Pelican Responds to Settlement in Oil and Gas Lawsuits
Pelican Responds to Settlement in Oil and Gas Lawsuits
by Morgan Wampold, director of communications Today, despite the lack of support expressed by state lawmakers, local elected officials, and industry leaders across the coast, state officials announced they have signed onto a proposed agreement seeking to settle coastal land loss claims against a single defendant that no longer operates in Louisiana. The following is a...
N.C. tax reform: A model for Louisiana
N.C. tax reform: A model for Louisiana
by Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research, John Locke Foundation If Louisiana wants to look for inspiration for tax reform, they could do no better than North Carolina. Aggressive, yet sensible, tax cuts paired with fiscal restraint is what made North Carolina “The national model for conservative tax reform,” according to Patrick Gleason, vice...
By Editor
State Job Numbers Are No Cause for Celebration
State Job Numbers Are No Cause for Celebration
As Louisianans celebrate a vastly different kind of Mardi Gras this year, the latest economic data shows that COVID-19 has resulted in far more than cancelled parades. State and local government officials’ response to the pandemic has also led to significant job losses. Louisiana’s new economic data shows that while the number of Louisianans on...
By Daniel J. Erspamer
Social worker sues state for opportunity to help kids in need
Social worker sues state for opportunity to help kids in need
by Sarah Harbison, general counsel & director, Pelican Center for Justice Ursula Newell-Davis lives in New Orleans and cares deeply about the well-being of her community. Through her work as a social worker and as a mother to her own special needs son, Ursula has seen first-hand that children with disabilities and their families need...
By Sarah Harbison
Last Jobs Report of the Year A Mixed Bag
Last Jobs Report of the Year A Mixed Bag
by Eric Peterson, Director of Policy During the holiday season, Louisianans have more on their mind than the latest state economic reports. Yet as we enter the New Year, it’s important to understand where our state’s economy stands. Two reports, one from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the other from the Bureau of...
By Eric Peterson
Despite hiccups, Louisiana economy slowly moving forward
Despite hiccups, Louisiana economy slowly moving forward
by Eric Peterson, Director of Policy As 2020 winds down, I can’t help but reflect on the difficulties we’ve all experienced, both on the health and economic fronts, throughout this year. Fortunately, as a vaccine appears within reach, so too is a return to a strong economy. The latest jobs release from the Bureau of...
By Eric Peterson
Latest Jobs Report Has Bad News for Louisiana
Latest Jobs Report Has Bad News for Louisiana
This hasn’t been a year of positive news. Over the last few months, however, there have been some bright spots for Louisiana and the nation’s economies, as they have been steadily moving in the right direction. But, the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has some sobering news for those who expected...
By Daniel J. Erspamer
WATCH: Q&A with NOLA District Attorney Candidates
WATCH: Q&A with NOLA District Attorney Candidates
Voters in New Orleans will elect a new District Attorney this fall, and the person elected has the potential to transform the city’s criminal justice system for a generation. To get to know the candidates and where they stand on the issues, the Pelican Institute invited each qualified candidate to participate in a live PeliCast...
By Daniel J. Erspamer
Emergency Powers Bill Passes Committee, Statement from Pelican CEO
Emergency Powers Bill Passes Committee, Statement from Pelican CEO
Today, the Louisiana House and Government Affairs Committee passed House Bill 4, which will add checks and balances to Louisiana’s emergency declarations process. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer released the following statement in response to the passage of the legislation: “Balancing executive power in Louisiana’s emergency declarations process has become one of the most consequential issues...
By Daniel J. Erspamer
Protect Life and Liberty in a Pandemic
Protect Life and Liberty in a Pandemic
Did Louisiana’s government infringe on the rights of its citizens with its COVID-19 mandates? Today, the Pelican Institute released a report to answer that question and offer approaches for addressing the ongoing pandemic and future disasters while safeguarding both public health and individual liberty. In future legislative sessions, lawmakers should consider the lessons learned from...