Last week the Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) published a response to our critique of the health insurance exchange proposed by Sen. Karen Carter Peterson in SB744. We have reviewed their arguments in favor of the exchange and find them unpersuasive.

We believe that voters should support this amendment and vote Yes on Saturday. While there is no doubt that policymakers have been challenged by recent budget shortfalls, most taxpayers face challenges of their own. These taxpayers must live within their means and we believe that policymakers should do the same.

This morning, the Institute for Justice filed a major federal lawsuit on behalf of a group of monks from Saint Joseph Abby. Under Louisiana law, it is a crime for anyone but a licensed funeral director to sell “funeral merchandise,” which includes caskets. To sell caskets legally, the monks would have to abandon their calling...

Reason Foundation’s director of transportation policy Robert Poole offers a compelling argument for reforming airline security. His argument focuses on the conflicts of interest faced by the Transportation Security Administration. Established after 9/11, the TSA is a federal agency having both the job of screening passengers and baggage at airports and the job of regulating...

Most people agree that federal organizations such as the US Postal Service and Amtrak are far from being efficient. However, little has been done to improve their operations. On this matter, Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute makes a number of interesting points in Downsizing The Federal Government. Edwards argues for the privatization of several...

Despite Gov. Jindal’s spending cut in late December, Jan Moller reports in the Times Picayune on a possible “mid-year budget deficit that could be as high as $400 million.” According to the state Department of Revenue, lower income and sales tax revenues are to blame. In February, the state collected $209 million but paid $230...

Sen. Rob Marionneaux has filed two bills that would expand the existing Louisiana smoking ban. Currently, smoking is prohibited in restaurants, schools, hospitals, public buildings, and doctors’ offices. As posted on the website of the Louisiana Legislature, Senate Bill 334 would ban smoking in any bars where food is served during business hours. In addition,...

Barack Obama proclaimed March 7th-March 13th to be the National Consumer Protection Week. Supporting the creation of an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Obama said: “[…] our Government must do more to stand up for consumers. From excessive bank account overdraft fees to abusive mortgage lending practices, our broken financial system produces profits at the...