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September 10, 2021
Some say that time heals all wounds, but 20 years has only made one wound deeper than ever.
September 11, 2001 is a day the nation should never forget. But as we all know, that cannot… (Continue)
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March 18, 2020
By: Stephen Waguespack
America has changed very quickly.
In only a matter of days, what was once a generally stable, prosperous, independent nation filled with everyday people just grinding it out on a daily basis to raise their family and have…
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March 11, 2020
By: Stephen Waguespack
Math doesn’t lie. Neither does the black and white letter of the law. And now, we know with certainty, that the math and statutory language included in the Omnibus Premium Reduction Act (SB 418) by Sen. Kirk…
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February 18, 2020
By: Stephen Waguespack
You don't put on a tuxedo to go to McDonalds and you don't get on an airplane to visit your neighbor across the street. It would be silly to take such grand steps to accomplish something quite simple.
After…
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January 29, 2020
By: Stephen Waguespack
Martin Luther once said, “Nothing in the world causes so much misery as uncertainty.”
Oscar Wilde took a much different viewpoint by proclaiming that, “The very essence of romance is uncertainty.”
So, which is it? Is uncertainty the root…
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January 22, 2020
By: Stephen Waguespack
Damn, that was impressive.
LSU just capped the most historic, undefeated season in college football history with a national championship title won in dominant fashion. Numerous individual and team records were broken in the process and countless heart-tugging stories…
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December 3, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana voters turned out in large numbers this election cycle. Now, only a few weeks removed from a contentious and competitive election season, the question becomes what was the message these voters intended to deliver to elected…
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November 25, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
While the political ads and mailbox clutter has finally ended due to election season wrapping up, a new invasion of ads are now upon us: the holiday shopping season ads. This week is Black Friday, which traditionally is the…
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September 30, 2019
By: Harold Kim & Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, but it is also rapidly developing a reputation as a paradise for trial lawyers that use Louisiana’s lawsuit system like their own sport, using job-killing litigation to…
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September 11, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
Eighteen years ago came the day that changed America forever.
As a recently married, 27-year-old staffer in Washington DC, September 11, 2001 started off like any other workday for me. I woke up in our small Capitol Hill…
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August 29, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) is Louisiana’s state chamber of commerce and manufacturing association. Since 1975, we have proudly represented employers of all sizes, industries and locations and taken bold stances time and time…
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August 16, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana has one major characteristic in common with the state of Israel: we are both filled with proud people who have a deep affinity for our respective lands, culture and traditions. Since its founding seven decades ago,…
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July 22, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
While the dog days of summer continue to roll along, it’s also clearly time to get focused on some serious business coming up soon. The first day of school is right around the corner so students can…
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July 2, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
July 4th is always the time of year for red-blooded, patriotic Americans to fire up the grill, throw the kids around in the pool, wave a few flags and shoot off some fireworks… all in the name…
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April 16, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
There will be plenty of compelling stories over the next two months as the 2019 Legislative Session unfolds in Baton Rouge. It’s an election year, so the governor and all the legislators know the stakes are high….
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March 29, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
This weekend, my wife and I took a day trip to New Orleans to check out the musical “Hamilton.” The Broadway hit was in town and we took the opportunity to see what all the buzz was…
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February 27, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana has many strengths. We have a fantastic culture, welcoming people, a rich heritage of community and ample natural resources. We are the sportsman’s paradise and, yes, we can cook with the best of them. But, if…
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January 21, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
A key question is starting to become harder to ignore in Louisiana… and it has everything to do with the latest in what is becoming a long list of tax controversies created in the last few years.
No,…
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January 14, 2019
By: Stephen Waguespack
Only four teams remain alive in the NFL playoffs and our beloved Saints are thankfully one of them. This upcoming weekend the Dome will once again be rocking and the Who Dat Nation will be out in…
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December 27, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to wind down, many are taking the time to reflect on what transpired in 2018 and ponder what may lie ahead in 2019.
Since “year in review” articles…
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December 13, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
When it comes to tax increases, the last three years in Louisiana have produced one batch of bad news after another.
Nine legislative sessions in three years. Several billion more tax dollars paid. All in the name of…
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December 7, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Last week, we lost a true American hero and public servant with the passing of George H. W. Bush at the age of 94. One thing that should be clear to anyone who has learned about his…
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November 29, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
How much substance and detail do you really want to hear? It’s a question Louisiana voters will be asking themselves in 2019.
This quandary reminds me of the memorable line from the slapstick movie “Tommy Boy” where Chris…
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November 12, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Each year at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, we recognize some of the outstanding work by businesses, policymakers and other partners making progress in our state. Time and time again, Louisiana businesses large and small…
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October 19, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
A few weeks ago, well-known economist and LSU Professor Emeritus Loren Scott released his Louisiana economic outlook for 2019 and 2020. The good news is the report was fairly positive about the prospects for growth in the…
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October 3, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
The competition is fierce, and the competitors are upping their game to get your attention. I am sure you have seen it. How could you not? It’s everywhere. It’s on the roads… on your television… social media……
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August 31, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Thomas Jefferson once said, “With great risk, comes great reward.” While that may be a great way to describe the revolution that resulted in the greatest nation the world has ever known, we all know by our own experiences this saying is not always the case in life.
Bold investments don’t…
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August 23, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
For the most part, they’re not headline-grabbing. They don’t often prompt large rallies on the steps of the Capitol. They rarely make their way onto your Facebook feed. Yet many of the issues our team tackles at…
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August 17, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
And so, it begins again.
Summer has ended, and a new Louisiana school year has begun. The early morning sound of alarm clocks and the sight of sleepy kids slowly walking into the kitchen each morning is filling…
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July 27, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
In 1994, after two years under the Clinton administration and decades more toiling as the minority party in Congress, Republicans decided they needed a plan to better communicate with the American people and detail the specific actions…
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July 17, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Every now and then, it is important to take the time to reflect on those who deserve some recognition and appreciation.
I for one feel blessed that I have a loving family, supportive friends and am surrounded daily…
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July 3, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Sure, we’ve got some challenges here in America.
One quick scroll through your Twitter and Facebook feeds, and you’re bombarded by opinions on just what the ole’ red, white and blue has to fix. Every day, it seems…
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June 28, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Each October, the United States Supreme Court begins its annual term to hear cases on a range of issues from across the country. These public hearings and private deliberations by the justices take place off and on…
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May 22, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
For almost three years, the state Capitol has been absolutely, positively one thing: chaotic.
The 6th special session during this time-period begins this week and will once again pit the Administration’s desire for tax revenue against the Legislature’s lack…
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May 9, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
A few months ago, a special session was called by the governor to raise new taxes that would have replaced expiring taxes. It ended without resolution. This week, the regular session begins to show signs of wrapping…
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May 1, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Quick…think of the last 5-6 businesses with which you have had a transaction. Perhaps you stopped somewhere for gas, got some help filling out your taxes, picked up a few home essentials, took the kids out for…
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April 13, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Many of us watched with interest this week as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg endured hours in the Congressional hot seat, stoically defending his company’s consumer privacy protocols in the face of mounting allegations of data mismanagement. While…
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April 6, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
It is a trend these days for professional sports teams to implore their fans to “trust the process.” This is code for when teams beg for their fans’ continuous support as they trade away popular stars to…
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March 23, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Lost in the countless stories about the silly fights, soap operas and blame game that dominate the State Capitol these days is some credit given to where credit is due.
Some Republicans in the House broke out of…
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March 20, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Doesn’t it seem like we are constantly being reminded lately of Louisiana’s many challenges?
Earlier this year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform ranked our legal climate dead last among states. They cited our legal…
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March 6, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
As a dad, one of my duties at home is to be a “fix-it” guy. While I may not be the handiest person out there, I can usually put some “MacGyver-esque” skills to the test and find…
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February 16, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
It has become a new national pastime for folks to spend time bemoaning the rise of “partisanship” and to complain about how divided the country has become. This mantra has been bought hook, line and sinker by…
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January 26, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
The 2018 crisis will be filled with plenty of drama, finger pointing and inflammatory rhetoric. Every (former, current and future) politician will say it is the other (former, current and future) politician’s fault for the deficits and…
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January 19, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Since 1975, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) has made it our mission to serve our diverse business membership by working towards the singular goal of fostering a climate for economic growth by consistently championing…
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January 10, 2018
By: Stephen Waguespack
Tax reform.
It’s a phrase frequently promised by politicians regardless of political ideology. No matter if you are a liberal, a conservative or identify as an independent voter, you probably want it also. In fact, who in their…
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December 28, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
Ah yes, it is that time of year again where we all end up giving ourselves “the talk.” You know the one I am referencing… that tough talk where we make new year resolutions, either publically or…
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December 22, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
We have all heard the advice that there is a time and place for everything. This advice, stemming from a proverb found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, reads:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under…
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December 1, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
Headlines often set the tone and narrative for a reader before they ever devour any of the information in an article. Headlines can clearly summarize the contents and give the reader a quick taste of what’s in…
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November 20, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
In 1993, professional basketball star Charles Barkley made headlines when he used a Nike commercial to say, “I am not a role model…. just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids…….
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October 11, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
If his prediction holds true for Saturday’s turnout, it would mean that 85% of the roughly 3 million registered voters in Louisiana will simply not vote at all. Another way of looking at it is that over…
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October 6, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
A recent report released by 24/7 Wall Street, a national financial news and opinion research company, states that Louisiana is the fourth poorest state in the country. This sobering report comes on the heels of another recent…
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September 28, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
Each year on April 15th, you can easily get overwhelmed when trying to personally file your taxes. Am I eligible for a certain tax credit? Do I have the right documents to justify all my expenses and…
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September 12, 2017
By: Stephen Waguespack
“Your brand name is only as good as your reputation.” – Richard Branson
Louisiana’s brand is strong in many ways. Our culture is second to none, and our people are inviting and entertaining. We are rich in natural…
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May 1, 2017
By: Renee Amar
Sunday, April 30th kicked off National Small Business Week. This is a week for us to celebrate our job creators and innovators. This is a week when we honor the nation’s and our state’s entrepreneurs and small…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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November 1, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Halloween has come and gone…or has it?
We are still surrounded by scary characters belting out bone-rattling sounds that send chills down every spine and fear through every heart. Safety seems impossible to find and danger still lurks…
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October 25, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Last week, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released its annual legislative scorecard, now available at www.labi.org. Each year, we release an analysis to illustrate exactly how lawmakers voted on the issues most critical to…
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October 19, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
In August, Louisiana experienced a flooding event of historic proportions. Estimates are that 109,000 housing units were damaged, 20,000 businesses were interrupted, and property damages totaled $8.7 billion.
Two months after the event, Louisiana families and employers are…
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October 4, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
When you think of the American worker, what picture immediately comes to mind? For most Americans, it is someone working hard to provide for their family at a manufacturing facility.
Don’t agree? Try searching on Google for the…
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September 27, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
On September 21, 2016, a letter was signed and sent by Governor John Bel Edwards to multiple coastal parishes in the state of Louisiana to “encourage” them to sue oil and gas companies in their parishes, as…
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September 19, 2016
By: Camille Conaway
Sitting in an empty committee hearing room in the US Senate in Washington, it struck me. We really are on our own with flood recovery. Three small business representatives traveled to DC to deliver powerful personal testimony…
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September 14, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
This week is the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that forever changed this country on September 11, 2001.
I was living in Washington DC at the time, working as a Congressional aide. Our offices were located right…
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August 24, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Why again do we live here?
Summers in Louisiana can be brutal, with oppressive heat and swarms of mosquitoes an annual tradition. Our coastline is eroding, our topography is flat and many of our communities are threatened by…
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August 5, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
For the first six months of the year, a constant barrage of state budgetary doom and gloom littered news reports and incessantly occupied the airspace. This political messaging machine was revved up and driven hard to stress…
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July 15, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
“I do not like that man. I need to get to know him better.”
Abraham Lincoln is credited with this quote that simply reinforces something we were all taught as a kid but too often forget as…
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June 27, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
No matter what they seem to do in Baton Rouge, the deficit in the budget of state government won’t go away.
A legislative session was dedicated to raising taxes in 2015. In that session, new taxes on employers…
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June 10, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
The school year has ended and children across Louisiana are beginning to enjoy their summer break. My three boys each have their different opinions on the best way to do so.
My oldest is soon heading off to…
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May 31, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Some sobering jobs numbers were released this week.
The Houma-Thibodeaux area lost 4,600 jobs over the last 12 months. Lafayette is down 7,700 jobs and has entered its 15th consecutive month of job losses. New Orleans is down…
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May 20, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
These are challenging times for many in Louisiana, including our employers.
The state budget deficit has dominated the headlines for months, with several articles unfairly targeting the private sector to shoulder most of the blame for public sector…
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May 11, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Reputations can be hard to earn and even harder to keep.
This week, a few important rankings came out that provide insight into some aspects of Louisiana’s reputation.
Chief Executive magazine released its annual rankings of the Best and…
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May 4, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Here we go again.
This week, the drumbeat is ramping up for yet another special session to be held in June to increase yet another round of taxes.
As a reminder, this will be the third session in the…
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April 25, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana is a sportsman’s paradise outfitted with world-renowned hunting, fishing and countless other outdoor pastimes. Our people clearly understand how fortunate we are to have this bounty of recreational treasures at our fingertips and go to great…
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April 19, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
And the hits just keep on coming.
Employers in Louisiana have felt the pinch over the last year of an economy in recession, billions of dollars in more state taxes and a host of new mandates proposed that…
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April 11, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
“Louisiana Legends” host Gus Weill interviews Ed Steimel July 25, 1997.
This week, Edward J. “Ed” Steimel passed away at the age of 94.
While his name may seem unfamiliar to some; he was well known to many…
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April 6, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
The myriad of political and policy changes afoot in the State Capitol have dominated many a headline over the last year or so. We have a Louisiana economy in recession, a state budget seemingly in constant deficit,…
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March 28, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Life is about the choices we make.
Whether big or small, made in the blink of an eye, or after much consideration; the choices we make throughout our lives tell the story of our very existence.
Some of these…
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March 21, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
This weekend started off as a rainy one.
The gloomy weather, along with my need for some down time to recover from an illness, left our family largely homebound for a few days. I came across “Rocky IV”…
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March 14, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
The fiscal special session to raise revenues mercifully ended last week. Many individual and business taxpayers were left dangling in the wind as their financial futures were debated ad nauseam. It was chaotic and controversial, filled with…
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February 22, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
The devil is always in the details.
The state government deficit is big and the Legislature is in a special session called by the governor to review his plan for solving the problem. His plan is largely dependent…
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February 15, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Last week was a noteworthy week.
For likely the first time in our state’s history, the Governor delivered a state of the state address to the people of Louisiana to discuss the government’s budget shortfall. Immediately thereafter, the…
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February 9, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
In Louisiana, we sure do know how to stretch out a good time.
While the rest of the country typically gets back to work shortly after the New Year, we Louisianans have a knack for drawing that holiday…
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February 2, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR), a well-respected good government group, declared in a 1988 report that, “Louisiana’s pattern of increased spending in boom times has resulted in an overall level of operating expenditures the state cannot…
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January 25, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
Throughout life, we often find ourselves on a quest for that one silver bullet to solve our problems.
The problem with that simple approach is that most of life’s challenges are complex and multi-faceted, demanding a similarly complex…
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January 18, 2016
By: Stephen Waguespack
There is a subtle, yet significant, distinction between being “at” the table or being “on” it. If you don’t believe it, ask the Thanksgiving turkey how much he enjoys his seat at the table every year.
Last week,…
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December 14, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Lawyers love to fight about the nuances and subtle distinctions in the English language in order to achieve a specific result. Politicians do as well.
In the last legislative session and throughout this fall’s gubernatorial campaign, politicians have…
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December 7, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Much has been written about Louisiana’s chronic state budget deficit. It seems the $25 billion state governmental budget is short once again; and the upcoming special legislative session is being hyped as the solution we have long…
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November 30, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
The decision is made. We selected our leader, and now it is time to focus on solving our problems.
No, I’m not talking about Coach Miles and the work ahead for the Tigers’ top dog and his team…
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November 23, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Thankfully, the 2015 election season is finally over. After six months of attack ads and sound bites filled with personal accusations and character assassinations, we can move on as a state and get to work on the…
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November 9, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
The Louisiana people are rightly frustrated and they are looking for hope. They want a new approach to old problems, inspiring leadership to rally around, honesty to admire and integrity to emulate.
On November 21, voters head to…
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November 2, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
There is potentially no more important issue in Louisiana than improving our educational system, yet this is not getting the attention it deserves in the governor’s race.
Decades of poor educational outcomes have contributed to our chronic challenges…
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October 26, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
A big election was held this weekend, though the numbers don’t show it.
Only 38.5 percent of registered voters showed up and voted in Saturday’s election for governor. That’s right, 38.5 percent. This, after countless candidate forums, debates,…
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October 20, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It is time we look at the facts and get back to the basics.
The budget of Louisiana’s state government is the top issue this election season. While issues such as improving educational outcomes for our children and…
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October 12, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “A Constitution should be short and obscure.”
If he were alive today and able to read our current long and substantive Louisiana Constitution now, he would likely not be pleased.
Our first state Constitution was…
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October 6, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Only one word is needed thus far to describe this election season: apathy.
Louisiana voters will head to the polls on Oct. 24 and the most predominant emotion emanating from our electorate is surprisingly the overwhelming indifference our…
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September 28, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Ready for some good news?
In a world dominated by gloomy economic projections, combative political storylines, and unsettling international developments, it is helpful to periodically focus on some good news. The hard-fought resurgence of American manufacturing is one…
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September 21, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
A visit to the nation’s capital can be inspiring and discouraging at the same time.
Last week, more than twenty members of the LABI Board of Directors traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with our Congressional delegation, as…
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September 14, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Sometimes we can lose sight of the ultimate goal, especially when we are in the thick of the fight. The current political debate in Louisiana on government budgets and economic growth is a good example of this…
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September 8, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) turned 40 years old on Friday, Sept. 4.
LABI was created in 1975 by the merging of the Louisiana Manufacturers Association, the Louisiana State Chamber of Commerce and the Louisiana…
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August 31, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It was a tough week for many in Louisiana.
This week, two Louisiana police officers were senselessly killed while simply doing their job. One officer had stopped on the side of the road to check on a stranded…
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August 17, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
While the national presidential race is capturing most of the media and public attention these days, followed closely in Louisiana by the gubernatorial and legislative races, one board’s elections this fall have not made the front page…
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August 10, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It is hard to flip the channels these days and not come across one reality show after another. With low production costs, unlimited viewer interest in anything called “reality” despite how orchestrated it may be, and a…
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August 3, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It's almost time to turn the page.
There are times throughout every year where we just have to move on to a different phase. While it can be tempting at times to assume that change will never happen…
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July 27, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
So where do we go from here?
The legislative session that adjourned in June left many folks frustrated. While everyone was satisfied that the budgets for health care and higher education were stabilized, the exclusive dependence on new…
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July 13, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Knowledge is power, but as Albert Einstein once said, “information is not knowledge.”
This week, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) will release its 2015 scorecard for the Louisiana Legislature. The scorecard will be available on…
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July 6, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Are we really a “government of laws, not of men” as John Adams once famously said?
Several instances over the last few weeks reminded us clearly that it is the opinions of men and women that determine what…
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June 29, 2015
By: Jim Patterson
Taxing business inventory was a major issue during this year’s legislative session. Louisiana’s archaic local inventory tax and the problematic Band-Aid of a state tax credit to offset it both came under fire. But there is another…
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June 22, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It was a good weekend to be a dad.
The weather was nice, the U.S. Open was on TV and it was Father’s Day weekend. My boys and I enjoyed an overnight father/son basketball camp, visited our favorite…
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June 16, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Much has been said about the recently concluded 2015 legislative session, though not much of it has been positive. The predominant message coming out of this two-month saga is simply “thank goodness it’s over.”
The Legislature voted to…
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June 8, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
A message to the Louisiana employers out there: Thank you for what you do to make this state great.
Much has been discussed over the last two months about the legislative session and its crusade to raise taxes….
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June 1, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Does the law of economics work the same for cigarettes as it does for inventory?
This question is critical to determine how much damage may be done to Louisiana’s private sector economy by the tax increases on employers…
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May 26, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
A coalition of 48 U.S. Senate Republicans and 14 Democrats made an important step toward moving our nation’s trade agenda forward last week when they voted for the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015,…
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May 11, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Last Thursday was quite a taxing day in the Louisiana Legislature.
Not in the sense of being long and tiresome, rather, it was taxing in the sense that many votes were taken to raise your taxes.
On May 7,…
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May 5, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Should government collect membership dues for a private lobbying organization?
Imagine the reaction from journalists across the country if the law required the government to collect membership dues from public employee gun owners and distribute those dollars to…
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April 27, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
A good reputation is hard to earn, but often easy to lose. A bad reputation is the exact opposite.
Over time, Louisiana has earned a national reputation as a state with a poor legal climate. Sensible and fair-minded people…
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April 21, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
If the old saying is true that the numbers don’t lie, then the story of this year’s legislative session is quantifiably easy to tell. The 144 members of the Louisiana Legislature face a $1.6 billion governmental operating…
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April 13, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana’s residents have always enjoyed having fun on the water in the Sportsman’s Paradise, but a new study shows that more of our people can enjoy a successful career on it also.
Louisiana recently ranked No….
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April 6, 2015
A Joint Column by Stephen Waguespack, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), and Dr. Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS)
To meet the demands of a growing economy, Louisiana has a…
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March 30, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
It was a chamber of commerce weather weekend.
All throughout Louisiana, the sunshine, nice temperatures and clear skies replaced the rain that had saturated most of the state over the last few weeks. It was a great weekend…
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March 23, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Well, that didn’t last long.
With my NCAA March Madness bracket already destroyed and the talented but unpredictable LSU basketball team abruptly ending their season after coughing up a big lead to NC State, I guess it is…
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March 16, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Those that stay one step ahead of the game are best able to avoid falling two steps behind the competition.
Currently, the New Orleans Saints are trying to exemplify this principle, restructuring their roster and locker room chemistry…
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March 9, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
There are two states of Louisiana right now.
One Louisiana is the private sector economy. This state is on the verge of sustainable growth not seen in generations. As I travel the state to visit with LABI’s business…
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March 2, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
What constitutes a tax increase?
While making his acceptance speech for the 1988 presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention, then Vice President George H. W. Bush told the nation, “Read my lips: No new taxes.” A few…
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February 23, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Relationships can be easy to start but difficult to end.
The trepidation that comes with breaking a heart or hurting a friend can incentivize a person to stay in a relationship that is clearly not working. In the…
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February 11, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Can you hear it?
Do you hear that gnashing and grinding noise? You may have to be very quiet and cup your hand around your ear, but if you concentrate for just a moment, I bet you can…
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February 9, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Small businesses make a big impact at home.
There are more than 424,000 small businesses in Louisiana, employing more than 892,000 people. In fact, small businesses make up more than 97 percent of Louisiana’s employers, providing jobs to…
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February 2, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
You don’t always have to be loud to make a lot of noise.
Last week, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) kicked off our 40th Anniversary with our 2015 annual meeting in Baton Rouge. Joining us…
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January 26, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Louisiana is on the road to progress, but has suddenly come to a crossroads.
The state’s budget challenges are a hot topic these days, yet many of the root causes have not been fully explored. Instead of targeting…
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January 19, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Unless Congress acts, this will be the year the threats of Obamacare become reality for American employers. This is especially true for small business.
Five years after becoming law, the Affordable Care Act continues to confound and confuse…
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January 12, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Happy anniversary LABI.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), an organization I have been privileged to lead as president since 2013. For decades LABI has been Louisiana’s leading business…
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January 5, 2015
By: Stephen Waguespack
Conventional wisdom can take many forms.
It can give you a blueprint for success or serve as an excuse for failure. It is regularly cited but often ignored. It becomes the norm by proving itself over time but…
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