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Long-term economic development in Louisiana is stuck in neutral and progress is hampered by a continuous population exodus that drains brainpower, a workforce that lacks training and a quality of life that fails to attract new business. The current recovery related economic boom Louisiana enjoys may be short-lived if opportunities to make lasting changes are […]
Reform-oriented strategy was sorely lacking during the 2007 Regular Legislative Session. For a state still neck deep in its recovery from two catastrophic hurricanes two years prior with three extraordinary pots of cash to spend, a lame-duck governor and a term-limited Legislature, Louisiana demonstrated a remarkable capacity for sticking to its traditional script. The unprecedented […]
Two legislative proposals gaining rapid momentum this session could have devastating effects on Louisiana’s public records law. While House Bills 964 and 841 focus on entirely different topics, both have the effect of undermining transparency in government. In 2002, Louisiana ranked among the top five states in granting citizens access to public records, according to […]
Louisiana’s public health care system, ailing for decades, is now on life support. The hurricanes of 2005 exposed the system’s long-standing shortcomings but so far policymakers have not been able to reach a consensus for change.
The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) board will vote this Thursday on whether to approve a $300 million request to partially fund the rebuilding of charity hospital in New Orleans. The LRA should recommend that the Legislature only grant the Office of Facility Planning and Control enough for land acquisition and planning fees – roughly $70 […]
Louisiana stumbled across the finish line last week to complete the first phase of a long journey toward a better health care system. Now that the initial outline for reform of the New Orleans region has been submitted to federal officials by the Oct. 20 deadline, the Louisiana Health Care Redesign Collaborative should exercise the […]
A bill to protect the nursing home industry from certain types of budget cuts is nearing final passage this week. SB 613 would set in law the formula used to determine Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes, limiting the state’s options for cutting payments when budget reductions are necessary. Current budgeting flexibility should be maintained, […]