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.

Louisiana’s New Occupational Licensing Laws: Brief Primer

Louisiana’s New Occupational Licensing Laws: Brief Primer

In Louisiana’s 2022 Louisiana legislative session, lawmakers passed and the governor signed into law three bills that remove barriers for people seeking occupational licenses. The new laws strengthen the ability of individuals to successfully challenge burdensome licensing regulations that hinder their ability to earn a living; help ex-offenders get licensed, back to work, and back...

By Erin Bendily, Ph.D.

Board of Veterinary Medicine: Saying Goodbye to Licensing Barriers

Board of Veterinary Medicine: Saying Goodbye to Licensing Barriers

During the 2022 session, the Pelican Institute supported legislation which eventually became Act 583, a law that promotes an easier path to work for Louisiana families. The bill, which advocates have called the Right to Earn a Living (RTEAL), limits regulations and requirements for licensure to only those that protect the health, safety, welfare, and...

By Jamie Tairov

Justice System Re-entry Reforms: Let’s Focus on Outcomes

Justice System Re-entry Reforms: Let’s Focus on Outcomes

On Wednesday, after nearly three years on hiatus, the Governor’s Justice Reinvestment Implementation Oversight Council finally held a meeting. The meeting’s primary purpose was to discuss the implementation of programs created as a result of the state’s criminal justice reforms enacted in 2017. Those reforms were passed to increase public safety and reduce recidivism, which...

By Jamie Tairov

Occupational Licensure: It’s Not Just Regulations That Are The Problem

Occupational Licensure: It’s Not Just Regulations That Are The Problem

The Pelican Institute has long advocated for increased freedom for Louisianans to work and pursue the American dream. In particular, we’ve called to reform government regulation and interference through occupational licensure – a form of government permission slips for individuals to work within a given profession – unless there exists significant risks to consumers or...

By Erin Bendily, Ph.D.

Proper Police Funding is Needed to Reduce Violent Crime

Proper Police Funding is Needed to Reduce Violent Crime

Since the pandemic and protests, violent crime has been on the rise across the United States. Drug use and mental health issues have also risen, education outcomes are lower, and there is less opportunity for prospering despite the recent growth of the economy. In the midst of this turmoil, some have pushed the overcriminalization narrative...

By Jamie Tairov

July Jobs Report Brings Good News for Louisiana

July Jobs Report Brings Good News for Louisiana

Despite sky-high inflation and other economic concerns, July was a good month for Louisiana job seekers. Approximately 13,700 Louisianans found a job in July, the largest job growth the state has seen in a long time. The sectors which saw the largest job increases were professional and business services which increased by 6,700 followed by...

By John Kay

Workforce Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Workforce Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

American economists woke to a welcome surprise this morning with the July employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even with sky-high inflation and negative economic growth for two straight quarters, 528,000 more Americans now have a job, which brought the unemployment rate down to 3.5%. Both of these numbers are now lower than...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

The Tide Has Turned on Occupational Licensing in Louisiana

The Tide Has Turned on Occupational Licensing in Louisiana

Every Louisianan deserves the right to earn a living and pursue their chosen career without fear of artificial government roadblocks. This past legislative session, legislators took an important step forward in allowing entrepreneurship to thrive in the Pelican State without anti-competitive and arbitrary barriers established by occupational licensing boards. As of August 1st, 2022, these...

By Ryan Roberts

June Jobs Report Shows Decline in Jobs

June Jobs Report Shows Decline in Jobs

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest state unemployment numbers. Headlines showing that the unemployment rate decreased from 4 percent to 3.8 percent might have grabbed attention, but the overall report painted a less rosy picture of the Louisiana economy. Even though the unemployment rate decreased in Louisiana, the number of people...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

Groups Take Steps to Tackle Rising Crime

Groups Take Steps to Tackle Rising Crime

Families across Louisiana, as well as the whole country, are feeling the impact of rising crime rates. There’s no denying a significant problem, particularly in America’s cities, as violent and property crime rates increase to recent heights. Of course, this is not a new phenomenon. Crime rates have risen and fallen at various points throughout...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

June Job Report Suggests Economic Slowdown on Horizon

June Job Report Suggests Economic Slowdown on Horizon

Like much of the country, Louisianans have been feeling significant economic pressure with high inflation putting a strain on family budgets. Those looking to find a job to cover these extra costs have had success with job openings continuing to outpace growth in the labor force. But as the unemployment rate returns to pre-pandemic levels,...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

Failures in Accountability Plague Our Assistance Programs

Failures in Accountability Plague Our Assistance Programs

Accountability in our assistance programs is essential to helping Louisiana families. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor reported that the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) failed to enforce work verification requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The TANF program issues grants to states so that they can provide financial support...

By Aly Rau

Louisiana Posts Some of the Worst Economic Performance in the Nation

Louisiana Posts Some of the Worst Economic Performance in the Nation

Just before the Independence Day holiday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released the most recent report of economic activity for states, measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The report showed that the average state’s GDP decreased by 1.6 percent and only four states had positive GDP growth. But even within this bleak picture of the...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

Our Tangled Safety Net Needs an Overhaul

Our Tangled Safety Net Needs an Overhaul

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) mission, “put people to work”, should be made as simple as possible. Complexity in the safety net often leads to fraud and a web of requirements that ensnare people who are trying to rebuild their lives. Along with the entangled net of state programs, the LWC manages unemployment programs under...

By Ryan Roberts