When I took office, I promised you that I would fight for bold reforms, that I would challenge the status quo, and that I would never rest until Louisiana was a place where opportunity and prosperity were available to all.
We worked on public safety and we have seen tangible results. We worked on education with reforms that place the parent and teacher at the front of the line.
We promised you that we would work on Louisiana’s economy.
To do that, we knew that we have to overhaul our outdated and bloated tax code—giving people and businesses an incentive to come to Louisiana.
Today, we have taken the first huge step.
Today we have made generational change in this State. We now stand at the threshold of a new era for Louisiana, having just concluded a historic tax reform session.
If you are sailing to get somewhere, it is always easier if you are sailing with the wind to your back.
If you find yourself ,like this State, with the wind in your face you no longer can sail the same way.
Our State has been trying decade after decade to sail with the wind at our face.
Our only way to get ahead is to change our position so that the wind is at our back. And if you are sailing is not an easy maneuver, and it is most difficult on the first turn.
I am happy to announce to the people of our great State, that our Legislature, for the first time in decades, maybe 100 years, has made that difficult turn.
And for that I and each of you should be grateful.
We came into this session wanting to accomplish FOUR major things…
To give everyone in Louisiana a tax cut, so you spend less of your money to fund this government.
We wanted to make our state more competitive, so we can attract more jobs and have higher wages.
We wanted to the fiscal cliff, and provide our teachers a much-deserved pay raise.
And we wanted to simplify our tax code, eliminating special interest loopholes and give us a more sustainable budgets.
And today I am happy to say that with our new “Louisiana Forward” playbook, Louisiana will now be ON the playing field!
We ensured citizens are paying less money to government by lowering income taxes, nearly tripling the standard deduction, and FULLY eliminating income taxes for the working poor.
For every hard-working Louisianan, this tax package means one thing: more of your hard-earned money will stay in your pocket.
Whether you are a young family just starting out or a senior citizen enjoying the fruits of a lifetime of labor, you will feel the relief of a tax code that works for you—not against you.
But that’s not all.
We made Louisiana more competitive by abolishing the corporate franchise tax, sending a resounding message to the world that Louisiana is now open to new businesses, to new industries, and to new opportunities.
We fixed the fiscal cliff by cutting state debt. In turn, we were able to give our teachers a permanent pay raise— a much-deserved win for our unsung heroes.
We gave an extra tax cut for our seniors, ensuring that those who have spent a lifetime building Louisiana’s future can retire with dignity and peace of mind.
And we have FINALLY made the state budget more sustainable by collapsing rates—and creating simpler rates across the board.
Of course, we still have much work to do.
But today is a HUGE step in the right direction!
My thanks go out to the members of the legislature who worked hard to get these much-needed reforms passed.
Our great staff,
As well as Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson and his team!
We’ve shown what happens when we put partisanship aside and work together for the greater good of Louisiana.
This administration does not follow the status quo of empty promises.
When we make a promise to the people of Louisiana, we fulfill that promise.
This tax package is a
WIN for the people of Louisiana.
A WIN for the businesses in Louisiana,
And A WIN for those looking for a reason to call Louisiana home.
Together, we are building a Louisiana that works for everyone--where opportunity isn’t just a dream, but a reality for every person, every family, and every business.
A Louisiana where the best days are still ahead of us.
It is time to Come Back Home!
Louisiana is ready for you!
