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have the opportunity to flourish.

Join us to promote individual liberty and free enterprise, turning great ideas into change in Louisiana.

Louisiana Legislature Stands Strong for Charter Schools

School choice has definitely been front and center during the 2022 legislative session, but not just because of the proposed new education savings account programs. The Louisiana Legislature has considered several bills related to charter schools that would either help or hinder their ability to serve students throughout Louisiana. Charter schools are public schools authorized...

By Erin Bendily

Louisianans Deserve a Fair Chance at an Occupational License

We often talk about barriers to employment and how hard it can be for people to follow their chosen career path in Louisiana. This is especially the case when it comes to people exiting the justice system. They often face ambiguous “good character” provisions that disqualify them from occupational licensure whether their conviction is directly...

By Ryan Roberts

Tech Is Resisting Inflation, So Why Is Government Trying to Regulate It?

Americans are facing levels of inflation not seen in decades and every trip to the grocery store or the gas station takes a bigger bite out of their paycheck. The latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that inflation over the past year is 8.3 percent. For most Americans, daily costs have been...

By Eric Peterson

The Legislature Shouldn’t be Used for Protectionism

Like it or not, prescription drugs – and, importantly, the cost of them – play an ever-increasing role in many Louisianans’ lives. As skyrocketing inflation continues to squeeze our pocketbooks, these issues are more important. I wrote last summer about legislation that would have had made this problem worse through an attempt to over-regulate an...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon Senate Passage of SB483

For media inquiries please contact Ryan Roberts at (504) 481-9931 or ryan@pelicaninstitute.org Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer released the following statement after the Louisiana Senate passed universal licensure recognition: “Every Louisianan has a friend or family member who has left the state for work. All too often we make it overly difficult for...

By Ryan Roberts

Ursula’s Fight for the Right to Earn a Living

In January 2021, the Pelican Center for Justice, along with Pacific Legal Foundation, filed a lawsuit on behalf of New Orleans social worker Ursula Newell-Davis. Ursula’s lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Louisiana’s facility need review (FNR) laws. These laws prevent social workers like Ursula, who have a passion for helping at-risk children, from working in...

By Sarah Harbison

Louisiana High School Diplomas: The Latest Participation Trophies?

Last week, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education called an emergency meeting to consider waivers of state graduation requirements for the Class of 2022. Current graduation requirements, in place for well over a decade, require students to score an “Approaching Basic” level – two full levels below what is considered proficient – on...

By Erin Bendily

Louisiana Driver’s License Suspensions Hurt the Poor Without Improving Safety

The suspension of a person’s driver’s license should be a consequence of poor driving that threatens the safety of the driver or other people, not a punitive tool for non-traffic infractions. Driver’s license suspensions used to enforce non-traffic infractions are often counterintuitive due to the likelihood of negative employment effects from transportation restrictions. To pay...

By Raheem Williams

Government Shouldn’t Obstruct Musk’s Twitter Purchase

Elon Musk is currently purchasing the social media company Twitter. The ongoing purchase set off a firestorm of hot takes mostly around Twitter’s content moderation practices. But another set of concerns about antitrust violations has also been raised. These concerns have only been strengthened as the Federal Trade Commission has begun investigating the purchase. Traditionally,...

By Eric Peterson

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of ESAs

For media inquiries please contact Ryan Roberts at (504) 481-9931 or ryan@pelicaninstitute.org Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer released the following statement after the Louisiana House of Representatives passed two bills to create education savings accounts (ESAs): “Kids in Louisiana have been left behind for too long. The House of Representatives took a big step...

By Ryan Roberts

Latest Economic Report Suggests Recession on the Way

America’s low unemployment rates had many believing that it was smooth sailing ahead for the economy. However, the most recent report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that the American economy shrank during the first quarter of 2022 and a recession is likely on the horizon. The amount of economic activity increased by $380...

By Eric Peterson

Faith Crocker, Barksdale Air Force Base Senior Airman

Faith Crocker believes in service. The daughter of a Baptist pastor, she grew up with a deep understanding of the importance of selfless sacrifice for others. When the opportunity came to serve her country in the Air Force Reserves, she jumped at the chance and entered military training. This opportunity would take her from the...

Every Louisianan Should Have the Right to Earn a Living

Originally Appeared in the The Advocate Every person has a dream. It could be to see the Saints win the Super Bowl or for LSU baseball to win another College World Series. More realistically, however, countless Louisianans dream of escaping poverty and finding fulfilling work. Our people should be able to pursue their dreams and...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of Licensing Reform

For media inquiries please contact Ryan Roberts (504) 481-9931 or ryan@pelicaninstitute.org. Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer released the following statement after the passage of HB1062 out of the Louisiana House of Representatives: “Every day, countless Louisianans face overburdensome hurdles to be a successful entrepreneur. We praise the Louisiana House of Representatives for passing...

By Ryan Roberts

Louisiana Legislature Stands Strong for Charter Schools

Louisiana Legislature Stands Strong for Charter Schools

Louisianans Deserve a Fair Chance at an Occupational License

Louisianans Deserve a Fair Chance at an Occupational License

Tech Is Resisting Inflation, So Why Is Government Trying to Regulate It?

Tech Is Resisting Inflation, So Why Is Government Trying to Regulate It?

The Legislature Shouldn’t be Used for Protectionism

The Legislature Shouldn’t be Used for Protectionism

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon Senate Passage of SB483

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon Senate Passage of SB483

Ursula’s Fight for the Right to Earn a Living

Ursula’s Fight for the Right to Earn a Living

Louisiana High School Diplomas: The Latest Participation Trophies?

Louisiana High School Diplomas: The Latest Participation Trophies?

Louisiana Driver’s License Suspensions Hurt the Poor Without Improving Safety

Louisiana Driver’s License Suspensions Hurt the Poor Without Improving Safety

Government Shouldn’t Obstruct Musk’s Twitter Purchase

Government Shouldn’t Obstruct Musk’s Twitter Purchase

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of ESAs

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of ESAs

Latest Economic Report Suggests Recession on the Way

Latest Economic Report Suggests Recession on the Way

Faith Crocker, Barksdale Air Force Base Senior Airman

Faith Crocker, Barksdale Air Force Base Senior Airman

Every Louisianan Should Have the Right to Earn a Living

Every Louisianan Should Have the Right to Earn a Living

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of Licensing Reform

RELEASE: Statement from the Pelican Institute Upon House Passage of Licensing Reform

Learn More About Restoring Louisianans' Right to Earn a Living