Press Releases | Pelican Policy

Statement: Department of Education Releases K-12 School Performance Scores

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. BATON ROUGE–CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer, released the following statement after the Department of Education released their K-12 school ratings. The release comes just days after BESE rejected a proposal that would’ve made the ratings more transparent: “When Louisiana’s accountability system isn’t transparent,...

By Chris Lowery

Statement: BESE Rejects Accountability Measure

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. BATON ROUGE– CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer, released the following statement after BESE board members voted to reject a proposal that would’ve made Louisiana’s K-12 accountability system more transparent: “BESE failed Louisiana’s kids today, siding with a deeply entrenched education status quo to...

By Chris Lowery

Release: Pelican Institute Sues Biden Administration On Student Loan Debt Cancellation

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. Today, the Pelican Institute for Public Policy filed suit on behalf of Louisiana attorney Tommy Badeaux, challenging the Biden Administration’s illegal student loan debt cancellation program. ”You can’t carte blanche cancel half a trillion dollars of debts owed to the taxpayers without consulting them,”...

By Chris Lowery

Release: Statement From The Pelican Institute On Freeport-McMoran Deal

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer, released the following statement after the Department of Natural Resources usurped the wishes of Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia Parishes, and signed for them in the proposed Freeport-McMoran settlement: “Government bureaucrats and trial...

By Chris Lowery

Solutions Summit 2023: Save the Date!

On March 9th, 2023, the Pelican Institute will be hosting our 2023 Annual Solutions Summit at the Hilton Capitol Center in Baton Rouge. Solutions Summit attendees will get an exciting opportunity to listen and engage with high-profile policy, community, and legislative leaders from Louisiana and around the nation. Past Solution Summit speakers have included U.S....

By Aly Rau

Release: Appeal Filed in Halstead Bead Remote-Seller Sales Tax Case

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org New Orleans — Yesterday, Halstead Bead, represented by a team from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s Taxpayer Defense Center, the Pelican Institute, and the Goldwater Institute, filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in its ongoing lawsuit that...

By Chris Lowery

Statement: BESE Defers Vote That Would’ve Strengthened K-12 Accountability System

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. BATON ROUGE– CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer, released the following statement after BESE board members voted to defer making Louisiana’s accountability system more transparent: “We are disappointed that the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education failed to improve transparency and accountability...

By Chris Lowery

Statement: Superintendents of Lowest Performing Schools in Louisiana Oppose Accountability

For media inquiries please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer, released the following statement after certain Louisiana Superintendents held a press conference opposing school accountability: “For far too long, Louisiana has ranked 49th in education outcomes. Meanwhile, our accountability grades mask year-after-year failures and tell...

By Chris Lowery

Pelican Institute Hires Chief Economist and Senior Policy Associate

For media inquiries, please contact Chris Lowery (225) 726-1822 or chris@pelicaninstitute.org. Baton Rouge — The Pelican Institute for Public Policy is excited to announce the hirings of Dr. Vance Ginn and Jamie Tairov, two accomplished, seasoned policy professionals who will bring their passion and expertise to the Pelican Institute team. Dr. Ginn will serve as...

By Chris Lowery

Pelican Leadership Academy 2023: Applications Now Open!

We are excited to announce applications for the Pelican Leadership Academy are now open! The Pelican Leadership Academy is committed to training and equipping future Louisiana leaders from a variety of backgrounds and ages who are committed to advancing the fundamental principles of liberty in the Pelican State. Our classes bring together leaders from across...

By Aly Rau

Statement: Occupational Licensing Reform Signed Into Law

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 Governor Edwards signed two bills that will reform Louisiana’s occupational licensing laws and restore the right to earn a living for Louisianans: “Louisiana is one of the most onerously licensed...

By Ryan Roberts

Statement: Governor Edwards Vetoes Education Options for Disabled Kids and Struggling Readers

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 Governor Edwards vetoed education savings account bills that would’ve helped kids with disabilities or struggling to read have a tailored education: “We are disappointed that Governor Edwards has vetoed HB194...

By Ryan Roberts

Louisiana Legislature Approves Education Savings Accounts

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 Louisiana Legislature passed HB194 to create education savings accounts for kids with disabilities: “Right now, there are families across Louisiana who have a child with a disability that require...

By Ryan Roberts

STATEMENT: Louisiana Legislature Passes the Right to Earn a Living Act

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 Louisiana legislature passed HB1062, the Right to Earn a Living Act: “Countless Louisianans give up pursuing their dreams every day because of arbitrary roadblocks and hurdles. Occupational licensing reform is about...

By Ryan Roberts