUCATION ANALYST, MEMBER OF THE 139 00:08:54,233 --> 00:08:57,137 RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE'S ASSOCIATION AND CEO OF THE 140 00:08:57,303 --> 00:09:00,907 AMERICAN COUNCIL LOUISIANA ENGINEERING COMPANIES. 141 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:06,045 WELCOME TO EVERYONE. EACH YEAR LSU'S PUBLIC POLICY 142 00:09:06,212 --> 00:09:08,515 RESEARCH LAB CONDUCTS LOUISIANA SURVEY. 143 00:09:08,682 --> 00:09:12,185 OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, RESIDENTS WERE QUESTIONED ABOUT 144 00:09:12,318 --> 00:09:17,290 WHETHER SEVERAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE RESET AGENDA WHEN ASKED 145 00:09:17,457 --> 00:09:24,497 THEIR TOP CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE IN 2019, 34% NAMED 146 00:09:24,663 --> 00:09:27,700 EDUCATION. 32% SAID TRANSPORTATION 147 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:31,605 INFRASTRUCTURE AND 25% SAID THE ECONOMY INCLUDING JOBS AND THE 148 00:09:31,772 --> 00:09:34,707 BUSINESS CLIMATE. WHEN ASKED THEIR OPINION ON 149 00:09:34,875 --> 00:09:41,782 INCREASING THE GASOLINE TAX BY 5 CENTS PER GALLON, 67% SAID THEY 150 00:09:41,948 --> 00:09:50,123 SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE. BUT ONLY 49% SUPPORTED THIS 151 00:09:50,290 --> 00:09:52,658 AMOUNT. WHEN ASKED THOUGHTS ON CRIMINAL 152 00:09:52,825 --> 00:09:57,663 JUSTICE REFORM MEASURES IN 2017, 70% OF RESPONDENTS APPROVED OF 153 00:09:57,830 --> 00:10:02,202 THE CHANGES. 21% DISAPPROVED AND 9% WERE 154 00:10:02,368 --> 00:10:04,938 UNSURE. AND IN THE 2018 SURVEY, WHEN 155 00:10:05,105 --> 00:10:08,808 ASKED ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO REWRITE THE STATE'S 156 00:10:08,975 --> 00:10:13,947 CONSTITUTION, 46% SUPPORTED THE IDEA WHILE 44% OPPOSED IT. 157 00:10:14,113 --> 00:10:20,753 A NEW STATE-WIDE SURVEY CONDUCTED THIS MONTH SHOWS 81% 158 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,923 BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO 159 00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:30,697 VOTE ON A REVISED CONSTITUTION. SO LET'S START WITH OUR OWN 160 00:10:30,863 --> 00:10:35,502 PARTICIPANTS RIGHT HERE TONIGHT. AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHERE 161 00:10:35,668 --> 00:10:37,837 DO YOU STAND ON THE RESET LOUISIANA RECOMMENDATIONS AND 162 00:10:38,003 --> 00:10:44,945 WHAT DO YOU THINK A RESET MEANS TO YOU AND TO THE FOLKS IN YOUR 163 00:10:45,112 --> 00:10:47,347 CONSTITU 164 00:10:47,513 --> 00:10:48,748 CONSTITUENCY. LOGAN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND 165 00:10:48,915 --> 00:10:50,650 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THE RESET. 166 00:10:50,783 --> 00:10:54,453 MY NAME IS LOGAN ANDERSON. I HANDLE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 167 00:10:54,620 --> 00:10:58,090 WHERE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPER. 168 00:10:58,258 --> 00:11:02,562 TO ME, RESET MEANS COMMITMENT TO FORCING OURSELVES TO MAKE TOUGH 169 00:11:02,728 --> 00:11:05,198 DECISIONS. A LOT OF THE ISSUES ON THE 170 00:11:05,365 --> 00:11:08,368 AGENDA WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR 171 00:11:08,535 --> 00:11:10,203 YEARS. SOME OF US HAVE WORKED ON THESE 172 00:11:10,370 --> 00:11:12,505 FOR YEARS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CRIMINAL 173 00:11:12,672 --> 00:11:19,112 JUSTICE REFORM, WE'VE FAILED TO SUBSTANTIVELY ADDRESS THEM. 174 00:11:19,278 --> 00:11:22,148 IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OURSELVES MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT 175 00:11:22,315 --> 00:11:24,583 SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING. 176 00:11:24,750 --> 00:11:27,287 WHY IS THIS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR A CHAMBER OF 177 00:11:27,453 --> 00:11:28,922 COMMERCE? SURE. 178 00:11:29,088 --> 00:11:35,962 FOR US, WE SEE BRINGING NEW BUSINESS AND HELPING EXISTING 179 00:11:36,095 --> 00:11:39,032 BUSINESSES GROW AS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR MISSION. 180 00:11:39,198 --> 00:11:43,737 WHEN WE ARE RANKED DEAD LAST IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE AREA, IT'S 181 00:11:43,903 --> 00:11:48,040 TOUGH TO ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US NEVA. 182 00:11:48,207 --> 00:11:50,743 TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHERE YOU ALL ARE COMING 183 00:11:50,910 --> 00:11:56,515 FROM ON THIS. MY NAME IS NEVA BUTKIS AT THE 184 00:11:56,683 --> 00:12:01,120 LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT. LPB WORKS TO ASSESS STATE 185 00:12:01,287 --> 00:12:04,423 POLICIES SPECIFICALLY THROUGH TAX AND BUDGET TO ASSESS HOW THE 186 00:12:04,590 --> 00:12:08,193 STATE POLICY DECISIONS IMPACT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME 187 00:12:08,362 --> 00:12:11,363 FAMILIES. IN TERMS OF RESET BEING 188 00:12:11,497 --> 00:12:15,035 EDUCATION ANALYST, RESET TO ME MEANS THAT EVERY PERSON IN 189 00:12:15,202 --> 00:12:19,105 LOUISIANA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, 190 00:12:19,238 --> 00:12:23,777 RACE, GENDER, ET CETERA. AND I COMMEND RESET'S AGENDA FOR 191 00:12:23,943 --> 00:12:26,947 FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD TO HIGHER ED. 192 00:12:27,113 --> 00:12:31,417 SO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THROUGH EDUCATION TO TRY TO 193 00:12:31,585 --> 00:12:35,155 REACH PEOPLE IN EVERY ZIP CODE? I THINK EDUCATION CAN BE A 194 00:12:35,322 --> 00:12:37,623 LARGE PART OF IT, YES. GREAT. 195 00:12:37,790 --> 00:12:40,693 WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT 196 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:43,997 ARE TIED TO DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. 197 00:12:44,163 --> 00:12:47,600 WE HAVE JOHN GALLAGHER WITH US TONIGHT WITH THE MUNICIPAL 198 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:49,435 ASSOCIATION. TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU'D BE 199 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:51,070 COMING FROM. SURE. 200 00:12:51,237 --> 00:12:53,940 THANK YOU. I'M JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE 201 00:12:54,107 --> 00:12:57,310 DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. 202 00:12:57,477 --> 00:13:01,213 I DO COMMEND PAR CABLE AND THE COMMITTEE 100. 203 00:13:01,380 --> 00:13:06,118 WHEN I THINK OF RESET, I THINK OF PUNCHING A BUTTON AND 204 00:13:06,285 --> 00:13:09,288 STARTING OVER. WHEN I GET THAT MIND SET WHEN I 205 00:13:09,455 --> 00:13:12,658 THINK ABOUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS LOCAL TAX COLLECTION. 206 00:13:12,825 --> 00:13:16,697 ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PUSH FOR STATE CENTRAL COLLECTION OR HAVING A 207 00:13:16,863 --> 00:13:20,133 LOCAL COLLECTION. AND THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH OUR 208 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:23,135 MEMBERSHIP. WE FEEL THAT LOCALS DO A GREAT 209 00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:31,010 JOB IN COLLECTING SALES TAXES AND LOCALS HAVE BEEN LEADERS AND 210 00:13:31,177 --> 00:13:38,718 REALLY TRYING TO BRING REFORM BACK IN THE 90s WITH THE UTC. 211 00:13:38,885 --> 00:13:43,590 THE COLLECTION PORTAL THAT COLLECTS A LOT OF THE E-COMMERCE 212 00:13:43,757 --> 00:13:49,328 SALES TAXES THAT WE FEEL LIKE IS MAKING -- 213 00:13:49,495 --> 00:13:55,502 LST. FEEL LIKE OUT WHAT THAT MEANS. 214 00:13:55,668 --> 00:14:00,307 WE FEEL IT'S WORKING ITS WAY THAT WOULD COMPLY. 215 00:14:00,473 --> 00:14:03,643 THE REASON YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SALES TAX IS LOCAL 216 00:14:03,810 --> 00:14:06,178 GOVERNMENTS ARE SO DEPENDENT ON THE SALES TAX. 217 00:14:06,345 --> 00:14:09,582 THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES. ABSOLUTELY. 218 00:14:09,748 --> 00:14:17,190 INFRASTRUCTURE IS A BIG PART OF THE WHOLE RESET PROGRAM. 219 00:14:17,357 --> 00:14:23,463 I WANT TO ASK DOREEN. I'M DOREEN AND REPRESENT 220 00:14:23,630 --> 00:14:25,465 CONSULTING ENGINEERS ACROSS THE STATE. 221 00:14:25,632 --> 00:14:29,368 I THINK IT'S IRONIC WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESET. 222 00:14:29,535 --> 00:14:35,675 I REMEMBER WHEN VISION 2020 WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF POLICY MAKERS 223 00:14:35,842 --> 00:14:37,977 AND WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE. 224 00:14:38,143 --> 00:14:41,080 AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES LOOKING BACK AND SEEING THE SAME 225 00:14:41,247 --> 00:14:44,650 GOALS WE HAD THEN ARE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. 226 00:14:44,817 --> 00:14:48,053 AND FOREIGN GIN EARS, WE'RE AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE 227 00:14:48,220 --> 00:15:04,170 ROADS AND THE BRIDGES. AND RANKED US 48 FOR THE WORST 228 00:15:04,303 --> 00:15:07,673 ROADS AND BRIDGES. SO WE KNOW IF WE DON'T HAVE AN 229 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,912 ACTION PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS 230 00:15:12,045 --> 00:15:16,015 TRYING TO BUILD THIS ECONOMY. THE ECONOMY IS DEPENDENT UPON 231 00:15:16,182 --> 00:15:21,153 BEING ABLE TO MOVE COMMERCE IN THE STATE WHETHER IT'S FOREIGN 232 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,425 PRODUCT SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S FAMILIES TRYING TO GET TO WORK 233 00:15:25,592 --> 00:15:28,595 TO JOBS. IF WE DON'T INVEST IN 234 00:15:28,762 --> 00:15:31,263 OURSELVES, WE CAN'T EXPECT BUSINESSES TO INVEST AS WELL. 235 00:15:31,430 --> 00:15:37,670 THE 80s WERE THE LAST TIME WE PASSED A REVENUE STREAM. 236 00:15:37,837 --> 00:15:41,140 SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RESET AND LOOK AT WHAT THAT 237 00:15:41,307 --> 00:15:44,177 FUNDING STREAM IS GOING TO BE. IT NEEDS TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND 238 00:15:44,343 --> 00:15:46,645 NEEDS TO BE SOON AND SUSTAINABLE. 239 00:15:46,813 --> 00:15:48,748 OKAY. AND ONE OF THE MAJOR USERS OF 240 00:15:48,915 --> 00:15:57,023 THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS TRUCKERS. AND SO WE HAVE CHANCE WITH THE 241 00:15:57,190 --> 00:15:58,692 TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION. INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US 242 00:15:58,858 --> 00:16:00,927 WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON ALL THIS RESET. 243 00:16:01,093 --> 00:16:02,495 SURE. THANK YOU. 244 00:16:02,662 --> 00:16:11,070 MY CHANCE IS CHANCE McNEALY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 245 00:16:11,237 --> 00:16:13,640 TRANSPORT. WE'RE A HUGE USER OF THE STATE'S 246 00:16:13,807 --> 00:16:17,910 HIGHWAY SYSTEM. FOR US, WHAT I HOPE RESET MEANS 247 00:16:18,077 --> 00:16:21,013 IS MORE OF A RESET OF OUR POLITICAL THINKING. 248 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:25,385 IT'S PRETTY EVIDENCE TO OUR INDUSTRY THE FUEL TAX IS THE 249 00:16:25,552 --> 00:16:32,725 TIME TESTED CORRECT WAY TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE. 250 00:16:32,892 --> 00:16:36,830 OUR DRIVERS, WE ARE PAYING THEM. THEIR CLOCK IS TICKING ON HOW 251 00:16:36,997 --> 00:16:41,733 MANY HOURS THEY CAN DRIVE. AND SO THAT CREATES A LOT OF 252 00:16:41,902 --> 00:16:48,908 PROBLEMS FOR US. WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS, IT 253 00:16:49,075 --> 00:16:51,077 AFFECTS EVERY INDUSTRY. EVEN THE PEOPLE PAYING TAXES 254 00:16:51,243 --> 00:16:54,913 ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM AND WILLING TO PAY MORE TO GET IT 255 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,582 FIXED, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? 256 00:16:56,748 --> 00:16:58,383 ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. 257 00:16:58,518 --> 00:17:01,087 WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT JEFF. 258 00:17:01,253 --> 00:17:04,923 AND I KNOW YOU ALSO HAVE A KEEN INTEREST? 259 00:17:05,090 --> 00:17:06,725 INFRASTRUCTURE. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT 260 00:17:06,893 --> 00:17:12,332 YOUR THOUGHTS ARE. I'M JEFF KOONTS BY TRADE. 261 00:17:12,498 --> 00:17:18,070 I'M HERE PRIMARY IN MY CAPACITY IS HEAD OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE 262 00:17:18,237 --> 00:17:21,540 AT THE BATON ROUGE CHAMBER. AS CITIZENS IN BOTH THESE 263 00:17:21,707 --> 00:17:24,677 CAPACITIES HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND 264 00:17:24,810 --> 00:17:27,180 RESET LOUISIANA IS REALLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE 265 00:17:27,347 --> 00:17:29,582 CONVERSATION. AND MY HOPE IS WHEN A 266 00:17:29,748 --> 00:17:32,485 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS, THEY FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES AND NOT 267 00:17:32,652 --> 00:17:35,222 ALL THE ISSUES THAT SEEM TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME. 268 00:17:35,388 --> 00:17:37,857 THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER. 269 00:17:38,023 --> 00:17:42,162 WE CAN REALLY PROGRESS OURSELVES FROM 2040. 270 00:17:42,328 --> 00:17:46,465 WE'RE NOT LOOKING BACK WITH 271 00:17:46,632 --> 00:17:47,533 REGRET. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE 272 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:49,768 TIME. FRANK, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE KEEP 273 00:17:49,935 --> 00:17:53,038 TALKING ABOUT IS THE STATE RETIREMENT PROGRAMS. 274 00:17:53,205 --> 00:17:55,608 TELL US ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR VIEW IS. 275 00:17:55,775 --> 00:17:59,445 MY NAME IS FRANK. I'M THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR 276 00:17:59,578 --> 00:18:03,015 THE RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION. 277 00:18:03,182 --> 00:18:05,183 AND MYSELF A RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE. 278 00:18:05,352 --> 00:18:13,660 WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 30 YEARS. 279 00:18:13,827 --> 00:18:18,597 TAKE AWAY OR DIMINISH A BENEFIT THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE. 280 00:18:18,765 --> 00:18:21,167 THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO 281 00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:24,037 TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS OUR EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE SOCIAL 282 00:18:24,203 --> 00:18:26,272 SECURITY. AND THAT'S THE SAFETY NET IN A 283 00:18:26,438 --> 00:18:40,453 FOUNDATION FOR MOST RETIREMENT PLANS WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE. 284 00:18:40,620 --> 00:18:42,788 THE NOTION IS DIFFERENT FOR A VERY VALID REASON. 285 00:18:42,955 --> 00:18:45,458 WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO ACCOUNT. 286 00:18:45,625 --> 00:18:48,762 WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE NEED TO REPRESENT A 287 00:18:48,895 --> 00:18:53,298 CERTAIN CONSTITUENCY DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION 288 00:18:53,465 --> 00:18:59,038 AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE THAT POSITION AND HAVE 289 00:18:59,205 --> 00:19:11,050 A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. THEY'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO 290 00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:16,088 FIND MIDDLE GROUND. I WANT TO FIND THAT BETTER 291 00:19:16,255 --> 00:19:18,257 GROUND. I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS MAYBE 292 00:19:18,423 --> 00:19:20,225 NOT THE BEST THING FOR MOST PEOPLE. 293 00:19:20,393 --> 00:19:23,562 IT'S THE BEST THING FOR OUR PEOPLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 294 00:19:23,730 --> 00:19:26,765 UNTIL SOMETHING BETTER COMES ALONG, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE 295 00:19:26,932 --> 00:19:28,433 ADVOCATING AND TAKING A POSITION WE DO. 296 00:19:28,567 --> 00:19:31,570 I'M WILLING TO LISTEN. GOOD TALK. 297 00:19:31,737 --> 00:19:34,707 ONE MORE IN. ALLEY, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. 298 00:19:34,873 --> 00:19:40,580 HEY, I'M ALLEY RAWL WITH THE APPEAL CAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC 299 00:19:40,747 --> 00:19:46,452 POLICY. 300 00:19:46,585 --> 00:19:52,392 -- PELICAN FOR PUBLIC POLICY. AS WE TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE 301 00:19:52,558 --> 00:20:02,235 AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL, WE WANT MORE JOBS AND 302 00:20:02,402 --> 00:20:09,275 MORE OPPORTUNITY. SO WE ARE LASER FOCUSED RIGHT 303 00:20:09,442 --> 00:20:12,678 NOW AT THE INSTITUTE ON JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY AGENDA WHICH 304 00:20:12,845 --> 00:20:16,248 OUTLINES REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS SIMILAR TO WHAT RESET IS WORKING 305 00:20:16,415 --> 00:20:18,617 ON. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS 306 00:20:18,785 --> 00:20:29,262 THE TIME TO ELEVATE THE ISSUES AND COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR TALKING 307 00:20:29,428 --> 00:20:31,797 ABOUT SOMETHING SO DIFFICULT. HOW MANY HAVE HAD FRIENDS 308 00:20:31,963 --> 00:20:35,333 MOVE OUT OF STATE BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEKING BETTER 309 00:20:35,502 --> 00:20:38,070 OPPORTUNITIES THERE? MOST FOLKS HERE. 310 00:20:38,237 --> 00:20:42,842 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING IS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT. 311 00:20:43,008 --> 00:20:45,310 THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW. 312 00:20:45,478 --> 00:20:49,548 WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL BE JOINED BY THE PANEL OF EXPERTS TO 313 00:20:49,715 --> 00:20:52,885 FURTHER DISCUSS RESET LOUISIANA. 314 00:21:01,293 --> 00:21:04,930 WELCOME BACK TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE. 315 00:21:05,097 --> 00:21:08,500 TONIGHT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE RESET LOUISIANA AGENDA. 316 00:21:08,667 --> 00:21:15,975 JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL. MICHAEL OLIVIAE IS CEO OF THE 317 00:21:16,142 --> 00:21:19,478 COMMITTEE OF 100 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 318 00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:23,615 COMPRISED OF STATEWIDE PRIVATE SECTOR CEOs. 319 00:21:23,782 --> 00:21:28,420 SERVED AS LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY FROM 2004 320 00:21:28,587 --> 00:21:33,725 TO 2018 AND HIS ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS OF THE RESET 321 00:21:33,893 --> 00:21:37,028 INITIATIVES. CAMILLE IS THE SENIOR VICE 322 00:21:37,197 --> 00:21:40,767 PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND 323 00:21:40,933 --> 00:21:48,473 INDUSTRY OR LAW B. LEADS PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH 324 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,712 INITIATIVES AND FOCUSING ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FROM EARLY 325 00:21:52,878 --> 00:21:58,885 CHILDHOOD TO ADULT EDUCATION. DR. JAMES RICHARDSON IS THE 326 00:21:59,052 --> 00:22:03,822 ALUMNI PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 327 00:22:03,990 --> 00:22:07,560 ADMINISTRATION. SERVED FOR 32 YEARS ON THE 328 00:22:07,727 --> 00:22:16,168 LOUISIANA REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFOR INSTANCE. 329 00:22:16,335 --> 00:22:21,040 SERVES ON THE BOARD OF PAR. ERIC PONTE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 330 00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:24,277 OF THE LOUISIANA ASPHALT PAVE RIT ASSOCIATION. 331 00:22:24,443 --> 00:22:27,813 ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA COALITION TO FIX OUR 332 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:31,350 ROADS THAT ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVING ROADS AND BRIDGES. 333 00:22:31,483 --> 00:22:38,257 SERVED TWO TERMS AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM 2008 TO 334 00:22:38,423 --> 00:22:40,025 2015. BEFORE WE GO TO AUDIENCE 335 00:22:40,192 --> 00:22:43,997 QUESTIONS, I'D FIRST LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU FROM YOUR OWN 336 00:22:44,130 --> 00:22:48,733 PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES RESETTING LOUISIANA MEAN TO YOU AND WHY IS 337 00:22:48,867 --> 00:22:52,472 NOW A GOOD TIME FOR US TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT? 338 00:22:52,638 --> 00:22:58,510 WE'LL START WITH YOU MICHAEL. WELL, THE THING ABOUT RESET 339 00:22:58,677 --> 00:23:01,013 LOUISIANA IS THAT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE OF 340 00:23:01,147 --> 00:23:04,783 LOUISIANA CALLED THE COMMITTEE 100 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 341 00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:08,653 SINCE 1992, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH PUBLIC 342 00:23:08,787 --> 00:23:12,223 POLICY ISSUES THAT EFFECT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 343 00:23:12,392 --> 00:23:14,393 WE ARE THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE OF THE STATE. 344 00:23:14,527 --> 00:23:16,862 WE'RE NOT THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 345 00:23:17,028 --> 00:23:20,767 WHAT WE ARE IS A GROUP OF OVER 100 CEOs WHO WANT TO MAKE 346 00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:24,503 CHANGES IN THE STATE THAT WILL HELP US TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. 347 00:23:24,670 --> 00:23:28,173 THIS IS THE BEST TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS 348 00:23:28,340 --> 00:23:31,943 THAT HAVE LONG HISTORIES OF PUBLIC POLICY, GATHERING AND 349 00:23:32,110 --> 00:23:36,882 PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BRING 350 00:23:37,048 --> 00:23:40,152 THESE FOUR AREAS TO THE FOREFRONT. 351 00:23:40,318 --> 00:23:44,123 WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY SEATS BEING CONTESTED. 352 00:23:44,290 --> 00:23:46,358 WE HAVE MORE SEATS AVAILABLE THAN EVER BEFORE. 353 00:23:46,525 --> 00:23:48,227 IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE. 354 00:23:48,393 --> 00:23:51,797 WE NEED TO MAKE DIFFERENCES IN THE FOUR AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN 355 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:57,937 OUTLINED FROM TRANSPORTATION TO EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 356 00:23:58,103 --> 00:24:01,640 OUR MISSION HERE IS TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THIS COALITION 357 00:24:01,807 --> 00:24:05,443 AND WORK WITH THE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO OFFICE, WORK WITH 358 00:24:05,577 --> 00:24:12,150 THE INCUMBENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. 359 00:24:12,318 --> 00:24:17,890 WE HAVE TOO MANY GOOD THINGS. MICHAEL WHO WAS ONCE THE 360 00:24:18,057 --> 00:24:21,760 SALES MAN FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA SO I KNOW YOU KNOW 361 00:24:21,927 --> 00:24:26,865 WELL HOW THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT. CAMILLE, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT 362 00:24:27,032 --> 00:24:28,833 WHERE LAW B IS COMING FROM. SURE. 363 00:24:28,967 --> 00:24:32,270 I HAVE TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MIKE JUST SAID. 364 00:24:32,438 --> 00:24:36,375 I THINK OF OPPORTUNITY. I THINK OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE 365 00:24:36,542 --> 00:24:39,612 CHANGE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE OF 366 00:24:39,778 --> 00:24:47,453 US TO MAKE ROOM TO IMPROVE. THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT AS MIKE 367 00:24:47,620 --> 00:24:50,690 MENTIONED WITH THE TERM LIMITED LEGISLATURE MEANS WE HAVE A 368 00:24:50,857 --> 00:24:56,895 CHANCE FOR 40 OR 50 NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME INTO OFFICE. 369 00:24:57,062 --> 00:25:01,100 THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW IDEAS AND NEW ENERGY. 370 00:25:01,267 --> 00:25:03,602 IT'S A MOMENT TO SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY. 371 00:25:03,768 --> 00:25:06,605 WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH THOSE NEW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE 372 00:25:06,772 --> 00:25:10,075 STATE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE STATE 373 00:25:10,242 --> 00:25:12,210 WE LOVE. THERE'S A BIG LEARNING CURVE. 374 00:25:12,378 --> 00:25:15,782 THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE HOPE THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT. 375 00:25:15,915 --> 00:25:18,850 DR. RICHARDSON, WHAT'S RESET MEAN TO YOU? 376 00:25:19,018 --> 00:25:29,928 WELL, IT MEANS MAKING POLICY WHICH WE DO EVERYDAY. 377 00:25:30,095 --> 00:25:35,233 WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES. AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT 378 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:40,172 BEFORE, WE GOT ON STAGE. TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE 379 00:25:40,305 --> 00:25:43,342 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT EDUCATION, ABOUT ROADS. 380 00:25:43,508 --> 00:25:46,078 ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE A PRICE TAG. 381 00:25:46,245 --> 00:25:49,482 ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR. 382 00:25:49,648 --> 00:25:57,957 SHIFT OUR RESOURCES ARRANGED OR HAVE A NEW RESOURCE. 383 00:25:58,123 --> 00:26:00,725 SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. 384 00:26:00,893 --> 00:26:04,430 IF WE DECIDE WE NEED TO SHIFT THE RESOURCES AROUND, WE CAN 385 00:26:04,597 --> 00:26:10,937 SHIFT TAXES AROUND TOO. DO WE SET UP TAX SYSTEM THAT 386 00:26:11,070 --> 00:26:15,473 ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE NATIONALLY? 387 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:21,213 ALSO IN TERMS OF MAKING IT GOOD FOR CITIZENS TO LIVE HERE. 388 00:26:21,347 --> 00:26:24,483 ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INTERTWINED. 389 00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:28,720 THESE ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS WE WANT TO 390 00:26:28,887 --> 00:26:32,223 MAKE IT. BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS 391 00:26:32,357 --> 00:26:44,237 COMPLICATED. WZ WE WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM 392 00:26:44,370 --> 00:26:48,907 AND TALK ABOUT TO NEW LEGISLATURE, CAN'T GET A TYPE OF 393 00:26:49,073 --> 00:26:54,078 A BANNER, RESET, DO THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. 394 00:26:54,247 --> 00:26:57,750 AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE 395 00:26:57,917 --> 00:27:00,618 DETAILS RIGHT. WE EXPLAIN THEM TO PEOPLE AND 396 00:27:00,752 --> 00:27:03,455 THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE DETAILS. 397 00:27:03,622 --> 00:27:06,692 I HOPE 24E6B AN APPETITE FOR THE DETAIL. 398 00:27:06,858 --> 00:27:09,828 WE SHALL SEE. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF TAX REFORM 399 00:27:09,995 --> 00:27:12,965 IS THE STABILITY. IT'S PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE 400 00:27:13,132 --> 00:27:15,400 TOO. ERIC, YOU ARE HERE WITH A VERY 401 00:27:15,567 --> 00:27:21,307 SPECIAL PERSPECTIVE ON RESET. I AM HAVING SERVED IN THE 402 00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:24,543 LEGISLATURE AND A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE STATE FOR MANY YEARS, 403 00:27:24,710 --> 00:27:27,378 ECHOING THE SEDIMENTS THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID, IT'S AN 404 00:27:27,547 --> 00:27:29,615 IMPORTANT TIME AND A CRITICAL TIME. 405 00:27:29,782 --> 00:27:35,020 WITHOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. 406 00:27:35,153 --> 00:27:38,490 LIFEBLOOD OF OUR STATE TRYING TO GET TO WORK. 407 00:27:38,657 --> 00:27:46,898 OUR BUSINESSES CAN'T EXPAND. EMPLOYEES CAN'T GET TO WORK. 408 00:27:47,065 --> 00:27:50,068 IF YOU ARE GRIDLOCKED. CAN'T GET PRODUCTS TO MARKET AND 409 00:27:50,235 --> 00:27:55,273 IT COSTS ADDITIONAL MONEY, IT AFFECTS EVERYONE. 410 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:02,447 BEEN SINCE 1984. IT'S PAST TIME AND OVERTIME. 411 00:28:02,615 --> 00:28:06,085 COMES AT A COST. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S 412 00:28:06,252 --> 00:28:09,322 CRITICAL BECAUSE AS ITERATED HERE, WE HAVE A HIGH TURN OVER. 413 00:28:09,455 --> 00:28:12,390 IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH TURN OVER IN 414 00:28:12,558 --> 00:28:17,830 THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND TIME WE VISIT THE ELECTED 415 00:28:17,997 --> 00:28:23,602 OFFICIALS AND REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING OUR STATE 416 00:28:23,768 --> 00:28:30,008 FORWARD. AND TIME WE MOVE OURSELVES 417 00:28:30,175 --> 00:28:36,848 FORWARD JUST IN TRANSPORTATION. EVERY SOUTHERN STATE IMPROVED 418 00:28:37,015 --> 00:28:42,187 AND IT'S TIME WE FIX OUR 419 00:28:42,353 --> 00:28:43,855 LIFEBLOOD. WE'VE GONE AROUND THE STATE 420 00:28:44,022 --> 00:28:47,092 AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN ALL THE AREAS TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR 421 00:28:47,225 --> 00:28:51,063 BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE. FARMERS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET 422 00:28:51,230 --> 00:28:53,998 THEIR PRODUCE TO MARKET AND SO ON. 423 00:28:54,132 --> 00:28:57,235 IT'S NOT JUST THE SOUTH LOUISIANA ISSUE. 424 00:28:57,402 --> 00:29:02,173 IT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE. I WANT TO ASK JOHN TO JUMP IN 425 00:29:02,340 --> 00:29:06,045 HERE. YOU HAD A QUESTION YOU WANTED TO 426 00:29:06,212 --> 00:29:06,745 ASK. SURE. 427 00:29:06,878 --> 00:29:08,747 THANK YOU. JOHN WIBLE. 428 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,717 PRESIDENT LOUISIANA RESEARCH CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 429 00:29:11,883 --> 00:29:15,053 LEARNING. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE RESET 430 00:29:15,220 --> 00:29:16,955 AGENDA BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF REASONS. 431 00:29:17,122 --> 00:29:19,190 ONE, BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS IT PUTS ON EDUCATION. 432 00:29:19,358 --> 00:29:24,263 AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE THIS EVENING KNOW WE HAVE TO FIX 433 00:29:24,430 --> 00:29:26,365 EDUCATION TO BE ABLE TO FIX LOUISIANA. 434 00:29:26,532 --> 00:29:31,237 WE KNOW PROSPEROUS STATES, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES HAVE 435 00:29:31,403 --> 00:29:36,975 QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION. ONE OF THE CORE ISSUES IS 436 00:29:37,142 --> 00:29:40,947 ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION 437 00:29:41,113 --> 00:29:46,752 PROGRESS, LESS THAN 30% ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL. 438 00:29:46,918 --> 00:29:51,823 WE FEEL THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE WE HAVE TO CORRECT TO HAVE 439 00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:55,660 A SKILLED LABOR ALL OF THE WORKFORCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 440 00:29:55,827 --> 00:30:01,333 WHAT ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO INVEST IN THAT KNOWING THAT 50% 441 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:05,770 OF OUR CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM IMPOVERISHED HOMES? 442 00:30:05,937 --> 00:30:08,473 YOU PUT IT INTO SUCCINCTLY WHAT IT IS. 443 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:10,475 IT'S A WORKFORCE ISSUE. THAT'S IT. 444 00:30:10,642 --> 00:30:16,748 WE'VE GOT TO START THEM YOUNG. AND WE PROVED THE PROGRAM THAT 445 00:30:16,915 --> 00:30:20,085 STARTS TRAINING 4 YEAR OLDS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO 446 00:30:20,218 --> 00:30:25,490 EARLY PRE-K TRAINING WE NEED TO DO IT AT THE 3 YEAR OLD LEVEL. 447 00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:30,628 WE NEED TO DO IT FROM BIRTH TO 3. 448 00:30:30,795 --> 00:30:45,210 AND START FUNDING THESE THINGS. AND THEY ARE LEARNING. 449 00:30:45,343 --> 00:30:55,153 IT'S A POVERTY THING. ALL OF IT IS INTER IN-- 450 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,122 INTERTWINED. WHAT YOU SAID, EARLY 451 00:30:57,255 --> 00:31:00,058 CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO THAT. 452 00:31:00,225 --> 00:31:02,928 EARLY INTERVENTION AND LITERACY IS CRITICAL. 453 00:31:03,095 --> 00:31:07,565 THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO 454 00:31:07,733 --> 00:31:11,237 HELP DRIVE THAT. WE'RE ALL CONCERNED. 455 00:31:11,370 --> 00:31:14,607 AND YOU'VE SEEN THE STATE BOARD TAKE STEPS TO TRY TO ADDRESS 456 00:31:14,773 --> 00:31:17,542 THAT. YOU ARE SEEING THEM RAISE THE 457 00:31:17,708 --> 00:31:23,515 BAR ON WHAT PROFICIENT IS ON READING WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE 458 00:31:23,648 --> 00:31:25,783 FOR SCHOOLS AND KIDS AND PARENTS. 459 00:31:25,950 --> 00:31:28,420 IF KIDS CAN'T READ, THEY CAN'T DO MATH. 460 00:31:28,587 --> 00:31:32,590 THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED IN THIRD GRADE OR 8TH GRADE. 461 00:31:32,758 --> 00:31:36,062 I THINK THE INTENTION IS RIGHT. I THINK EVERYONE AGREES ON THE 462 00:31:36,228 --> 00:31:42,935 PROBLEM AND I THINK WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS. 463 00:31:43,102 --> 00:31:46,272 LET ME GO TO ROGER WHO HAS A QUESTION. 464 00:31:46,405 --> 00:31:48,073 AND STAY ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. 465 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,342 I THINK THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU. 466 00:31:50,508 --> 00:31:53,445 TELL US WHAT YOU ARE WITH AND GIVE US YOUR QUESTION. 467 00:31:53,612 --> 00:31:59,217 I'M WITH THE LOUISIANA UNIFORM LOCAL SALES TAX BOARD. 468 00:31:59,383 --> 00:32:03,188 FAIRLY NEW CREATION OF LEGISLATURE WITH OUR MISSION 469 00:32:03,322 --> 00:32:08,693 BEING TO PROMOTE UNIFORM IN LOCAL SALES TAX. 470 00:32:08,860 --> 00:32:11,830 SALES TAX HAS BEEN MY AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS. 471 00:32:11,997 --> 00:32:17,068 ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO FACE IS LOCAL AND STATE 472 00:32:17,235 --> 00:32:27,312 COLLECTORS IS THE COMPLEXITY OF LOUISIANA SALES TAX LAW. 473 00:32:27,445 --> 00:32:33,785 THEY ARE OVER 200 EXEMPTIONS ON THE BOOKS. 474 00:32:33,952 --> 00:32:38,090 THOSE EXPECT BOTH IN STATE AND OUT OF STATE RETAILERS. 475 00:32:38,257 --> 00:32:41,127 THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE. 476 00:32:41,293 --> 00:32:46,865 MY QUESTION IS WOULD RESET BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, IN 477 00:32:47,032 --> 00:32:51,803 GENERAL, SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE EXEMPTIONS TO 478 00:32:51,970 --> 00:32:57,475 BE REEXAMINED PERIODICALLY, TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS. 479 00:32:57,642 --> 00:33:01,580 ONE, TO DETERMINE HAVE THEY PERFORMED WHAT THEIR ULTIMATE 480 00:33:01,747 --> 00:33:04,315 PURPOSE WAS? I THINK WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS 481 00:33:04,483 --> 00:33:07,718 100 OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS. IT'S MIND-BOGGLING TO THINK 482 00:33:07,887 --> 00:33:13,925 THERE ARE 200 EXEMPTIONS BUT 100 OF THOSE ARE TEMPORARILY ASIDE. 483 00:33:14,092 --> 00:33:18,897 LET'S LET MS. CONNOWAY TRY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. 484 00:33:19,063 --> 00:33:22,500 AND DR. RICHARDSON MAY HAVE IDEAS. 485 00:33:22,667 --> 00:33:29,073 I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES, ABSOLUTELY. 486 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:33,712 SIMPLE TAX SYSTEM IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. 487 00:33:33,878 --> 00:33:38,883 DETAILED EXAMINATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. 488 00:33:39,050 --> 00:33:44,188 AND I WOULD DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXEMPTP 489 00:33:44,355 --> 00:33:50,928 GOES AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD TAX POLICY. 490 00:33:51,095 --> 00:33:54,967 AN EXEMPTP GOES IN THE STATUTE AND 40 OTHER STATES DON'T EVER 491 00:33:55,133 --> 00:33:58,603 TAX THAT TO BEGIN WITH. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 492 00:33:58,770 --> 00:34:06,778 CERTAIN TYPE OF EXEMPTIONS. AND BEING MAYBE THESE ARE 493 00:34:06,945 --> 00:34:10,748 TAXABLE ITEMS. SOME ARE COMPETITIVE. 494 00:34:10,915 --> 00:34:14,452 HOW ABOUT YOU, DR. RICHARDSON? 495 00:34:14,620 --> 00:34:25,463 WE HAVE THE STATE HAS EXEMPTIONS OF ITS OWN AS WELL. 496 00:34:25,630 --> 00:34:28,867 AND THAT COMPLICATES THE WORLD A GREAT DEAL. 497 00:34:29,033 --> 00:34:33,372 I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CENTRALIZED SALES TAX. 498 00:34:33,538 --> 00:34:37,475 THAT MEANS EXEMPTIONS FOR THE STATE AND LOCALS ARE THE SAME. 499 00:34:37,642 --> 00:34:42,847 THE SAME TAX BASE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE. 500 00:34:43,015 --> 00:34:46,718 TO GET THERE, IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK. 501 00:34:46,852 --> 00:34:50,755 AND NOT GOING TO BE DONE OVERNIGHT. 502 00:34:50,922 --> 00:34:56,395 THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS TO DO IT WELL. 503 00:34:56,562 --> 00:35:00,232 WE AFFECT PEOPLE AND DON'T KNOW WE'RE AFFECTING. 504 00:35:00,398 --> 00:35:03,635 SOME MAY BE BETTER OFF. SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY GET 505 00:35:03,802 --> 00:35:07,205 EXTRA MONEY. SOME MAY LOSE AND WE DON'T 506 00:35:07,372 --> 00:35:09,875 REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, TO BE HONEST. 507 00:35:10,042 --> 00:35:12,710 THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CROSS BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL 508 00:35:12,877 --> 00:35:15,680 GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO CALL ON GUY 509 00:35:15,847 --> 00:35:18,350 RIGHT NOW TO JUMP INTO THIS PART OF THE CONVERSATION. 510 00:35:18,517 --> 00:35:22,287 TELL EVERYBODY WHO YOU ARE AND HIT US WITH A QUESTION. 511 00:35:22,453 --> 00:35:26,023 GUY CORMIER. I WAS A PAST PRESIDENT. 512 00:35:26,190 --> 00:35:29,862 I WORE THAT ELECTED HAT FOR A LITTLE BIT. 513 00:35:30,028 --> 00:35:36,968 AND LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THREE COMMITTEE OF 100 THE PAR 514 00:35:37,135 --> 00:35:40,305 AND CABLE FOR GETTING TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THE BOARD OF 515 00:35:40,472 --> 00:35:44,208 DIRECTORS AND LOOK AT TREMENDOUSLY TALENTED PEOPLE 516 00:35:44,375 --> 00:35:48,980 SERVING AND WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR LOUISIANA JUST LIKE MY FOLKS 517 00:35:49,147 --> 00:35:52,650 THAT SERVE. WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE 518 00:35:52,817 --> 00:35:56,253 CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA. BUT THIS CENTRAL SALES TAX 519 00:35:56,422 --> 00:35:59,925 COLLECTION ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN 520 00:36:00,092 --> 00:36:05,363 WHERE THERE'S REALLY NO -- JUST LIKE THIS, THIS COMMITTEE 521 00:36:05,530 --> 00:36:10,002 REPORT, THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO LOCAL INPUT FROM THE TAX 522 00:36:10,168 --> 00:36:16,140 COLLECTORS AND FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS. 523 00:36:16,307 --> 00:36:23,782 THERE'S BEEN NO PARTICIPATION IN GETTING WHAT WE NEED. 524 00:36:23,948 --> 00:36:31,222 WE HAVE A REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE THAT'S SET. 525 00:36:31,390 --> 00:36:36,428 WE NEED TO HAVE A TAX EXEMPTP GOES REVENUE THAT OFTEN MAYBE 526 00:36:36,595 --> 00:36:46,505 MEETS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO REVIEW THESE THINGS. 527 00:36:46,672 --> 00:36:50,542 WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS. 528 00:36:50,708 --> 00:36:56,515 GO AHEAD, DR. RICHARDSON. WE DO LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT 529 00:36:56,682 --> 00:36:58,983 EXPENDITURE IN TERMS OF THE CREDITS WE GIVE. 530 00:36:59,150 --> 00:37:02,887 BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE -- ONCE THEY ARE IN STATUTE, THEY ARE 531 00:37:03,055 --> 00:37:05,190 LAW. SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE 532 00:37:05,357 --> 00:37:09,293 CREDIT IF YOU WANT TO OR IF THAT FITS YOUR PARTICULAR FINANCIAL 533 00:37:09,460 --> 00:37:11,963 SITUATION. I THINK IN THE ELEMENT, I AGREE 534 00:37:12,130 --> 00:37:17,735 ON THE EXEMPTIONS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STEADY 535 00:37:17,902 --> 00:37:21,338 COMMITTEES AND ALMOST EVERY ONE YOU HAVE WILL TELL YOU GET THE 536 00:37:21,507 --> 00:37:27,378 EXEMPTIONS OUT OF THE WAY AND GET THE RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. 537 00:37:27,545 --> 00:37:31,450 ALMOST EVERY ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU THAT. 538 00:37:31,617 --> 00:37:34,252 DOESN'T MATTER. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO. 539 00:37:34,385 --> 00:37:40,892 AND WE TRY TO DO THAT. AGAIN, THE EXEMPTIONS, SOMEBODY 540 00:37:41,025 --> 00:37:46,430 LIKES THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE 541 00:37:46,598 --> 00:37:49,768 THE FACT WE HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST STATE AND LOCAL SALES 542 00:37:49,935 --> 00:37:52,737 TAX. WE'RE REALLY TIED FOR FIRST TO 543 00:37:52,903 --> 00:38:01,613 BE HONEST. LET'S BRING A BUSINESS 544 00:38:01,780 --> 00:38:04,582 PERSPECTIVE IN. I'M WAYNE BROWN. 545 00:38:04,748 --> 00:38:08,987 I'M A BUILDER DEVELOPER. WE'RE ALMOST A 50-YEAR OLD 546 00:38:09,153 --> 00:38:10,788 COMPANY. WE WORK STATEWIDE. 547 00:38:10,955 --> 00:38:14,725 SO ALL THESE REFORMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. 548 00:38:14,893 --> 00:38:17,762 I ALSO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE OF 100. 549 00:38:17,928 --> 00:38:19,530 WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THIS. 550 00:38:19,697 --> 00:38:23,635 WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND LPB PUTTING ON THIS PROGRAM 551 00:38:23,802 --> 00:38:26,070 FOR INFORMATION. I'M ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE 552 00:38:26,237 --> 00:38:28,740 SUPPORT I'M HEARING FROM THE GROUP ON THESE REFORMS THAT 553 00:38:28,907 --> 00:38:32,777 WE'RE ALL WORKING WITH PAR AND CABLE ON. 554 00:38:32,943 --> 00:38:40,152 ALSO SERVE AS BOARD MEMBER FOR THE LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 555 00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:42,987 HIGHER EDUCATION HADN'T BEEN MENTIONED BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING 556 00:38:43,155 --> 00:38:45,523 THAT UP. I'M VERY HOPEFUL WE COULD 557 00:38:45,690 --> 00:38:50,928 RESTORE OUR FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WHERE WE WERE IN THE 558 00:38:51,095 --> 00:38:58,437 MIDDLE OF SEC WITH OUR STATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIGHER 559 00:38:58,603 --> 00:39:02,507 EDUCATION. I THINK ALONG WITH MISSISSIPPI. 560 00:39:02,673 --> 00:39:05,243 WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. AND THERE ARE SUCH NEEDS IN OUR 561 00:39:05,410 --> 00:39:08,447 STATE. WE'RE DOING A LOT WITH WHAT WE 562 00:39:08,613 --> 00:39:12,050 HAVE. LET'S BRING THE ACC, ATLANTA 563 00:39:12,217 --> 00:39:23,295 KOEFLT CONFERENCE INTO THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE 564 00:39:23,462 --> 00:39:26,765 LEGISLATURE WHERE THEY CAN WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO FUND OUR 565 00:39:26,932 --> 00:39:29,400 HIGHER EDUCATION AND TAKE CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS? 566 00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,837 WE HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. 567 00:39:33,003 --> 00:39:34,805 BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT'S RIGHT. 568 00:39:34,973 --> 00:39:39,243 I THINK AS YOU'VE SEEN THE FISCAL OUTLOOK IMPROVE, THERE 569 00:39:39,410 --> 00:39:43,548 HAS BEEN BYPARTISAN SUPPORT TO FUND HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE 570 00:39:43,715 --> 00:39:46,150 NEEDS WE HAVE. I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 245. 571 00:39:46,317 --> 00:39:50,788 WHAT YOU SEE MORE OFTEN IS LOOKING FOR BETTER OUTCOMES AT 572 00:39:50,955 --> 00:39:55,360 THE SAME TIME. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HIGHER 573 00:39:55,527 --> 00:39:58,230 GRADUATION RATES WHERE THEY CAN GO TO A JOB RIGHT AWAY. 574 00:39:58,397 --> 00:40:02,233 WHAT I'M ENCOURAGED ABOUT IS TO SEE THE BOARD AND OTHERS REALLY 575 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,470 TAKE THE LEAD. OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM 576 00:40:05,637 --> 00:40:08,773 TRYING VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT TO TRY 577 00:40:08,907 --> 00:40:12,610 TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF WORK BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM, GET A SKILL, 578 00:40:12,777 --> 00:40:15,880 GET A CREDENTIAL, GET A DEGREE THAT'S GOING TO PUT THOSE FOLKS 579 00:40:16,047 --> 00:40:20,285 TO WORK. WE HAVE A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC 580 00:40:20,452 --> 00:40:23,422 ABOUT. THE BOARD OF REGENTS JUST 581 00:40:23,555 --> 00:40:36,300 RELEASED LONG-TERM STRATEGY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC 582 00:40:36,467 --> 00:40:40,338 BASE. HERE WE HAVE A RATING AGENCY 583 00:40:40,505 --> 00:40:43,975 THAT RATES OUR BONDS THAT'S LOOKING AT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM 584 00:40:44,142 --> 00:40:48,880 AND SAYING THAT'S AWESOME, KEEP IT UP. 585 00:40:49,047 --> 00:40:52,683 60% IS A BIG NUMBER. IF YOU CAN ACHIEVE THAT, IT'S 586 00:40:52,850 --> 00:40:57,488 GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I READ THAT REPORT AND IT HAD 587 00:40:57,655 --> 00:41:04,428 A FEW THINGS TO SAY. ISN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. 588 00:41:04,595 --> 00:41:07,732 ERIC, TELL US WHERE WE ARE ON THE OUTLOOK AT THAT. 589 00:41:07,865 --> 00:41:10,502 WE HAD A PARTICULAR APPROACH TRYING TO GENERATE MORE ACTIVITY 590 00:41:10,668 --> 00:41:13,572 FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT. 591 00:41:13,738 --> 00:41:20,745 WELL, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT WAS 1984 WHEN IT WAS 592 00:41:20,878 --> 00:41:27,585 PASSED FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. AND IT WAS BASICALLY BY THE SIX 593 00:41:27,752 --> 00:41:29,820 SENSE. WE HAVE 39,000 LANE MILES IN OUR 594 00:41:29,987 --> 00:41:32,390 STATE. WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IT WITH 595 00:41:32,557 --> 00:41:35,027 6 CENTS. WE FORMED THE LOUISIANA 596 00:41:35,193 --> 00:41:42,767 COALITION TO FIX OUR ROADS. BASICALLY, AT THIS POINT, ABOUT 597 00:41:42,900 --> 00:41:45,337 100 BUSINESSES HAVE BANNED TOGETHER. 598 00:41:45,503 --> 00:41:49,840 WE'RE 48TH IN THE COUNTRY. THIS YEAR ALONE, 37 BRIDGES ARE 599 00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:51,342 CLOSED. BRIDGES CLOSED FROM LAST YEAR 600 00:41:51,508 --> 00:41:53,978 AND THE YEAR BEFORE. NOT JUST BRIDGES CLOSED. 601 00:41:54,145 --> 00:41:57,548 A LOT OF BRIDGES REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT YOU COULD PUT 602 00:41:57,715 --> 00:41:59,617 ON THEM. FOR SOME BUSINESSES, THOSE 603 00:41:59,783 --> 00:42:02,953 BRIDGES ARE CLOSED. ABSOLUTELY YOU ARE RIGHT. 604 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:06,323 THE ROAD CAPACITY HAS BEEN DECREASED. 605 00:42:06,490 --> 00:42:09,393 OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, THESE SCHOOL BUSES 606 00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:14,132 HAVE TO GO AN HOUR OUT OF THEIR WAY AND COMING BACK. 607 00:42:14,298 --> 00:42:17,768 DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD ON THAT SCHOOL BUS? 608 00:42:17,935 --> 00:42:20,905 WE HAVE HAD BRIDGES FAILED THIS YEAR. 609 00:42:21,038 --> 00:42:26,477 THE COALITION GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH IDEAS AND 610 00:42:26,643 --> 00:42:29,813 SOLUTIONS. HOW DIRE AND HOW BAD OUR ROADS 611 00:42:29,947 --> 00:42:35,487 AND CONDITIONS. WE'RE DOING A STATEWIDE EFFORT. 612 00:42:35,653 --> 00:42:39,690 I'LL LET DOREEN OR CHANCE JUMP IN HERE ON THIS ISSUE. 613 00:42:39,857 --> 00:42:43,928 I DROVE TO TEXAS RECENTLY AND, MY GOSH, TOLLS EVERYWHERE. 614 00:42:44,062 --> 00:42:46,730 AND THEY ARE NOT JUST PAYING FOR THE ROAD YOU ARE ON. 615 00:42:46,898 --> 00:42:50,135 JUST GETTING REVENUE FROM YOU FOR THAT WHOLE REGION. 616 00:42:50,302 --> 00:42:54,205 I WAS IN ORLANDO RECENTLY AND ALMOST EVERY MAJOR ROAD HAS A 617 00:42:54,338 --> 00:42:57,375 TOLL ON IT. WHY NOT TOLLS IN LOUISIANA? 618 00:42:57,542 --> 00:43:00,912 HOW WOULD THAT WORK? I WONDER IF CHANCE AND DOREEN 619 00:43:01,078 --> 00:43:05,450 MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT. I'D BE HAPPY TO GO FIRST. 620 00:43:05,617 --> 00:43:09,820 WITH RESPECT TO TOLLING, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRAFFIC VOLUME TO 621 00:43:09,987 --> 00:43:12,990 GENERATE SUFFICIENT DOLLARS TO BUILD STRUCTURES IN LOUISIANA 622 00:43:13,157 --> 00:43:18,228 EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE LOCATIONS, PERHAPS A NEW I-10 BRIDGE IN 623 00:43:18,362 --> 00:43:22,100 LAKE CHARLES. WE'RE LIMITED AS FAR AS WHERE 624 00:43:22,267 --> 00:43:27,605 TOLLING COULD HELP FINANCE A 625 00:43:27,738 --> 00:43:29,473 STRUCTURE. FROM A TRUCKING PERSPECTIVE, WE 626 00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:32,443 OPPOSE TOLLS. EVEN AMONG THE ADVOCATES, 627 00:43:32,610 --> 00:43:36,780 THERE'S DISAGREEMENT OVER THAT. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, TOLLING IS 628 00:43:36,948 --> 00:43:40,585 NOT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE APPROACH. 629 00:43:40,752 --> 00:43:47,558 YOU HAVE TO PAY BACK A PRIVATE INVESTOR. 630 00:43:47,725 --> 00:43:51,128 SEEMS TO BE SPREADING IN A LOT OF OTHER STATES. 631 00:43:51,295 --> 00:43:55,032 I THINK WHERE LOUISIANA IS LOOKING NOW ARE ALTERNATIVE 632 00:43:55,200 --> 00:44:00,605 METHODS FOR FUNDING. LOOKING AT PUBLIC PRIVATE 633 00:44:00,772 --> 00:44:03,273 PARTNERSHIPS WHICH RELY ON TOLLS. 634 00:44:03,407 --> 00:44:08,445 LOOKING AT USAGE FEE. GOT TO BE A SOURCE OF FUNDING 635 00:44:08,613 --> 00:44:12,583 THAT'S SUSTAINABLE. THERE'S BEEN GREAT EFFORT TO PUT 636 00:44:12,750 --> 00:44:17,055 SOME SURPLUS DOLLARS TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. 637 00:44:17,222 --> 00:44:19,090 BUT THAT'S JUST NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES. 638 00:44:19,257 --> 00:44:23,293 NOT GOING TO BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI. 639 00:44:23,427 --> 00:44:27,398 NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE TUNNEL. 640 00:44:27,565 --> 00:44:33,872 AND I THINK THE STATE AND DOTD IS TRYING TO GET CREATIVE AND 641 00:44:34,038 --> 00:44:38,008 STILL GOING TO REQUIRE SOME REVENUE SOURCE. 642 00:44:38,175 --> 00:44:40,978 WE DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE. 643 00:44:41,145 --> 00:44:45,917 $12 BILLION BACKLOG ON CURRENT PROJECTS AND $15 BILLION WE NEED 644 00:44:46,083 --> 00:44:48,753 FOR NEW PROJECTS. WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD THINGS WE 645 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:51,255 CAN'T TAKE CARE OF. WHAT WE HAVE IS OLD AND AGING 646 00:44:51,422 --> 00:44:54,292 AND NEEDS WORK. PLUS, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WE 647 00:44:54,458 --> 00:44:58,697 DON'T HAVE 245 WE NEED TO HAVE. ERIC, YOU WANT TO CLOSEOUT? 648 00:44:58,830 --> 00:45:02,400 TO THOSE POINTS, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE WE'VE HAD A SURPLUS. 649 00:45:02,567 --> 00:45:07,072 LOUISIANA, WE FAILED TO MAKE 650 00:45:07,205 --> 00:45:09,140 MATCH. WE LOSE $700 MILLION FROM THE 651 00:45:09,307 --> 00:45:11,275 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NEXT YEAR WITH THE DOLLARS THAT 652 00:45:11,442 --> 00:45:19,350 ARE GENERATED, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE PLAN. 653 00:45:19,483 --> 00:45:22,620 $780 MILLION AND WE WERE FORTUNATE THIS PAST YEAR THAT WE 654 00:45:22,787 --> 00:45:27,325 WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET OTHER STATE'S DOLLARS. 655 00:45:27,492 --> 00:45:33,030 BUT IT'S A BAND-AID APPROACH. $26 BILLION PROBLEM. 656 00:45:33,197 --> 00:45:38,435 THE P3s, ALL THOSE ARE GREAT. BUT TIME TO RESET AND LOOK AT 657 00:45:38,603 --> 00:45:40,272 THIS. IT'S BEEN 35 YEARS AND TIME WE 658 00:45:40,438 --> 00:45:44,008 DO SOMETHING. IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO 659 00:45:44,142 --> 00:45:47,078 GET -- GETS US BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. 660 00:45:47,245 --> 00:45:50,147 IT GETS US BACK AND PULLS US OFF OF 48. 661 00:45:50,315 --> 00:45:55,853 SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED A RESET. HOW ABOUT MR. ROBERT BURNS UP 662 00:45:56,020 --> 00:45:57,688 HERE. YOU'VE BEEN AN OBSERVER OF THE 663 00:45:57,855 --> 00:45:59,657 POLITICAL SCENE FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE. 664 00:45:59,823 --> 00:46:02,493 TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND GIVE THE PANEL A QUESTION. 665 00:46:02,660 --> 00:46:05,630 I HAVE BEEN. I'M ROBERT BURNS. 666 00:46:05,797 --> 00:46:09,567 I'M A VIDEO BLOGGER FROM THE VIDEO BLOG SOUND OFF LOUISIANA. 667 00:46:09,733 --> 00:46:18,475 WELCOME ANYBODY TO GO VISIT IT. LOUISIANA RANKS NEAR THE TOP OF 668 00:46:18,643 --> 00:46:21,445 LICENSING FOR LOW WAGE OCCUPATIONS. 669 00:46:21,612 --> 00:46:27,085 ONLY STATE TO LICENSE FLORISTS. ONE OF THREE STATES TO LICENSE 670 00:46:27,252 --> 00:46:30,655 INTERIOR DESIGNERS. THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE WHICH 671 00:46:30,822 --> 00:46:34,958 IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN VIRGINIA WHICH REGULARLY SUES 672 00:46:35,125 --> 00:46:39,197 STATE BODIES OVER INFRINGEMENTS OVER THE RIGHTS TO MAKE A LIVING 673 00:46:39,363 --> 00:46:42,767 HAVE SUED THE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS TO OVERSEE THE 674 00:46:42,933 --> 00:46:47,805 LICENSING. AND MOST RECENTLY SUED THE 675 00:46:47,938 --> 00:46:50,775 COSMETOLOGY BOARD WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE 500 HOURS AND 676 00:46:50,942 --> 00:46:53,610 THERE'S NO SCHOOL THAT EVEN OFFERS THE PROGRAM EXCEPT FOR 677 00:46:53,778 --> 00:46:59,150 ONE IN MONROE. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE PANEL HOW 678 00:46:59,317 --> 00:47:03,353 MUCH FOCUS DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN THE UP COMING 679 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:07,258 FUTURE SESSION, FUTURE GOVERNOR TOWARD ROLLING BACK MANY OF 680 00:47:07,425 --> 00:47:10,995 THESE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS THAT IN REALITY DON'T PROTECT 681 00:47:11,162 --> 00:47:15,500 THE PUBLIC BUT SERVE AS BARRIERS TO ENTRY. 682 00:47:15,667 --> 00:47:20,772 THEY SUPPRESS UPWARD MOBILITY AND IN MANY INSTANCES, THEY 683 00:47:20,938 --> 00:47:23,808 CONSTITUTE TRADE UNIONS AND A RIGHT TO WORK STATE. 684 00:47:23,975 --> 00:47:30,915 AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND WHY DON'T WE LET ALLEY 685 00:47:31,082 --> 00:47:34,752 ANSWER THIS. THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW VIEWS ON 686 00:47:34,918 --> 00:47:37,155 THIS. AND I THINK HE CITED IT. 687 00:47:37,322 --> 00:47:42,760 THE ARCH BRIDGE INSTITUTE DID A STUDY IN TERMS OF LOW WAGE 688 00:47:42,927 --> 00:47:46,463 OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE HOW IT AFFECTS UPWARDS MOBILITY. 689 00:47:46,630 --> 00:47:50,835 WHEN YOU ARE IN A STATE THAT HAS POVERTY RATES, SOME OF THE WORST 690 00:47:51,002 --> 00:47:55,607 IN THE NATION, YOU WOULD THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME CORRELATION 691 00:47:55,773 --> 00:47:59,377 THERE. WE'RE AN OUTLIAR. 692 00:47:59,543 --> 00:48:03,113 OF ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU WOULD THINK 693 00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:06,050 YOU'D BE ABLE TO REMOVE SOMETHING LIKE OCCUPATIONAL 694 00:48:06,217 --> 00:48:08,385 LICENSE FOR HAIR BRAIDING. WE HAVE SUPPORTED THAT 695 00:48:08,552 --> 00:48:12,590 LEGISLATION MULTIPLE YEARS IN A ROW AND IT HAS FAILED. 696 00:48:12,757 --> 00:48:17,328 ARBITRARY OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT IS SOMETHING THE NEXT 697 00:48:17,495 --> 00:48:19,997 LEGISLATURE MUST ADDRESS. THERE'S NO GOOD REASON FOR THAT. 698 00:48:20,163 --> 00:48:23,802 ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS WHERE WE'VE WORKED ON THIS IS IN 699 00:48:23,968 --> 00:48:26,437 REENTRY. WHEN FORMER OFFENDERS ARE 700 00:48:26,603 --> 00:48:29,173 RE-ENTERING SOCIETY AND WE HAVE LICENSING BARRIERS ALL OVER THE 701 00:48:29,307 --> 00:48:31,275 PLACE, WE'RE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT. 702 00:48:31,408 --> 00:48:35,045 VERY SIMPLE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE SIMPLE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS 703 00:48:35,212 --> 00:48:38,282 RESET NEED TO BE PART OF THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 704 00:48:38,415 --> 00:48:41,785 CHALLENGING FACING PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ON LOW INCOME LEVEL. 705 00:48:41,952 --> 00:48:44,688 AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THEY FACE. 706 00:48:44,855 --> 00:48:50,862 JAMIE, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR 707 00:48:51,028 --> 00:48:54,098 ORGANIZATION. JAMIE CARSON. 708 00:48:54,265 --> 00:48:57,802 IN LOUISIANA, THERE ARE WIDE DISPARITIES BETWEEN BLACK AND 709 00:48:57,968 --> 00:49:05,308 WIDE HOUSEHOLDS. MUCH IN THE SEGREGATION THAT 710 00:49:05,442 --> 00:49:07,110 CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. 711 00:49:07,278 --> 00:49:13,117 I'M WONGEDERING WHAT CAN THE RESET AGENDA DO TO ADDRESS THIS 712 00:49:13,283 --> 00:49:15,118 ISSUE? MIKE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ON 713 00:49:15,285 --> 00:49:18,588 THAT QUESTION? THAT'S A BIG ONE. 714 00:49:18,722 --> 00:49:24,195 BECAUSE OF THE LEVELS OF POVERTY, IT COMES RIGHT BACK. 715 00:49:24,362 --> 00:49:27,365 POVERTY, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, ALL OF IT. 716 00:49:27,532 --> 00:49:32,903 WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS LEADING US TO HAVE A BETTER 717 00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:35,707 OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO COMPETE. 718 00:49:35,873 --> 00:49:40,945 THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU 719 00:49:41,112 --> 00:49:43,613 ARE SAYING AND THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE AWARE. 720 00:49:43,747 --> 00:49:47,385 GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. 721 00:49:47,552 --> 00:49:50,788 OFFERING TO THE LEGISLATURE SOLUTIONS. 722 00:49:50,955 --> 00:49:53,823 DON'T JUST TELL THEM GO DO IT. BUT SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT. 723 00:49:53,992 --> 00:49:56,893 THAT'S THE BIG THING WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO LAUNCH 724 00:49:57,060 --> 00:50:01,265 INTO THIS THING. FIRST, WE'RE NOT PARTISAN. 725 00:50:01,398 --> 00:50:04,702 WE WANT TO SEE GOOD THINGS DONE IN LOUISIANA AND WE WANT TO TELL 726 00:50:04,868 --> 00:50:09,073 THE LEGISLATORS WE'RE GOING TO BE YOUR SUPPORTER. 727 00:50:09,240 --> 00:50:12,108 WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU COVER. WE WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE BOTH 728 00:50:12,277 --> 00:50:15,780 THE BILLS, CALL OUT THE BILLS. DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED 729 00:50:15,947 --> 00:50:19,183 TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE CHANGES. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN 730 00:50:19,350 --> 00:50:22,953 DO IS TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE NEED, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE DONE AND 731 00:50:23,120 --> 00:50:25,188 HELP THEM OR GIVE THEM THE SOLUTIONS. 732 00:50:25,355 --> 00:50:31,195 AND YOU'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT AND STUDY TO INCOME 733 00:50:31,362 --> 00:50:33,998 DISSPART. CAN YOU REFLECT ON THAT? 734 00:50:34,165 --> 00:50:43,440 FIRST; IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. 735 00:50:43,607 --> 00:50:48,345 IT MAY TAKE 20 YEARS. AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING 736 00:50:48,512 --> 00:50:54,418 ABOUT TONIGHT, THE ROADS AND 737 00:50:54,552 --> 00:50:58,888 INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LONG-TERM GOALS, 738 00:50:59,057 --> 00:51:01,158 LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. WE BETTER BE PATIENT. 739 00:51:01,325 --> 00:51:04,728 IF WE THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATURE ITS FIRST TERM IN 740 00:51:04,895 --> 00:51:08,832 OFFICE IS GOING TO SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS, WE'RE KIDDING 741 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:11,268 OURSELVES. I THINK THE FIRST THING WE HAVE 742 00:51:11,435 --> 00:51:15,272 TO BE CAREFUL, IF WE DON'T STARTED TO, WE'LL NEVER GET 743 00:51:15,438 --> 00:51:17,308 THERE. NOTHING HAPPENS WHILE WE 744 00:51:17,475 --> 00:51:18,142 WAIT. THAT'S RIGHT. 745 00:51:18,308 --> 00:51:20,543 WE'VE GOT TO START. SOME OF THE THINGS MIKE'S 746 00:51:20,712 --> 00:51:22,847 TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE, THAT'S CRITICAL. 747 00:51:23,013 --> 00:51:27,250 THEN SOME OF THE 24I7KS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THE CRAZY 748 00:51:27,418 --> 00:51:32,757 RULES WE HAVE, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT PRETTY FAST. 749 00:51:32,923 --> 00:51:35,860 WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE CRAZY RULES QUICKLY. 750 00:51:36,027 --> 00:51:37,562 WE HAVE TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL. 751 00:51:37,728 --> 00:51:44,535 WORKING WITH THE FLORIST OR THE BRAIDERS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO 752 00:51:44,702 --> 00:51:50,240 LOOK LIKE A HIGH-PROFILE ISSUE. JUST BARELY SNEAKING THROUGH AND 753 00:51:50,407 --> 00:51:54,212 EASY TO DEFEAT. FOCUSING ON OPPORTUNITIES, A 754 00:51:54,378 --> 00:51:58,715 LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE 755 00:51:58,882 --> 00:52:02,753 THE OPPORTUNITIES. FOCUSING ON ANY INSTITUTIONS 756 00:52:02,887 --> 00:52:06,923 THAT HAVE BARRIERS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. 757 00:52:07,090 --> 00:52:13,363 INSTITUTIONS IN ALL THEIR FORMS AND DIG IN AND BE AWARE OF. 758 00:52:13,530 --> 00:52:19,070 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 759 00:52:19,237 --> 00:52:21,638 JOHN GALLAGHER TALK A LITTLE BIT. 760 00:52:21,805 --> 00:52:23,473 WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE STATE VIEW. 761 00:52:23,640 --> 00:52:26,577 WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE, THERE ARE CITIES THAT ARE REALLY 762 00:52:26,743 --> 00:52:31,615 DOING PRETTY WELL. AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER TOWNS 763 00:52:31,782 --> 00:52:37,555 REALLY STRUGGLING. I WONDER IF THAT'S THE FUTURE. 764 00:52:37,722 --> 00:52:40,692 FOR THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE LOCAL AREAS AROUND THE 765 00:52:40,858 --> 00:52:44,362 STATE. WONDER IF YOU CAN REFLECT ON 766 00:52:44,528 --> 00:52:47,197 THAT. WE HAVE SOME DOING VERY WELL. 767 00:52:47,365 --> 00:52:51,535 WE HAVE SOME THAT/OWE SOMETIMES I SEE IT AS NO FAULT OF THEIR 768 00:52:51,668 --> 00:52:55,005 OWN. SOME BACK INTO THE 70s AND 80s 769 00:52:55,172 --> 00:52:57,675 THAT WERE JUST BLOWING AND GOING. 770 00:52:57,842 --> 00:53:03,313 AND WHEN I-49 CAME ALONG, IT WAS REROUTED AWAY AND TOOK THE 771 00:53:03,480 --> 00:53:08,185 LIFEBLOOD OUT OF THOSE WHEN THE INDUSTRY WENT DOWN AND MILL 772 00:53:08,318 --> 00:53:13,823 STARTED CLOSING. SPRING HILL IS AN EXAMPLE. 773 00:53:13,957 --> 00:53:16,460 AND A LOT IS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. 774 00:53:16,593 --> 00:53:25,202 I HEAR THE LEGISLATURE. SMALL TOWNS NEED TO GO AWAY. 775 00:53:25,335 --> 00:53:32,075 I FIND HARD TO SWALLOW. WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT WHERE 776 00:53:32,242 --> 00:53:34,378 WE'RE TEAMING WITH A POD CAST COMPANY. 777 00:53:34,545 --> 00:53:39,317 GOING TO START FEATURING THE SMALL TOWNS. 778 00:53:39,483 --> 00:53:44,755 WHAT'S THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR THESE SMALL TOWNS? 779 00:53:44,922 --> 00:53:51,062 I HEAR YOU ARE TAKING AWAY FROM THEM. 780 00:53:51,228 --> 00:53:56,267 YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF THE FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AND 781 00:53:56,433 --> 00:53:59,537 WORKING WITH THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND 782 00:53:59,703 --> 00:54:02,907 WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES, 783 00:54:03,073 --> 00:54:08,112 SMALLER WATER SYSTEMS ABOUT CONSOLIDATING AND HELPING THEM 784 00:54:08,278 --> 00:54:13,983 WORK THROUGH THE USDA. IS THE STATE DOING ENOUGH? 785 00:54:14,152 --> 00:54:20,023 I THINK THE STATE -- I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST SAY HEY STATE. 786 00:54:20,190 --> 00:54:25,362 I THINK THE LOCALS NEED TO AND WE NEED TO AS A GROUP LOOK AND 787 00:54:25,528 --> 00:54:30,902 CONSIDER IF YOU NEED TO RAISE YOUR WATER RATES, I KNOW USDA 788 00:54:31,035 --> 00:54:34,138 GETTING THE GRANTS IN ORDER TO APPLY, YOU HAVE TO RAISE YOUR 789 00:54:34,305 --> 00:54:36,873 WATER RATES AND LOOK AT CONSOLIDATION. 790 00:54:37,040 --> 00:54:42,178 AND WE'RE WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON PROGRAMS TO TRY 791 00:54:42,345 --> 00:54:47,818 TO GET -- THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES YESTERDAY 792 00:54:47,985 --> 00:54:54,858 ABOUT RURAL COMMUNITIES. YOU SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 793 00:54:55,025 --> 00:55:02,265 CHALLENGE IN RURAL AREAS. FROM MY INDUSTRY, WE'RE 794 00:55:02,432 --> 00:55:05,102 TRYING TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. 795 00:55:05,268 --> 00:55:09,873 I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FINANCING AND WHAT SYSTEMS CAN 796 00:55:10,040 --> 00:55:13,277 DO. CUTTING EDGE THAN AN INVESTMENT 797 00:55:13,443 --> 00:55:17,615 EARLY ON CAN REAP BENEFITS LONG-TERM SO YOU ARE NOT HAVING 798 00:55:17,782 --> 00:55:21,652 SO MUCH MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF 799 00:55:21,818 --> 00:55:23,653 TIME. ONE SENTENCE TO CLOSEOUT WHAT IS 800 00:55:23,820 --> 00:55:28,792 THE ONE THING YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE AWAY FROM TONIGHT. 801 00:55:28,958 --> 00:55:33,063 MICHAEL, GO. THEY GOT TO ASK THEIR ELECTED 802 00:55:33,230 --> 00:55:36,967 OFFICIALS WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THESE FOUR ISSUES AND WHAT CAN 803 00:55:37,100 --> 00:55:40,037 YOU DO? WHAT SMALL TOWNS AND LARGE 804 00:55:40,203 --> 00:55:43,573 TOWNS NEED ARE JOBS. THAT'S LOOKING FOR KIDS HERE 805 00:55:43,740 --> 00:55:47,043 WHERE THEY CAN FIND A JOB. DR. RICHARDSON. 806 00:55:47,210 --> 00:55:49,347 EVERY PROBLEM WE HAVE IS NOT SOMETHING CREATED IN THE LAST 807 00:55:49,480 --> 00:55:53,617 YEAR OR TWO YEARS. IT'S BEEN CREATED OVER 20 YEARS, 808 00:55:53,750 --> 00:55:56,520 30 YEARS OR 40 YEARS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG TO 809 00:55:56,687 --> 00:56:00,357 SOLVE THEM. WE NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE, ON THE 810 00:56:00,490 --> 00:56:04,395 GO, START RIGHT NOW AND NEED TO BE PATIENT. 811 00:56:04,562 --> 00:56:07,665 CAN HE CAN'T KEEP BLAMING ALONG. 812 00:56:07,832 --> 00:56:12,837 I DIDN'T GO BACK THAT FAR. AGAIN, THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN 813 00:56:13,003 --> 00:56:16,140 AROUND FOREVER. WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION. 814 00:56:16,307 --> 00:56:23,347 WE NEED TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION IN FRONT OF OUR LECTED 815 00:56:23,513 --> 00:56:24,080 OFFICIALS. OKAY. 816 00:56:24,248 --> 00:56:27,017 WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT. 817 00:56:27,150 --> 00:56:36,260 WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR PANELISTS, MR. OLIVIAE, MS. 818 00:56:36,427 --> 00:56:37,795 CONNOWAY. WHEN WE COME BACK, A FEW CLOSING 819 00:56:37,962 --> 00:56:38,828 COMMENTS. 820 00:56:49,540 --> 00:56:54,745 A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION. I THINK WE ALL NEED PATIENCE. 821 00:56:54,912 --> 00:56:56,580 SOMETHING I'M SHORT OF MOST OF THE TIME. 822 00:56:56,747 --> 00:56:58,548 WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION. 823 00:56:58,715 --> 00:57:01,252 NO FIGHTS BROKE OUT. IT WAS PRETTY GOOD DEAL. 824 00:57:01,418 --> 00:57:03,987 ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY AND I 825 00:57:04,153 --> 00:57:06,590 KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT. 826 00:57:06,757 --> 00:57:10,460 EARLY VOTING BEGINS ON THE 28TH RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. 827 00:57:10,627 --> 00:57:13,763 SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATES IN A DEMOCRACY. 828 00:57:13,930 --> 00:57:16,567 THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE. 829 00:57:16,733 --> 00:57:19,303 ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR 830 00:57:19,470 --> 00:57:22,538 THIS EPISODE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR 831 00:57:22,707 --> 00:57:27,143 WEB SITE AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE. 832 00:57:27,310 --> 00:57:30,447 YOU'LL FIND A LINK THERE TO THE RESET PROPOSALS. 833 00:57:30,580 --> 00:57:33,083 AND VOTING INFORMATION. IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON 834 00:57:33,217 --> 00:57:36,387 TONIGHT'S SHOW, CLICK THE JOIN THE CONVERSATION TAB. 835 00:57:36,553 --> 00:57:39,923 WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. ACCORDING TO A STUDY RELEASED 836 00:57:40,090 --> 00:57:43,393 LAST YEAR, LOUISIANA RANKS AMONGST THE TOP THREE STATES 837 00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:46,797 MOST VULNERABLE IN A TRADE WAR WITH CHINA. 838 00:57:46,963 --> 00:57:55,472 JOIN LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE NEXT MONTH AS IT TRAVELS TO 839 00:57:55,605 --> 00:57:59,843 ALEXANDRIA LOUISIANA ON TARIFF TENSIONS OCTOBER 23RD. 840 00:57:59,977 --> 00:58:01,845 THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT. 841 00:58:01,978 --> 00:58:04,815 GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. 842 00:58:34,277 --> 00:58:40,283 FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM CALL 800-973-7246 OR GO ONLINE 843 00:58:40,450 --> 00:58:45,155 TO WWW.LPB.ORG.