Committee of 100
for Economic Development, Inc.
P. O. Box 1546
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
2015 Mid-Year Report
Washington, D.C. Briefing January 21-22, 2015
2015 Gubernatorial Forum March 31, 2015
Our Washington DC Briefing has become a signature event of
C100 and the Washington Mardi Gras Program. The 2015
Briefing began with the Louisiana Congressional delegation
luncheon sponsored by Jones Walker at the U.S. Capitol
Visitors’ Center.
This year, we produced our Annual Spring Meeting as a
Gubernatorial Forum featuring the four announced candidates.
Each candidate was allotted 45 minutes to answer prepared
questions from C100 policy issues and questions from the
audience, This portion of the meeting was for C100 members
and guests only with no media permitted.
This was followed by presentations from Louisiana natives
Charlie Cook, Editor and Publisher of the Cook Political
Report, and Ron Faucheux, President of Clarus Research
Group and former state legislator and Secretary of Commerce
in Louisiana. Both speakers provided expert commentary on
the federal and state political climate and upcoming elections.
Adams & Reese sponsored another great reception this year
to close out the first day of the program.
The Congressional Delegation
luncheon hosted by Jones
Walker is our most popular
event allowing C100 members
to
discuss
matters
with
Congressional leaders and
staff.
Day Two continued with an excellent lineup of speakers.
Former Michigan Governor and President of the national
Business Roundtable John Engler discussed topics on which
the Business Roundtable has taken positions, such as fiscal
stability, pro-growth tax reform, expanded trade, immigration,
infrastructure investment, and smart regulation.
Governor Engler was followed by Wes Farno with Higher State
Standards Partnership discussing Common Core moving
forward and Louisiana native Mary Martin with the US
Chamber’s Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs
reporting on the regulatory environment. Roman Buhler with
the Madison Coalition was our luncheon speaker presenting
their work on restoring a balance of state and federal powers
and curbing the authority of federal regulators.
Governor John Engler with
the Business Roundtable
discusses with C100 members
matters of national concern
for businesses across the US
After the candidates’ forum, ExxonMobil sponsored a panel
consisting of Louisiana Education Superintendent John White
and BESE Board President Chas Roemer moderated by Mark
Northcutt of ExxonMobil discussing Common Core State
Standards in Louisiana.
A second panel was focused on Louisiana’s Fiscal Reform
Agenda featuring Dr. James Richardson of LSU’s Public
Administration Institute and Scott Drenkard of the Washington
DC-based Tax Foundation. This signified the launch of C100’s
Fiscal Reform Project through the Committee for a SECURE
Louisiana.
Superintendent John White,
BESE Board President Chas
Roemer, and ExxonMobil’s
Mark Northcutt stress the
importance of staying the
course on Common Core
Standards.
LSU’s Dr. Jim Richardson
and Scott Drenkard of the
Tax Foundation announce
C100’s plan for a Fiscal
Reform Study
Gulf States Initiative
In November of 2014 C100 began gauging the feasibility of
revitalizing the Gulf of Mexico States Accord, an association of
government and business leaders from the five US and seven
Mexican states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The primary
purpose is to develop economic opportunities and business
exchange between the states in the areas of maritime, oil &
gas, healthcare, coastal management, agriculture, and
construction.
C100 member firms Pan American Life,
Ochsner, Chase Bank, Jones Walker, and the Port of New
Orleans sponsored the event.
This partnership was further explored in Merida, Yucatan at
the invitation of Consul General of Mexico in New Orleans
Ramon Gonzales Jameson and Eric Rubio, Chief of Staff for
the Governor of Yucatan May 20-22, 2015. Representatives
from the US and Mexico in each of the targeted sectors were
able to meet and share ideas on business development.
Wes Farno provides information
on Common Core standards and
how Louisiana business leaders
can show support for these
efforts.
Louisiana native Mary Martin
with the US Chamber of
Commerce addresses issues
regarding
environmental
regulations.
Consul General of Mexico in
New Orleans Ramon Gonzales
Jameson, Mexican Senator for
Campeche Jorge Luis Lavalle
Maury, and Michael Olivier at
the November meeting on the
Gulf States Initiative held in
New Orleans.
A Letter from Our Chairman
Fiscal Reform Study
The Committee of 100 supports promoting a careful and
complete appraisal of the Louisiana tax structure as part of a
Fiscal Reform project. To accomplish this C100, through the
Committee for a Secure Louisiana, has engaged the Tax
Foundation, a national group that has done numerous state tax
studies around the country, to provide its insight and analysis
to restructuring and improving our tax structure. We have also
asked Dr. Jim Richardson to work with us in developing
policies and support for major tax provisions to be developed
over the next several years. C100 members have contributed
$125,500 to date toward the funding of this study. Below is a
list of our SECURE contributors. A tremendous thank you goes
out to all who have donated, including:
Boysie Bollinger
David Bondy
Elliott Bouillion
Sue Brignac
Wayne Brown
JJ Buquet
Vernon Chance
Tom Clark
George Cummings
Randy Ewing
Tom Hawkins
Trott Hunt
Christopher Kinsey
Kris Kirkpatrick
Mike Madison
Norman Morris
George Nelson
Roger Ogden
Darren Olagues
Sonia Perez
Mike Reitz
Lannie Richardson
Phillip Rozeman, M.D.
Kenny Smith
Gray Stream
Upcoming Regional Meetings, Oct. - Nov., 2015
C100 will be conducting regional meetings across the state to
discuss the findings of our Fiscal Reform Study led by Dr.
James Richardson of LSU’s Public Administration Institute and
Scott Drenkard of the Tax Foundation. Findings of the study
and recommendations for fiscal reform in Louisiana will be
presented to C100 members for consideration and input.
Remembering Virginia Shehee
On July 6, 2015, we said good-bye to C100
founding member and former Chairwoman
Virginia Shehee. Mrs. Shehee was a strong,
caring, and compassionate business and
civic leader, referred to as the “First Lady of
Shreveport” and the “Matriarch of Northwest
Louisiana”. She served as Louisiana State
Senator for District 38 in Caddo and DeSoto parishes from
1976 - 1980. Much of the growth and progress in the
Shreveport area can be linked to Virginia Shehee’s support
and the active role she took in her community and in
encouraging others’ involvement. We encourage you to read
through the many articles and comments that have been
written to eulogize this amazing woman. She will be greatly
missed.
Dear C100 Members:
As we complete the summer and enter election
season, we offer you a report on the scope and
status of Committee of 100 activities in support
of public policy issues that affect our business
environment in Louisiana.
The Executive Committee identified workforce development as
a primary theme to guide us in this year. Our engagement and
coordination with other stakeholders has been consistent with
this primary theme. However, the fiscal challenges we are
facing as we transition to a new administration led to our
support of an assessment of fiscal reform and modernization
opportunities that will lead to a more stable and predictable
revenue stream for our state to thereby assist post-secondary
education and the state as a whole. We presented the initial
phase of this during the Gubernatorial Forum. Throughout the
summer, we have led a task force comprised of the leadership
of PAR, CABL, Louisiana Budget Project, Dr. Jim Richardson,
and the Tax Foundation toward the development of a plan to
be preliminarily presented and discussed at our Fall meeting,
with a full rollout anticipated to occur after the primary and
before the runoff election.
Additionally, we have continued to support the Gulf States
Initiative in conjunction with World Trade Center of New
Orleans and the Consul General of Mexico in New
Orleans. The next scheduled meeting for this will be on April
20-21, 2016 in Lafayette.
Most recently, we were requested to join the Board of Regents
Collaborative on Higher Education, along with representatives
of PAR, LABI, WIC and OWC and all of the System
heads. The purpose of this Collaborative is to work to ensure
a cooperative relationship with the leadership of higher
education and the business community to face the fiscal and
operational challenges that demand our collective attention.
Finally, we have participated in a Statewide Policy Coalition,
along with LABI, PAR, CABL, GNO, BRAC, One Acadiana,
NLEP, LCA, LMOGA, LOGA, and Blueprint which has helped
to identify areas of substantive agreement among all
stakeholders to present to candidates in the Fall elections.
I also invite you to view our website www.C100LA.org to obtain
information about our programs, activities, and focus. I think
you’ll find the rest of the year with activities of value paving the
way for an exciting 2016 that begins with our Washington
Briefing on January 20, 2016. Our Fall meeting in Baton
Rouge in November will focus on Fiscal Reform and our
Program of Work for 2016.
Respectfully
Tom Clark, Chairman
Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc.
Office Address:
450 Laurel Street, Suite 1830
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 1546
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Office:
Fax:
(225) 382-3750
(225) 336-5220
Email:
olivier@C100LA.org
woodworth@C100LA.org
www.C100LA.org
Website:
2015 Fiscal Reform Guiding Principles
The Committee of 100 (C100), through SECURE, is partnering with the LSU Public Administration Institute (Dr. Jim
Richardson), PAR, & CABL to produce a study by the Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation to outline fiscal reform
options designed to develop consensus amongst various stake holders while giving legislators and our next governor
the tools and ideas they need to develop reform proposals that promote sustained economic growth and attract
investment. These reforms are to outline how to eliminate the structural deficit we face each fiscal year and will be
directed to the candidates for statewide elected positions, most specifically gubernatorial candidates. Below are the
“Guiding Principles” developed by our team and presented to the Tax Foundation on areas that must be addressed by
this study.
1. True tax reform will require a long-term commitment
 given the complications of the tax code and the need (1) to maintain a revenue stream consistent with the
spending priorities of the state, (2) to sustain the state’s economic growth, and (3) to promote an equitable
distribution of who pays for public services within the state
 the multiple exemptions, credits, and rebates built into the tax code and the changes made in the 2015
Legislative Session
 complexities of the state and local tax structure interaction
 and the need to deal directly with the structural budget problems, both a tax issue and a spending issue
2. Transparency of the distribution of the tax burden
 on individuals ranging from low income to higher income individuals, households, and families
 on businesses and business activities
 relative distribution to tax policy in states with which Louisiana competes
3. Re-examination of the corporate income/franchise tax
 marginal tax rates
 definition of tax base - consistent for corporations and state government
 fluctuations in corporate tax collections over time and use in long-term budgeting
 use of corporate franchise tax in corporate tax system
4. Re-examination of personal income tax with respect to
 marginal tax rates
 tax base
 impact of various tax alternatives on different income categories
5. State and local sales tax issues regarding
 the tax base of goods & services and the corresponding rates changes associated with broader base of
reductions in other taxes
 development of common state and local tax base - a long-term issue so as to avoid destabilizing revenue
projections of local governments
 development of common state and local tax administration
 state and local sales tax laws consistent with Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement
6. Local government responsibility and taxation
 review of property tax as source of local revenues
 major tax exemptions (homestead exemption, 10-year industrial tax exemption)
 inventory tax and implications for state policy
 property tax variation among parishes
 property and sales tax base for local governments
7. Observations
 Fiscal Reform, including reforming the tax structure, will require multiple years to rectify given the structural
budget problems
 Corporate income tax provisions, rates, and tax base need to be reworked. Corporate income tax rate needs
to be reduced.
 Need transparency on who’s going to pay less and who’ll pay more
 Goal is for the state to do more with revenue collected- “spending”
 Enhance local government responsibility which includes:
 Sales tax on distribution of goods & services- enable local governments to increase revenue
 State and local sales tax administration uniformity
 Property taxation must be included in any long-term tax reform
 Single flat rate for PIT will have distributional impact on middle income taxpayers
 Fiscal reform requires tax code and spending analyses
SAVE THE DATES!
Upcoming C100 Events
Statewide Regional Meetings
October - November, 2015
C100 Fall Meeting
November, 2015
Washington, D. C. Briefing
January 20-21, 2016
Annual Spring Meeting / Legislative Briefing
April/May, 2016