The Blueprint Agenda
#1: Adopt the Nation’s Best Ethics Laws
Louisiana’s history of public corruption continues to harm our image, and national rankings highlight the real weaknesses in our governmental ethics laws. A bold statement
on ethics is needed to bolster our citizens’ trust in government and improve the state’s reputation. To establish Louisiana as a national model for ethics in government,
existing laws must be strengthened significantly with (1) legislative financial disclosure, (2) enhanced lobbyist regulation, (3) transparency in state funding of local projects,
and (4) increased resources for prevention and enforcement by the independent ethics board.
#2: Prepare Students for a Lifetime of Success
Student achievement in Louisiana continues to lag well behind the national average. To provide a strong foundation, Louisiana should continue to expand our nationally
recognized pre-kindergarten program shown to dramatically improve student achievement. At the other end of the spectrum, we must do more to prepare students for
careers and college, while decreasing the drop-out rate. Giving all our four-year-olds access to a good educational start must be followed by sustained support that leads
to graduation and future success.
#3: Develop the Skilled Workforce We Need
An alarming “skills gap” exists in Louisiana – too many citizens lack the skills they need to earn a good living, and too many employers can’t find prepared workers to fill open
jobs. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System, with campuses across the state, is well positioned to direct the high-demand, industry-sensitive workforce
training we need. By improving coordination with industry leaders and developing “rapid response” capacity, our community and technical colleges can prepare our citizens
for greater success in the workplace and provide Louisiana companies with skilled workers to grow their businesses.
#4: Provide First-Class Access to Health Care
Our state-run health care “safety net” fails to provide adequate access to care. All of our patients, insured and uninsured, deserve a health care system that meets their
needs. Responsibility for providing care to the uninsured should be shared by the private and public sectors, with an emphasis on local governance, allowing LSU to focus
on world-class medical education and research.
#5: Build a Superior Transportation System
Louisiana’s roads are repeatedly rated among the worst in the nation. The poor condition of our transportation system is hurting our economy and making us all miserable.
The backlog of projects is $14 billion. We need to fix traffic gridlock and make Louisiana a transportation hub for the nation. Existing transportation revenues should be dedicated
to transportation projects, and we should develop mega-projects with toll-generated revenues to speed up large-scale transportation needs in a cost-effective, timely manner.
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