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Louisiana business lobby releases legislative scorecard


July 22, 2019
Originally posted on The Center Square

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has released its 2019 legislative scorecard, which ranks lawmakers based on how they voted on pro-business measures.

Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, voted with the business lobby 99 percent of the time, according to the scorecard, the most of any state House member. Rep. Kenny Cox, D-Mansfield, voted with LABI the least often at 23 percent.

Among state senators, Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, voted with LABI 96 percent of the time, while Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, voted with the business lobby only 15 percent of the time.

In its 44-page report, LABI listed as wins an infrastructure plan using funds from the Deepwater Horizon settlement; new legislation to require simple refunds of unconstitutional, duplicative taxes; and a ride-sharing measure that will allow companies like Uber and Lyft to operate statewide.

The organization said it was disappointed in the failure of a package of legal reforms to pass that would help lower high auto insurance rates.

LABI identified 24 state representative, all Republicans, as “all-stars,” or those lawmakers who voted with the business lobby at least 90 percent of the time.

Five state senators, also all Republicans, were named LABI all-stars.