The LABI Reportt: The general public understands

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 1, 2002

By DAN JUNEAU

A recent public opinion survey conducted by Southern Media and Opinion Research for media outlets around the state contains some interesting information about what is on the public’s mind these days.

A look at the numbers indicates that the citizenry of the Bayou State may not be as “tuned out” as some in media and political circles believe them to be. There has been a considerable amount of commentary in the statewide media about Louisiana’s outmigration problem.

Tens of thousands of our better-educated and trained younger workers are leaving the state annually for other locations.

Pundits and politicians have opined that the reasons for this exodus lie in issues such as our political image and our education system. The public takes a different view.

Southern Media’s poll asked the following question: “The census shows people, especially young people, are moving out of Louisiana. Why do you think they are leaving?”

Only 3.6 percent of the respondents listed the state’s education system as the cause of the outmigration and only 2.3 percent felt the problem was our political system. But 76 percent listed the lack of jobs and job opportunities as the real reason that our best and brightest are moving to Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Diego and San Jose.

These individuals graduated from Louisiana high schools, universities, community colleges, or technical colleges. The education system did not fail them. But they cannot find the same job opportunities in Louisiana that exist in other states.

The Legislature recently met in an “economic development” Special Session and is now half-way through the Regular Session. Little has been done thus far to address the inequities that exist between running a business in Louisiana and our competitor states that are much more successful in retaining and attracting quality jobs.

Every day, media outlets carry more news about Louisiana jobs being lost in corporate decisions that determine other states are more profitable for their operations. Time is running out for the Legislature to send some positive messages that Louisiana is willing to remove disincentives to investment and job creation – but there is still a solid opportunity to send that message forward before the session ends on June 12.

Other results in the poll foreshadowed some of the recent events in the Legislature. The poll asked the following question: “A plan has been proposed to renew taxes this year with a promise to eliminate those taxes over the next 10 years if the state economy grows. Do you believe you will ever see those state taxes eliminated?”

The respondents, by a margin of better than 10-to-1, said they did not believe they would ever see the tax reductions in the proposals. Shortly after the release of the poll, the “10 Year” plan came to a vote on the House floor and was strongly defeated.

There were numerous reasons for the negative vote on the legislation, but what is interesting is the fact that there was no organized opposition to the plan to tie renewal of the expiring taxes to a long-term elimination of those taxes. Lobbying groups did not kill the plan.

The problem came from the relationship between legislators and their constituents and legislators and the governor. Time will soon be running out in the legislative session. It is still possible to achieve progress from an economic development standpoint and have a marriage of the minds between the governor and the Legislature on how to deal with the budget. But respect must replace acrimony if meaningful progress is to occur between now and June 12.

DAN JUNEAU is the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.