| CABL would like to thank and recognize some recent new members. We appreciate your support.
Jim Ferguson, W. Feliciana Parish Government Jody Montelaro, Entergy Gwen Guillotte, The Picard Group Dr. Alex Appeaning, LCTCS James Callahan Erick Knezek, Truston Tech. Lane Ewing, Cazayoux Ewing Dr. Brenda L. Babin, Busy Bee Clinic |
| DID YOU KNOW? |
| – The latest jobs report from the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported that the Lake Charles regionhas the lowest unemployment in the state in the month of July (5.5%) . The Baton Rouge region had the second-lowest at 5.9% . Get more from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. |
| – In 2014 100%of the total crawfish landings in U.S. occurred in Louisiana. Over 13 million pounds of crawfish were caught in Louisiana with a total value of over $16 million. |
| – The latest jobs report from the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported that the Lake Charles regionhas the lowest unemployment in the state in the month of July (5.5%) . The Baton Rouge region had the second-lowest at 5.9% . Get more from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. |
| – In 2014 100%of the total crawfish landings in U.S. occurred in Louisiana. Over 13 million pounds of crawfish were caught in Louisiana with a total value of over $16 million. |
| – The LSU AgCenter estimates that the floods in south Louisiana have caused at least $110 million worth ofdamage to agriculture. |
| – More than 115,000 people across south Louisiana have signed up for federal disaster assistance after the catastrophic flooding . |
| – In Louisiana, there are 859,738 people (18.4%) per month on Food Stamps, which is the 6th highestranked percentage in the U.S. |
| – Forty-seven Percent of children in Louisiana live in a single-parent household, the highest percentage in the country. Get more from Kids Count 2016 . |
| – The number of Louisiana high school students receiving a qualifying score for Advanced Placement increased by 11% from 2015 to 2016. Get more from the Louisiana Dept. of Education . |
| – Louisiana’s gross domestic product decreased by 0.9% between the first quarter of last year and this year. See full report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis . |
| – The leading cause of death in Louisiana is heart disease. Get more from the Louisiana Vital Statistics Fact Card 2013. |
| – Acreage on south Louisiana farms devoted to sugarcane increased this year. LSU AgCenter experts estimated about 440,000 acres is being used for sugarcane, roughly 30,000 acres up from last year. |
| – There are 56 nonrefundable tax credits and 28 refundable tax credits allowed on the Louisiana personal income tax return. |
| – Louisiana waters produce nearly 70% of the commercial white shrimp harvested. In 2014, Louisiana was responsible for almost 70 million pounds of white shrimp, worth over $148 million. |
| – Louisiana nonfarm employment is down 18,600 over the year May 2015 – May 2016. Get more from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. |
| – Six constitutional amendments were passed during the three legislative sessions this year and will appear on the November ballot. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Web Site. |
| – Louisiana is also responsible for nearly half of the commercial eastern oyster landings in the U.S. in 2014, more than 12 million pounds. Louisiana’s oyster catch in 2014 was valued at over $67 million. |
| – Louisiana’s “Tax Freedom Day” in 2016 is April 7th, the third earliest in the nation. Get more from the Tax Foundation . |
| – Louisiana’s total commercial fisheries landings totaled 872,252,798 pounds in 2014 and were valued at $487,074,289. |
| -A total of 389 bills became Acts during the Regular session of the Legislature. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Web Site. |
| – A total of 69 bills were filed for the second special session of the Legislature. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Web Site. |
| – A total of 389 bills became Acts during the Regular session of the Legislature. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Web Site. |
| – A total of 69 bills have been filled for the second special session of the Legislature. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Web Site. |
| – Louisiana dropped 30 spots in the best states for business rankings , going from #7 in 2015 to #37 in 2016. Get more from Chief Executive Magazine. |
| -There are 48 items in the governor’s call for a Second Special Session. See the call. |
| – Louisiana dropped 30 spots in the best states for business rankings , going from #7 in 2015 to #37 in 2016. Get more from Chief Executive Magazine. |
| – Currently, 85 bills filled for the current legislative session have been signed by the governor into Acts of law . Get more from the Louisiana State Legislature Web Site. |
| –23.5% of the Louisiana adult population smokes (44th in the nation) and 33.1% of the Louisiana adult population is obese (45th in the nation). |
| -Louisiana’s four-year high school graduation rate for public school students rose to 77.5% in 2015. The rate marks an all-time high and the fifth year that the rate has improved. Get more from the Louisiana Department of Education . |
| -Louisiana ranks 39th in deficient bridges, 41st in rural Interstate pavement condition, 48th in urban Interstate pavement condition and 19th in urban Interstate congestion. |
| – The latest release of the Louisiana Survey shows residents have little faith in their state government . Fewer than one in five respondents trust state government to do what is right “always” or at least “most” of the time. A majority of those polled, 60% , said they can trust state government to do what’s right “ some of the time .” Get more from the LSU Public Policy Research Lab . |
| – Fitch has downgraded Louisiana’s bond rating to AA- from AA. Get more from Reuters news service. |
| – The number of women-owned businesses in Louisiana has grown by 48.8% since 2007, ranking the state No. 10 nationally for growth of such firms. Get more from a report commissioned by American Express OPEN. |
| – There are98 bills in theHouse and 53 bills in theSenate filed on the topic ofeducation for the current legislative session. Getmore from the state legislature web site. |
| –Enrollment in Advanced Placement college-prep courses increased vastly in Louisiana from 2012 to 2014, but only about 30% of students scored at a “Qualifying” level(3 or greater out of 5) on AP exams last year. |
| – 78 constitutional amendments have been filled between both the special and regular sessions of the legislature. Get more from the state legislature web site. |
| – Few residents are familiar with the details of the state budget. Most are unable to answer questionsabout how the state spends funds across policy areas, and significant numbers overestimate expenditures on welfare and prisons relative to other policy areas. Get more from the 2016 Louisiana Survey by the LSU Public Policy Research Lab . |
| – Following the enactment of legislation from the special session of the legislature, the Revenue Estimating Conference’s updated forecast reports that the current year budget is approximately $70 million short and the 2017 budget year is $750 million short. |
| -Approximately 5.5% of individuals with a bachelor’s degree in Louisiana are below the poverty line as compared to 16.3% for someone with a high school degree. |
| – Currently, there are 1,262 bills prefiled for the upcoming regular session of the legislature. Get more information on the session at the Legislative web site. |
| – In Fiscal Year 2010, the Dept. of Health and Hospitals’ State General Fund allocation accounted for 13% of the total State General Fund. In Fiscal Year 2016, the department’sState General Fundallocation is 31% of the total State General Fund. |
| – There are 7 days remaining in the current special session of the legislature. The session must end next Wednesday, March 9. Get current information on the session at the Legislative web site. |
| – In 2013-2014, 46 percent of Scholarship students were enrolled in a tested gradeand 34 percent of those students were first-time Scholarship recipients. |
| – For Fiscal Year 2015-16, it is projected that total tax exemptions will equal more than actual collections, $7.9 billion in exemptions vs. $7.5 billion in receipts. Get more from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. |
| – In 2013-14, 11% of TOPS awards were cancelled. The primary reason for loss of a TOPS award is failure to earn the required 24 hours of credit per academic year, not the student’s grade performance. |
| – Approximately 5.5% of individuals with a bachelor’s degree in Louisiana are below the poverty line as compared to 16.3% for someone with a high school degree. |
| – As of the first week of the special legislative session, there have been 66 House bills filed and 14 Senate bills filed. Get more from the Louisiana State Legislature web site. |
| –State-controlled highway mileage makes Louisiana’s system the 14th largest in the U.S. |
| -The National Institute for Early Education Research ranks Louisiana 15th for early learning access for four-year olds. |
| – Louisiana received mixed grades in the latest Innovation Scorecard from the Consumer Technology Association. Get the full report for more details. |
| – Analysts predict a 50% increase in oil prices in 2016. Read more from Bloomberg report. |
| – In Louisiana, about 40% of all households—or 695,719 total—are unable to afford the state’s cost of living , according to a new “ALICE” report released by the Louisiana Association of United Ways. Get the full report for more details . |
| – Louisiana had the 5th-lowest state and local tax burden in the country for the 2012 tax year. See rankings from the Tax Foundation. |
| – The relative buying power of Louisiana’s 16-cent fuel tax (initiated in 1984) is now about 7 cents. |
| – Louisiana invests virtually no State General Fund dollars for the education of at-risk children under age four and just 12.5% of at-risk children from ages birth through three are served by any program. |
| – 46% of annual job openings in Louisiana require a high school diploma with a post-secondary credential and 38% require a high school diploma with no post-secondary credential, but some college. |
| – The state gasoline and diesel fuel excise tax generates about $600 million per year. |
| – For fiscal year 2014-15, sales tax exemptions in Louisiana totaled nearly $3 billion. Get more from the Tax Exemption Budget prepared by the Dept. of Revenue. |
| – The National Institute for Early Education Research ranks Louisiana 15th for early learning access for four-year olds. |
