Press Releases.

• Statement: LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack on Build Back Better Passing the House

  November 19, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA – Today, LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives voting to pass the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better plan (BBB). BBB is the largest non-emergency spending bill since the 1960s, costing an estimated 1.63 trillion dollars per the Congressional Budget… (Continue)

• Statement: LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack on Updated Vaccine Mandate from Biden Admin 

  November 5, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA – Today, LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s updated vaccine mandate for private companies with more than 100 employees. The ruling will require private companies to mandate… (Continue)

• LABI Announces Honorees for 2021 Free Enterprise Awards

  November 1, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA (November 1, 2021) – When Tom O’Neal, president of O’Nealgas, approached EnLink Midstream about donating desperately needed propane to devastated communities in the wake of Hurricane Ida, the natural gas supplier generously offered 50,000 gallons to… (Continue)

• LABI Publishes Judicial System Modernization Series

  October 19, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA (October 19, 2021) – The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) today published its four-part series on Judicial System Modernization to increase public understanding of Louisiana’s judicial branch in the hopes of… (Continue)

• LABI to Release Judicial System Modernization Study 

  October 12, 2021

  Executive Summary Offers First Look at Critical Third Branch  (Continue)

• LABI Releases 23rd Annual Legislative Scorecard

  October 6, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA (October 6, 2021) – The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) today released its 2021 Legislative Scorecard, highlighting legislators inside the State Capitol who supported pro-business legislation in this year’s regular session. LABI, the state’s… (Continue)

• LABI Statement on Biden Admin Mandating Vaccines for Private Companies

  September 10, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA (September 10, 2021) – Today, LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced its plan to mandate vaccines for companies larger than 100 employees, which represents roughly two thirds of the American workforce and 25% of… (Continue)

• LABI Statement on Fall Election Reschedule

  September 8, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA – Today the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released the following statement on the fall elections being rescheduled due to Hurricane Ida. The October 9 election will be moved to November 13, and runoff will be set for… (Continue)

• LABI Statement on Importance of In-Person Learning

  August 4, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA – This morning’s release of the LEAP scores for Louisiana students for the 2020-2021 school year are disheartening.  As expected, the data show a significant learning loss over the last year, and we have a long… (Continue)

• LABI Statement on COVID-19 Impact on Louisiana’s Health & Economy

  August 2, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA (August 2nd, 2021) – LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement regarding the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and the impact it has on Louisiana’s health and economy. “Our healthcare members have reported this… (Continue)

• LABI Celebrates Pro-Business Successes at Session’s End

  June 10, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA (June 10, 2021) – As the 2021 Regular Legislative Session wrapped up Thursday, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) singled out its list of landmark bills passed by the legislature that can truly change… (Continue)

• LABI Announces Two Strategic Hires for New Positions

  June 4, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA (June 4, 2021) – The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) welcomes two seasoned communications professionals to round out its talented team focused on innovative outreach and engagement. Ashley Gordon will serve as LABI’s new… (Continue)

• Business Community to Gov. Edwards: Time to End Enhanced Unemployment

  May 19, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA (May 19, 2021) — With a worker shortage impacting businesses statewide, Louisiana’s leading trade associations joined together this week to ask Gov. John Bel Edwards to discontinue the state’s use of federal enhanced unemployment benefits.  The broad,… (Continue)

• Statement from LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack on the Passing of Former Governor Buddy Roemer

  May 17, 2021

  LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement on the passing of former Governor Buddy Roemer: “Buddy Roemer dedicated his life’s work to building a better Louisiana and led the charge for reform in state government. His passion… (Continue)

• TAX REFORM UPDATE: Major Sales Tax Collection Legislation Introduced for Upcoming Fiscal Session

  March 24, 2021

  The efforts to reform Louisiana's sales tax collection system moved forward today with the introduction of a constitutional amendment (HB 199) by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder (R-Gonzales). This legislation has the potential to help modernize and simplify our… (Continue)

• LABI, Coalition Partners Send Second Batch of Letters to Out-of-State Auto Insurance Companies

  March 9, 2021

  Baton Rouge, LA (March 9, 2020) – On the heels of the welcome news that Farmers’ Insurance Exchange will once again write auto insurance policies in Louisiana, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and its Legal Reform… (Continue)

• Gov. Edwards Announces Phase III, Statement from LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack

  March 2, 2021

  This afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana will enter “Phase III” tomorrow. LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement: “Today’s announcement is an encouraging light at the end of a long tunnel, but our state… (Continue)

• LABI Announces 2021 Board of Directors, Members of the Emerging Leaders Council

  February 25, 2021

  BATON ROUGE, LA (February 25, 2021) – Today at its membership meeting in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) formally announced its officers and Board of Directors for 2021, along with the members of the 2021 LABI Emerging… (Continue)

• Statement from LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack on the Biden Administration’s Executive Actions on Energy

  January 27, 2021

  Today, President Joe Biden will announce a moratorium on all new oil and gas drilling leases on federal lands and in the federal waters. LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack released the following statement in response:   “President Biden’s… (Continue)

• Slight Improvement, But Louisiana Still Named A “Judicial Hellhole”

  December 9, 2020

  BATON ROUGE, LA (December 9, 2020) – Though the state moved down a spot in the rankings, Louisiana’s toxic legal climate earned it the #5 spot among the nation’s “Judicial Hellholes.” It’s the eighth year in a row the… (Continue)