Jacob Leibenluft Archives - Louisiana Budget Project

November 1, 2017

Criminal justice reforms underway

About 1,900 people who were imprisoned in Louisiana for nonviolent offenses are being released early today, due to the landmark criminal justice reforms enacted by the Legislature.

Number of the Day

$262 million - Amount the state expects to save over the next decade due to the 2017 criminal justice reform package. Seventy percent of the savings will be reinvested into programs and services that help reduce the chances a person will return to prison. (Source: Louisiana Department of Corrections)

September 19, 2017

Cassidy bill “uniquely and disproportionately” hurts Louisiana

Sen. Bill Cassidy’s ACA repeal and replace proposal is the center of attention on Capitol Hill this week. As the Senate barrels toward a possible vote next week, it’s becoming increasingly clear how harmful the bill would be for Louisiana.

Number of the Day

$5.04 - Amount of wealth the average black family in America accumulates for every $100 in wealth accumulated by the average white family. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey via The Upshot Blog)

September 14, 2017

Cassidy bill would cut Louisiana health care funding

Sen. Bill Cassidy’s latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act is similar to previous versions rejected by the Senate.

Number of the Day

44 percent - Un- and underemployment rate for black men in New Orleans, down from 52 percent in 2014. (Source: Ben Hecht, Living Cities, via The Advocate)

April 24, 2017

Turning talk into action

The Legislature has been in session two full weeks and has accomplished virtually nothing so far.

Number of the Day

$416.6 million - Estimated annual revenue the state would gain from the proposed Commercial Activity Tax (Source: Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of House Bill 628)