Kevin Kane Center for Opportunity Policy

Systemic poverty threatens human dignity, endangers families, and is fundamentally antithetical to the American experiment. Unfortunately, too many of our government policies in the areas of criminal justice reform, social safety nets, workforce development, and occupational licensure present barriers to economic mobility and block off pathways to opportunity.

The Kane Center honors the work and passions of the Institute’s founder, Kevin Kane, who launched Pelican in 2008. Under his leadership the Institute played a leading role in a variety of critical issues, most notably in criminal justice reform. Kevin was honored by the Louisiana State Legislature following the passage of the landmark 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which will free thousands of Louisianans from the damaging cycles of recidivism and help these individuals re-enter society and find work. The scope of work in the Kane Center builds on this critical achievement and expands its reach to many others trapped by government policy that too often blocks meaningful pursuit of work and opportunity.

Op-ed: Louisiana needs dynamism to fuel an economic comeback

This piece originally appeared on The Center Square. Last year, personal income growth was 0.0%, the lowest in the country. And Louisiana had the third highest net out-migration in the country. Louisiana is in desperate need of a comeback. Current so-called “solutions” to the problem are unlikely to work. The Legislature increased spending to an unnecessary extent, ignored calls...

REPORTS

Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government

Louisiana’s Comeback Agenda

Crime In Louisiana: Analyzing the Data

When The Entrepreneurs Go Marching Out

An Outlier in Civil Forfeiture

Economic Report October 2023

Our new report highlights Louisiana’s economic situation based on the most recent data. The report is based on several key factors that indicate how the economy, labor market, and public policy influence the lives of everyday Louisianans. While some of these data indicate a relatively strong labor market–such as the historically low unemployment rate–there are...

By Vance Ginn, Ph.D.

A Little Constitutional Housekeeping Is in Order

We recently outlined what’s at stake with each of the Constitutional amendments on the November 18th ballot. Of those, the Pelican Institute has a position on just one: we recommend a yes vote on Constitutional Amendment Two. Early voting starts Friday, November 3rd and ends on November 11th. Election day is October 14th. It’s a big football weekend...

By Jamie Tairov

Peli-Guide to the Constitutional Amendments, Part II

The legislature approved eight new constitutional amendments this past spring that will need voter approval to go into effect. Luckily, they are not all on the ballot at the same time! Four were on the October primary ballot, while the remaining four will be on the November 18th runoff election ballot. This is the second in a...

By Jamie Tairov

Louisiana Economic Situation—September 2023

What is going on in Louisiana’s economy? How is the labor market doing for Louisianans? What you hear in the media or by politicians may not always match reality. The Pelican State has many fantastic resources with educated people, eccentric culture, robust ports, abundant oil and gas production, and much more. But Louisianans can’t reach...

By Vance Ginn, Ph.D.

Peli-Guide to the Constitutional Amendments, Part I

The legislature approved eight new constitutional amendments during the regular session this year that will need voter approval. Luckily, they will not all be on the ballot at the same time! Four will be on the October 14th primary election ballot, while the remaining four will be on the November 18th runoff election ballot. In...

By Jamie Tairov

Louisiana’s Workforce Programs Aren’t Working

Louisiana’s hardworking men and women need better training and skills so they can achieve better-paying jobs. But according to a new audit of the state’s workforce training service, the program is failing to live up to its mission, all while spending $55 million per year in taxpayer funds. Fortunately, there’s a way that Louisiana can...

By Jamie Tairov

A Winning Message—and Winning Strategy—for Crime in Louisiana

Louisiana is approaching an important election. As voters are preparing to head to the polls to elect those that will lead our state over the next four years, there are numerous polls being conducted to find out which issues voters care about the most and how they’d prefer that leaders address some of Louisiana’s biggest...

By Jamie Tairov

Candidate Questionnaire 2023

Does your candidate support jobs and opportunities in Louisiana? Election Day 2023 is fast approaching. Join us in asking candidates if they support transformational change for Louisiana. Use our candidate questionnaire as a resource.

By Team Pelican

Louisiana Economic Situation—August 2023

Louisiana has many fantastic resources with educated people, eccentric culture, robust ports, abundant oil and gas production, and much more yet poor public policies stifle this potential, highlighted by job losses in July 2023. The Pelican Institute’s “Comeback Agenda” shows the path forward to let people prosper. Table 1 provides Louisiana’s key labor market information...

By Vance Ginn, Ph.D.

LOUISIANA ECONOMIC REPORT: AUGUST 2023

Our new jobs report highlights Louisiana’s economic situation based on the most recent data. The report is based on several key factors that indicate how the economy, labor market, and public policy influence the lives of everyday Louisianans. While some of these data indicate a relatively strong labor market–such as the historically low unemployment rate–there...

By Vance Ginn, Ph.D.

Veterinarians Sue Louisiana Board Over Anti-Work Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BATON ROUGE, LA – Two highly qualified veterinarians today filed a lawsuit against the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, challenging an arbitrary rule that prohibits them from practicing their profession. Dr. Lara Stooksbury and Courtney Breen, who had active licenses in other states and over 20 years of combined experience as veterinarians,...

By James Baehr