Regional economic development organization releases 2019 election platform
BATON ROUGE, La. (July 30, 2019) — The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today released its 2019 legislative and gubernatorial election platform, calling for an aggressive focus on major regional challenges. The platform, which can be downloaded directly on brac.org, charges candidates to lead boldly on real transportation solutions, economic development and entrepreneurship, workforce development, fiscal reform, and quality of place.
“We need elected officials who aren’t afraid to tackle our state’s toughest problems. We’ve failed for years to address our crumbling infrastructure and make real fiscal reforms. We need to raise the gas tax, we need to hold a constitutional convention, we need to maintain our built environment, and we need to stop making excuses,” said Randy Cangelosi, chair of BRAC’s board of directors. “We can’t afford to wait any longer. We are hurting ourselves, and sticking our children with increasingly insurmountable problems.”
The platform includes a call to action for legislators and the governor to hold a special session in 2020 to address statewide transportation infrastructure, particularly a new Mississippi River Bridge crossing and connectors in the Capital Region, and support passenger rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Other highlights include strengthening economic development incentives, universal early childhood education and turnaround plans for low-performing schools, a constitutional convention for fiscal reform, and higher maintenance standards for Louisiana interstates and urban thoroughfares.
“With the governor’s office on the line and the amount of legislative turnover, this election cycle is critical. It must produce results,” said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of BRAC. “Change and serious progress have been too slow. As the region’s economic developer and the voice of the local business community, we urge our state’s leaders to focus on the major issues that drive jobs. The decisions made by elected officials will either accelerate our economy or hamstring it.”
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, midsize firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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