How well is the Louisiana economy doing? Are we reducing the cost of government which might be required by the economy? Here is the election campaign newsletter from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. This newsletter was sent out Tuesday night:
Dear, Friends,
Last week brought the great news that both Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's (S&P) Ratings Services have upgraded Louisiana's bond rating, and Moody's Investors Services has raised our state's credit outlook to "positive." These announcements not only continue to show that the nation is taking notice that we are transforming Louisiana's economy, but just as importantly, as reported by the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, "A higher rating cuts interest costs for taxpayers."
This marks the second year in a row our state has been upgraded, and marks our highest Fitch Rating ever. Louisiana is also the only state in the country to be upgraded by Fitch this year. Fitch stated that a reason for upgrading our rating is that our state has "had some recent success with economic development efforts that support diversification," – such as last week's announcement that, as reported by the Associated Press, that "an Iberia Parish boat builder has won a $3.9 million Coast Guard contract to build 60 punt boats and navigation equipment."
Also, as the Thibodaux Daily Comet reported, "Standard & Poor's cited Louisiana's commitment to streamlining government and improving budget management policies," as a factor in determining Louisiana's rating. One such example of these efforts has been initiated at the Department of Social Services, where our streamlining efforts have, as written by the New Orleans Times-Picayune, "ease[d] the bureaucracy for applicants and [made] it cheaper to run the food stamp program…what taxpayers call a win-win." We will continue to move forward with our efforts to attract new jobs and economic opportunities to our state, and to ensure that state government is living within its means just like any Louisiana family. As the Baton Rouge Advocate wrote, "the substantive moves by state government to improve financial management are ones that provide real benefits to taxpayers."
We were also able to announce that all Outback Steakhouses in Louisiana will only purchase Louisiana shrimp. Last year the 14 Outback locations in Louisiana used nearly 60 tons of shrimp. Our state's shrimp industry employs more than 14,000 workers and contributes nearly $1.3 billion to our economy. As reported by the Houma Courier, this announcement "will help promote the purchase and consumption of Louisiana shrimp and also send a signal to companies all across the nation…buy Louisiana shrimp."
I traveled to Minden last week to attend the groundbreaking of the first phase of the Regional Training Institute (RTI) at Camp Minden. The RTI showcases the importance of our state's great relationship with our military, as we beat out multiple other states competing for the project, and the first phase of the project will create 290 new direct and indirect jobs.
The RTI will bring more than 8,000 troops to Camp Minden every year, and represents what could become a $100 million construction project. Additionally, as the Shreveport Times wrote, "an economic impact analysis indicates the RTI will generate new state tax revenues of almost $10 million in its first decade of operations alone."
I also visited St. Joseph, Denham Springs, and Bastrop this past week to award 428 of our state's veterans with the Louisiana Veterans' Honor Medal. As I said in the Bastrop Daily Enterprise, our veterans "represent the greatest character and the living spirit of America," and we will continue to recognize and celebrate our veterans across the state in the coming weeks.
Finally, I encourage you to read my opinion piece in the Washington Post regarding health care reform. We now have a chance to come together and create a solution that works for all Americans, and, as I wrote, an opportunity to demonstrate that conservative principles work when applied to real-world problems.
“Louisiana's commitment to streamlining government and improving budget management policies," - - - Big deal, the only reason Louisiana government is ‘improving (if that’s what it is called but it lacks a lot of STRONGCONCRETE disciplines) budget management policies’ and streamlining government is because it doesn’t have the money to cover the checks… No big accomplishment there….. And all Outback Steakhouses in Louisiana will only purchase Louisiana shrimp???? So what? I guess someone has to buy Louisiana shrimp…. I guess all Outback Steakhouses in North Carolina will only purchase North Carolina shrimp, and I guess all Outback Steakhouses in Texas will only purchase Texas shrimp, and I guess all Outback Steakhouses in Alabama will only purchase Alabama shrimp, and I guess all Outback Steakhouses in Mississippi will only purchase Mississippi shrimp, or at least that’s how I would envision an ‘economic model’ of this sort to proceed, makes sense huh? So the point? - - - And 8,000 troops to Camp Minden every year, and represents what could become a $100 million construction project.?? Every year? For how many years? What happened to Camp Livingston, Camp Claiborne, Camp Beauregard, Fort Polk, England AirForce Base? How much money spent on them? How much returned? You see the picture? Where is the real stability, the real growth? Oh, temporary band aids are the course of action because after all, we only have a temporary economy right? So there you go……… Oh wait, we are going to get billions and billions from the feds and offshore oil and gas royalties and of course we are going to develop the Haines shale deposits……. Will the Haines shale deposits be economically viable as a recoverable resource, or is it like the estimated 2 trillion barrels of oil buried beneath parts of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming that geologists, petroleum companies and the federal government have known about for nearly a century. The trouble has always been: how do you get at it? So where is the solid meat we can sink our teeth into where prudent business growth will occur??? Written by
on 10/15/2009
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
""""Are we reducing the cost of government which might be required by the economy?""""?/?/???????///!!! - - - -The election campaign newsletter from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal ?????? - - - - . uhhhhh, folks..... I WONDER WHAT A STRONGCONCRETE RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION WOULD BE????? Oh, I am sure there is some law or group of laws that prohibits something like STRONGCONCRETE results and aid for the safety and security of the people that are governed by them..... Real good system we got going there Piyush, and you spew about 'ethics reform?' 'Job creation?' What a joke.............................. Written by STRONGCONCRETE
on 10/14/2009
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
This marks the second year in a row our state has been upgraded, and marks our highest Fitch Rating ever. Louisiana is also the only state in the country to be upgraded by Fitch this year. Fitch stated that a reason for upgrading our rating is that our state has "had some recent success with economic development efforts that support diversification," – such as last week's announcement that, as reported by the 
