Statewide Assembly with Gubernatorial Candidates

November 13th, 2015

Change in state, higher ed spending per student, 2008 to 2015Higher Education

Largest cuts in the nation.

Since 2008, $4,941 per student in cuts.

Higher Education

Same period: Incomes declined by $3,000

Tuition increased $2,939 per student since 2008 – 67.2%

Percent change in higher ed tuition, 2008 to 2015

• 62% of roads in poor or mediocre condition

• 29% of bridges structurally deficient or obsolete

• $12 billion in transportation projects

• $575 million in transportation trust fund

Transportation & Infrastructure

Projected budget deficits2015-16: $1.6 billion2016-17: $1.6 billion2017-18: $2 billion

How did we get here?

Our Budget

6Source: Legislative Fiscal Office historical data and latest REC forecasts of January 2015

#1) We lost nearly a billion with cuts to Stelly Plan.

#2) We give away $1.1 billion per year in industry tax exemptions.

How will you address our state’s structural budget deficit? (Be specific.)

Time limit: 90 seconds per candidate

Our Health

Louisiana ranks:•2nd highest in cancer

•2nd highest in obesity

•2nd highest in overall poor health outcomes•3rd highest in premature death•4th highest in diabetes

785,105 of our people don’t have health insurance.

(64,635 are kids)

Our Health

8 times

Medicaid Expansion would provide health insurance to 400,000 Louisiana residents.

(4 Tiger Stadiums)

1.3 million Louisiana residents have low

access to grocery stores.

Sources: USDA data fro 2014 and The Reinvestment Fund 2014.

Louisiana is

3rd in the nation in difficulty

accessing healthy food.

RED = Worse!

ORANGE = Low Access

to attract grocery stores to low-access

neighborhoods

But… no funding!

2009 Healthy Food Retail Act

Our Health: Question

How will you address healthcare access in our state?

• Will you visit the fresh food financing initiative with us in New Orleans during your first year in office?

• Will you accept Medicaid expansion and on what terms?

• Time limit: 90 seconds for each candidate.

•21% below the poverty line

•40% in or near poverty

•77% of fast food workers on public assistance

•police officers in Tallulah qualify for food stamps

Our People: Work and wages

Worker productivity

increase: 35%

The Big Disconnect:1979 - 2012

Wages increase: 1%

Our People: Work and wages

•How will you prioritize issues facing low-wage workers in our State?

•Will you visit NOVA, the workforce intermediary in Monroe and northeast Louisiana, with us during your first year in office?

• Time limit: 90 seconds for each candidate.

If elected, will you meet with Together Louisiana at least twice per year to address these and other issues?

Our Relationship