Stephanie Riegel Archives - Louisiana Budget Project

August 7, 2018

Paid family leave would transform Louisiana

With the federal government gridlocked, states across the country have adopted paid family leave policies to ensure that workers - particularly ones with low incomes - are able to take time off from work after a child is born or to care for an ailing relative.

Number of the Day

$250,000 - Total fines assessed by the Louisiana Department of Health to the five private insurers that oversee care for most of the state’s Medicaid enrollees. The companies were cited for sloppy record-keeping. (Source: The Associated Press)

February 2, 2018

A fiscal reality check

A common refrain among state House leaders is that Gov. John Bel Edwards is not looking hard enough at spending when confronting the state’s fiscal problems. But that’s largely Washington D.C.-style rhetoric, says Stephanie Riegel with the Baton Rouge Business Report.

Number of the Day

62 - Percentage of Americans who believe government does not provide enough help to poor people, while 64 percent believe government provides too much help to wealthy people. (Source: Pew Research Center)

January 5, 2018

Solving the fiscal cliff requires compromise

Gov. John Bel Edwards has said time and again that he is flexible and willing to negotiate on potential solutions to the state’s $1.5 billion fiscal shortfall.

Number of the Day

151 - Baton Rouge’s rank on the list of Best Places to Find a Job in 2018, out of 182 U.S. cities. New Orleans ranks 177 and Shreveport took the last spot at 182. (Source: WalletHub)

August 31, 2017

Corporate tax cuts mainly help the rich

President Donald Trump laid out the broad outlines of his plan to cut corporate taxes in a speech on Wednesday.

Number of the Day

$190 billion- Estimated economic impact of Hurricane Harvey, exceeding the economic impact of Sandy and Katrina combined. (Source: Accuweather)