February 1, 2017

Stay Connected  Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn View our videos on YouTube
Understanding the State Fiscal Mess

    The legislatively-created Task Force on Structural Changes in Budget and Tax Policy has released its final report and for those who want a better understanding of the fiscal mess Louisiana is in and ideas  for getting out of it, it's worth the read.
    Louisiana's Opportunity: Comprehensive Solutions for a Sustainable Tax and Spending Structure is no small document. At more than 60 pages it contains a lot of detailed information that's often overlooked, not understood, or sometimes ignored, but it provides an essential context that both policymakers and the public need to know if we are ever going to emerge from the fiscal spiral of the last eight years.
   The task force's recommendations for dealing with the state's budget and spending woes were released back in November, so the group's framework of solutions has already been on the table. What this new document does is provide the supporting information and explanations that detail how we got into the current situation and why many of our tax policies are so flawed.
   To fully understand the recommendations made by the task force you need to understand the backstory and this final report offers that.
   Among the things that are important to note is the fact that nearly 60% of Louisiana's general revenue comes from two sources: sales taxes and personal income taxes. At more than $7 billion they represent our primary sources of state funding, but even they are riddled with exemptions and deductions that erode the revenue they bring in and lead to tax rates that are considerably higher than they need to be.

CABL's Report 
Card  on Major
 Education Indicators
      To help keep Louisiana parents, policymakers and citizens better informed, CABL's Louisiana Report Card on Major Education Indicators provides up-to-date state test results, trends, and national and regional comparisons from public K-12 to post-secondary education.
 
Leadership Louisiana 
Class of 2017

CABL is happy to introduce the 2017 class of Leadership Louisiana. Jason Bergeron , Co-owner Technology Professionals and 2017 Chamber Chair Elect is part of this 2017 class.

Cassidy, Collins Release Legislative Text for Obamacare Replacement Plan
    Today, US Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) released the legislative text for the Patient Freedom Act of 2017, a comprehensive replacement plan for Obamacare.

To read the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 in the full legislative text, click here.

To read the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 one pager, click here.

To read the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 section-by-section, click here.

Today, Senators Cassidy and Collins went on the Senate floor to urge their colleagues to support the Patient Freedom Act of 2017.

Watch Dr. Cassidy's speech here.

Watch Collins' speech here.

This morning, Senators Cassidy and Collins held a press conference to announce the introduction of this legislation. Click here for more information and view the press conference.
THE SCALISE CAPITOL REPORT
   This week, our unified Republican government took strong action to stand up for the lives of the unborn and protect the religious freedoms of all Americans across the nation.


   In his first week in office, President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, effectively banning the use of taxpayer dollars to provide or promote abortions in foreign nations.     Additionally, the House passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, legislation which permanently bans the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion anywhere in America.
   These actions are a strong statement in defense of innocent life, as well as a positive signal to hard-working     Americans that their tax dollars won't be used to undermine their religious beliefs. After eight years of former President Obama's pro-abortion agenda, it is a refreshing change to have a government unified in committing to the defense of innocent life at every stage.
  I am proud to stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans who marched at the 2017 March for Life in D.C. Thank you to every person who traveled from Louisiana to our nation's capital to take a stand in defense of the unborn.
   It is an honor to represent you in Congress. For more information please visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.

God Bless,

Steve Scalise
House Majority Whip
The Latest in Oil 
& Natural Gas

BP's Thunder Horse Start-Up Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget
via BP America online
 
    BP's latest project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico will bring an anticipated production breakthrough at the facility, rendering an estimated equivalent of 50,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

    The project, which comes 11 months ahead of schedule, is $150 million under budget and marks the beginning of several large-scale initiatives of its kind that are slated to happen in 2017. The well-timed and resourceful nature of BP's latest venture demonstrates its progressive impact on the industry and in the Gulf of Mexico. 
    "The Thunder Horse South Expansion project brought online ahead of schedule and under budget proves that deepwater can be done in a cost-effective way, while keeping a relentless focus on safety," says Regional President of BP's Gulf of Mexico business, Richard Morrison. 
 
Learn more about the project here
Offshore Exploration and Production In The Gulf Looks Promising
via The Daily Advertiser 

    A panelist of experts met last Tuesday at the International Society of Automation luncheon in Lafayette to weigh in with their thoughts on the future of the energy industry in Louisiana.   
     The panelists agreed that a surge in crude oil prices for 2017 might be just what the industry needs, while also highlighting that there will be a demand for skilled workers planning careers in the energy sector. Other experts on the panel agreed that it is better to have stability in the market than volatility. 
 
      Read more about their predictions and plans for the industry in 2017. 
This Week 
Around Louisiana
This morning (Friday January 27) Governor John Bel Edwards testified before the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.  He defended his plans for cuts, answered the committee's questions and explained his plans for a special session.  The links below are a few of the highlights in news from around Louisiana for the week ending January 27, 2017
 
 
By Gordon Russell | 
The Advocate
 
 
By Emily Fontenot |  The American Press

By Lance Traweek |  Associated Press
 
By Mark Ballard |  The Advocate

By Julia O'Donoghue | 
NOLA.com