LABI Newsroom.

• Anonymous Sources

  April 20, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack As the pressure mounts on the media for social media clicks and reader attention in a highly competitive marketplace, anonymous sources have become more frequently used by some writers to get stories out quickly and sell certain… (Continue)

• A New Beginning

  April 13, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack This weekend, Christians all over the world will be celebrating the most important holiday of the church calendar. It marks the resurrection of Jesus, who died for our sins and rose on the third day, in fulfillment… (Continue)

• The Same Old Game Plan

  April 4, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack It’s time to face the truth we have long avoided: Louisiana cannot tax, spend and mandate its way to prosperity. For decades, one politician after another has tried every idea under the sun to make the Baton Rouge-heavy,… (Continue)

• Guest Column: A Plan to Improve Education in Louisiana

  March 28, 2017

  By: Brigitte Nieland The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will hold a special meeting to consider the submission of a state plan to improve public education. The plan is required under the federal “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA)…. (Continue)

• Here We Go Again

  March 22, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack Here we go again. In just a few weeks, the Legislature will be back in session. It has only been a month or so since they met and addressed the most recent shortfall, which was the 15th mid-year… (Continue)

• Thinking Outside the Box

  March 9, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack In the 1970’s, management consultants started using a new metaphor to convince companies they needed to think about their problems and potential solutions in a whole new way. To illustrate their point, they began to use what… (Continue)

• Government Spending’s Burden of Proof

  February 20, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack In the United States, an individual is considered innocent until the government proves them guilty by a specified burden of proof. The rationale for this fundamental principle seems clear: an individual’s right to freedom is sacred and government… (Continue)

• Take the Time to Do it Right

  January 31, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” His point is clear: take the time on the front end to adequately prepare for… (Continue)

• Lucy and the Football

  January 23, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack Charles M. Schulz, the creator and lead illustrator for the Peanuts cartoon for fifty years, passed away in 2000 at the age of 77. He was an American icon in his industry, serving as a respected mentor… (Continue)

• The Hunt is On

  January 19, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack I was reminded this past weekend about one of the many reasons why it is great to live in Louisiana. I joined a few friends of mine as we took our kids hunting. The kids stayed up late… (Continue)

• Government’s Kodak Moment

  January 9, 2017

  By: Stephen Waguespack Our society changes so fast, that sometimes, we don’t even recognize the scale of the evolution while it is happening all around us. Want to find out what is going on in the world? The days of rushing… (Continue)

• Guest Column: Keeping Louisiana Competitive

  January 5, 2017

  By: Jim Patterson Louisiana’s erratic tax system places us at a perennial disadvantage when in competition to attract business investment and development. For decades now, the Legislature has haphazardly patched our state’s tax structure with “fixes” in efforts to balance… (Continue)

• Closing Time for 2016

  December 28, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack Well, another year has come and gone. It hasn’t necessarily been the most enjoyable year for many, but it very well may go down as one of the most memorable. 2016 began with Louisiana welcoming a new Governor… (Continue)

• So Long, Stephen

  December 20, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack A successful Louisiana era ended this week when Stephen Moret packed up his beautiful family and moved to Virginia. He is soon to become the CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, which is the state’s key… (Continue)

• Good-Bye Elections, Hello Old Problems

  December 13, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack The election is over, and it is time to get to work. Well, sort of. Now that we have a new U.S. Senator, two new Congressmen and a few new local officials, some special elections will need to… (Continue)

• Plenty Fodder to Ponder

  December 6, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack The Trump train is chugging along in DC as his transition plans begin to take shape. Cabinet hires are being made, relationships are beginning to take shape and presidential tweets fly out each morning to throw proverbial… (Continue)

• Castro’s Legacy is Clear

  November 29, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack Let’s face it; it seems all we do is disagree these days. Whether the topic is the national elections, the role of government in society, the LSU football coach, taxation, violence in our cities or countless other policy… (Continue)

• Are All Pledges Alike?

  November 22, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack The last couple of years we have heard much opposition to Louisiana officials taking public pledges to outside groups. The most obvious example is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge pushed by the Americans for Tax Reform since 1986, which… (Continue)

• “It’s the Economy, Stupid”

  November 15, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected to be the 42nd President of the United States by riding a tidal wave of economic frustration and giving middle class voters a simple message to believe in by famously stating,… (Continue)

• Seizing the Rare Opportunity for a Win/Win

  November 7, 2016

  By: Stephen Waguespack Rarely these days do we in Louisiana hear about the possibility of common ground and a win/win situation. During the legislative sessions earlier this year, we were told that key priorities like TOPS could be funded, but only… (Continue)