This year, disturbing reports of increased crime have dominated the news, both in Louisiana and nationally. Crime is a serious issue that demands thoughtful solutions to deter criminal behavior and promote public safety. They should be guided by data and evidence, not anecdotes. That’s why Pelican set out to review and better understand the underlying...
The proposed settlement is heralded by some as a major victory, supposedly securing $100 million for the state to use for coastal restoration. In reality, the proposed settlement, if adopted, would yield nowhere near $100 million and divert much of the money it did raise to unrelated government spending. Two key flaws undermine the settlement’s...
Regulatory sandboxes are a novel way to govern innovative companies, allowing them to test their product under an alternative regulatory structure. States like Louisiana can benefit from sandboxes by attracting entrepreneurs from other states who are stifled by inflexible regulations while empowering innovators here at home. This report details how states have successfully (and unsuccessfully)...
Constitutional reform in Louisiana can provide a pathway to a state government that fosters liberty, economic growth and positive policy reform. Further, it could be a model for other states interested in becoming freer, fairer, and more effective. This report delves into a brief history of constitutional reform movements in Louisiana, explores how they mirrored...
Over the last decade, coastal Louisiana parishes have filed a total of 42 lawsuits against more than 200 energy companies. The parishes allege that the defendants’ federally authorized oil and gas exploration and production activities caused coastal land loss. In March 2021, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced that he had agreed to a $100...
Understanding the data is extremely important in evaluating trends associated with, and the performance of, Louisiana’s elementary and secondary education system. Despite spending the most per student in the southeast U.S., Louisiana consistently ranks at the bottom of the country in public school educational outcomes. While there has been incremental progress, it’s been very slow, and generations...
How Licensing Holds Back the Pelican State Occupational licenses function as a government permission slip to work in a profession. Laws requiring them are generally passed by states and require a professional to meet entry requirements that often include minimum levels of education and training, job experience, passing exams, and paying fees. Proponents of licensing...
As courts, Congress, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission consider foundational issues of antitrust law and enforcement, states should take this opportunity to reassess their role in the antitrust ecosystem. Over the years, states have filed significant antitrust lawsuits, on their own and in conjunction with federal agencies. Today, states are bringing...
Civil Asset Forfeiture Imagine a world in which you are driving home from work only to be stopped and robbed of your vehicle and all the valuables in your possession. Now imagine the person doing this isn’t a criminal vagrant but an officer of the law. For most Louisianans, such a scenario sounds dystopian and...
The technology sector is playing an increasing role in our day-to-day lives as consumers, and it’s also having a major impact on state policymakers. State policymakers are facing mounting questions over technology and innovation policy. For example, what steps should they take when considering new technologies, such as drones, autonomous vehicles, and 5G? While there...
HB38 by Representative Rick Edmonds brings sunlight to local school district spending by adding many school districts to the Louisiana Fiscal Transparency Website, LouisianaCheckbook.com, and requiring other smaller entities to post enhanced transparency on their websites. It is modeled after both Louisiana Checkbook and an existing project by the Lafayette Parish School Board to post...
As COVID-19 continues to affect much of the world, people’s daily activities have shifted online. But while urban areas generally have access to fast and affordable internet, many rural areas are left with fewer, often expensive and unreliable options. This gap is known as the digital divide. This paper examines the digital divide in both...
Background about the settlement agreement Over the last decade, coastal Louisiana parishes have filed a total of 42 lawsuits against more than 200 energy companies. The parishes allege that the defendants’ federally authorized oil and gas exploration and production activities caused coastal land loss. Defendants named in these lawsuits range from major oil and gas...
Accountability is the bedrock of all education reforms in the United States. Testing and understanding the progress of students within a school illuminates the effectiveness of the curriculum and, in part, the instruction at the school level. Louisiana has had nearly three decades. of experience in developing and refining its accountability system, long before federal law...