LegisGator: State leaders praise investments and crime decline – American Press

At Friday's LegisGator, an annual event hosted by the SWLA Economic Development Alliance, state department heads and elected officials had the opportunity to report on their successes eight months later.

State Treasurer John C. Fleming began with some impressive numbers. The state has invested $450 million.

“This is a record,” he said. “We've never achieved this before.”

The bond interest rate was raised from negative AA to AA.

“Why should you care?” he asked the 1,000 or so guests. “Remember, we have about $9 billion in debt in our state, some of it related to our pension and retirement systems. This is basically a credit score, and with a better credit score, we get better terms.”

When Fleming's department discovered the state was being charged as much as $550,000 for a single affordable apartment, they immediately began implementing a new system to contain costs. Critics say his decision will lead to less affordable housing. He said better deals mean more money for more affordable housing.

In March, the Treasury Department will launch a transparency website that will allow citizens to see “at the molecular level” what is happening in schools — both traditional public schools and public charter schools — which it says will dovetail well with the school choice program.

Regarding the anger he is facing over his actions against Bank of America, which wants to do business with Louisiana, he said the bank discriminates against people across America who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights (the right to keep and bear arms) and against people who are involved in Christian organizations.

“We will fight back against them,” he said. “We don't believe we should politicize the state's financial system.” He promised that he would not use the system to promote his conservative and Christian values.

Attorney General Liz Murrill

In her report, Attorney General Liz Murrill began by emphasizing the fulfillment of her commitment to reducing crime, particularly in New Orleans, where she said the NOLA force had reduced crime by about 30 percent.

She said she has filed 40 lawsuits against the Biden administration over its “flawed energy policies,” starting with its fight for the LNG pause.

“We are grateful that Judge Cain has granted a temporary restraining order,” she said. “We have the best federal judge in the country here in the Western District of Louisiana. He has done nothing but apply the law as it is written.”

Murrill said she is also proud of the state's work against the federal government to prevent women who have abortions from having the same rights after an abortion as women who do not have abortions.

“We have won every lawsuit we have brought to market in the last eight months,” she said.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry

Secretary of State Nancy Landry isn't satisfied with being among the top 10 in the country when it comes to election integrity. She wants to be No. 1.

“We are working to close loopholes in our election integrity and ballot tampering laws,” she said, “cleaning up voter rolls and ensuring consistent ballot counting across the state.”

Jeff Landry was unable to attend the event. Deputy Chief of Staff Kyle Ardoin spoke on his behalf.

“We have a governor who is attentive. We have a governor who focuses on details. We have a governor who has put together a final financial deal to provide the Imperial Calcasieu Region with a new bridge for economic development in our state.”

Ardoin said he has attended many meetings with Landry, where the right people come together in a room to solve problems. Ardoin said he has only had one meeting with the former governor, and while working under Secretary Schedler, he has only had one meeting with former Governor Jindal.

“It’s a new day in Louisiana, a new administration in Louisiana and new opportunities,” he said.

A new day is about to begin for the SWLA Economic Development Alliance. George Swift, CEO and President for the past 20 years, will be retiring.

Congressman Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative for the 3rd District, used much of his speech time to express his appreciation to Swift.

“He helped me and walked me through one problem after another and helped me learn…” Higgins said.

The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced that it has engaged a national search firm to search for the next CEO.

Recognition of successes

The Chairs Award (for committee chairs who advocate for legislative reform) went to Senator Beth Mizell, District 12, and Assemblyman Daryl Deshotel, District 28. The Public Policy Award went to Senator Mark Abraham, District 25, for his work in ensuring that a percentage of the tolls collected on the new Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge stays here in Southwest Louisiana. Assemblyman Brach Myers, District 45, was named a Rising Star and Speaker of the House and Assemblyman for Louisiana's 4th Congressional District Mike Johnson was named the 2024 LegisGator of the Year.