Gov. Foster has an ambitious agenda in the current regular session of the Louisiana Legislature, aiming at increased teacher pay and more educational opportunities for children, from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary education. The children of Louisiana could benefit greatly and, consequently, the rest of us. With better educated children, opportunities for economic growth increase and the future for the state becomes brighter. The governor also plans to finance the extension of Interstate 49 southward toward New Orleans, fast-tracking an improved hurricane evacuation route. These are commendable intentions on the part of Foster, but they rely partly on loans which could saddle the state with increased debt for many years to come. Some legislators are calling for an in-depth examination of the financial proposals called for by Foster, to review the soundness of the ideas before we plunge into them for the long haul. This is likewise commendable. Too often, a quick-fix solution has only spawned more long-range problems. Let’s examine these carefully.

L’Observateur