| 5/12/2012 | Do you live in a home or apartment that costs $329 per square foot? Me neither.
Thanks to your tax dollars, .... |
| 4/26/2012 | You may have read or heard that Louisiana state government is spending less of your hard-earned taxpayer dollars because it has fewer employees. .... |
| 2/27/2012 | Governor Jindal has made the improvement of our public schools the top priority of his second term. He has promised bold reform. Thank you, Gover.... |
| 2/1/2012 | Governor Jindal is right to try to fix our public schools. His proposal to put the best teacher in every classroom by changing the way we hire, f.... |
| 1/11/2012 | Louisiana has hundreds of needed road projects, the most important of which is the completion of Interstate 49. I-49 North from Shreveport .... |
| 11/18/2011 | Most people don’t think of education when they think of prison. They think of punishment, lack of freedom and loss of rights. They th.... |
| 10/5/2011 | Louisiana will shortly be electing a governor, other statewide officials and a new legislature. Here are five goals these new leaders shoul.... |
| 8/8/2011 | In its recent session, the Louisiana Legislature faced a $1.6 billion budget deficit, primarily due to the loss of one-time federal “stimulus” do.... |
| 7/29/2011 | I’ve had a lot of folks lately ask me how the current debt crisis in Washington, D.C. will impact the state of Louisiana. My first thought .... |
| 6/22/2011 | Hurricane Katrina damaged the Charity Hospital in New Orleans, which is owned and operated by the LSU Health Sciences Center (“HSC”). The s.... |
| 5/3/2011 | Louisiana has a $1.6 billion budget deficit. The main reason for the shortfall is the political decision to spend more than we take in and .... |
| 3/1/2011 | The mission of the Louisiana Department of the Treasury is to promote prudent cash management and investment strategies in the administration of .... |
| 2/1/2011 | When filling out state tax returns, Louisiana residents should keep in mind the incentives available to investors who use the START 529 plan to s.... |
| 1/18/2011 | Here are eight additional ways to balance the state budget without destroying health care and higher education:
1. Abolish the state’.... |
| 11/29/2010 | Louisiana has 10 state-owned, taxpayer-funded public hospitals, spread across 64 parishes and 45,000 square miles, to deliver health care to our .... |
| 10/18/2010 | One way Louisiana can reduce the $2 billion to $3 billion budget deficit next fiscal year is by doing a better job of collecting money.... |
| 9/14/2010 | Louisiana is facing a $2 billion to $3 billion budget deficit next year. Here’s how we can deal with it:
1. Do not raise taxes or fee.... |
| 9/10/2010 | Whether your child just started his first day of kindergarten or is about to enter high school, it is never too late to prepare for the rising co.... |
| 8/1/2010 | The state’s health care delivery system costs taxpayers over $7 billion a year. This is expected to grow by $7.1 billion over the next 10 y.... |
| 7/20/2010 | The legislative session began with a lot of promise. We heard talk of “competitive budgeting,” “performance-based appropriations” and “prioritizi.... |
| 6/21/2010 | Louisiana needs to ensure that local governments and parishes do not face financial troubles in the short-term as a result of the oil spill disas.... |
| 5/20/2010 | The Louisiana Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division has received several complaints from Louisiana residents who have been con.... |
| 4/26/2010 | If the nation’s recent financial crisis has taught us anything it’s the importance of going back to the basics when it comes to managing money. W.... |
| 3/30/2010 | Another legislative session has just begun, and lawmakers will have their work cut out for them as they whittle away at a ballooning budget and a.... |
| 2/1/2010 | The Louisiana Streamlining Government Commission, of which I am a member, has made 238 recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor in the.... |
| 1/1/2010 | There has been an explosion in the number of contracts the state awards for various consulting services. State agencies and departments cur.... |
| 12/1/2009 | Each day, 80 students drop out of Louisiana public elementary and secondary schools. Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is well below .... |
| 11/1/2009 | Every Louisiana child deserves the right to a quality education, but 25,000 students in our state are not getting one. These students currently a.... |
| 10/5/2009 | Louisiana ranks 1st in the South and 8th in the nation for the number of state employees per 10,000 population. Our state also faces a $3 billion.... |
| 9/16/2009 | America has the best system of higher education in the history of civilization, and many of those schools are right here in Louisiana. Yet,.... |
| 3/1/2009 | The mission of the Louisiana Department of the Treasury is to promote prudent cash management and investment strategies in the administration of .... |
| 2/1/2009 | Another tax season is upon us, and that means gathering receipts, statements and other necessary paperwork to prepare tax returns. One of the bri.... |
| 1/1/2009 | By now, we all know the main causes of America’s credit crisis: lenders who made home loans to unqualified borrowers; borrowers who could not rep.... |
| 12/1/2008 | As we all know by now, Americas credit markets are frozen. Banks either cant or wont loan money to consumers or each other in .... |
| 11/1/2008 | It is hard to find good news in today’s financial climate, but whether the market is up, down or somewhere in between, one thing remains the same.... |
| 10/1/2008 | Football season is in full swing, and high school, college and professional games will take up a bulk of our weekends this fall. Now there’s a wa.... |
| 8/1/2008 | The school year is now in full swing, and whether your child is starting kindergarten or already in high school, it is never too late to start pr.... |
| 7/1/2008 | Financial advisors talk about the importance of putting “everything down on paper” when it comes to budgeting monthly expenses. Maintaining a bud.... |
| 6/1/2008 | By the time you read this column another legislative session will be over, and the state fiscal year will have come and gone. The end of a fiscal.... |
| 5/1/2008 | As State Treasurer, it is my responsibility to protect the state’s finances and your taxpayer dollars. Part of my job also includes providing Lou.... |
| 4/1/2008 | The 2008 Regular Session of the Legislature is in full swing, and there are several important pieces of legislation I want to bring to your atten.... |
| 4/1/2007 | Louisiana families are working harder than ever, but many household incomes are not keeping up with the rising costs of housing, health care and educa.... |
| 3/6/2007 | It is hard to believe that more than a year has passed since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated our state. Louisiana has made some significant pro.... |
| 2/1/2007 | A day in the life of the average family will differ somewhat from one home to the next, but many components of the daily routine are the same. Day-to-.... |
| 1/1/2007 | Hurricanes Katrina and Rita showed Louisiana and the nation the devastation that can occur because of a shrinking coastline. As a result, Louisianas C.... |
| 11/1/2006 | It seems like the holidays arrive earlier each year. Just as we are tossing out the jack-o-lanterns, were putting up the Christmas lights. For some, t.... |
| 10/11/2006 | At the close of business on any given day, a local governmental agency, higher education institution, municipality or political subdivision of the sta.... |
| 6/20/2006 | Have you ever met anyone who has won the lottery? Judging by televisions standards, it happens all the time. The main character on My Name is Earl scr.... |
| 5/24/2006 | As if the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were not enough to deal with, local governments in hurricane-impacted areas face an.... |
| 4/18/2006 | Never before has Louisiana or any other state in our nation experienced natural disasters of the magnitude of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Every part .... |
| 3/3/2006 | The rising cost of health care is something all Louisiana citizens are concerned about, especially those who are nearing retirement age and facing lif.... |
| 1/13/2006 | A new year brings with it the opportunity for a new beginning, and no state needs a fresh start more than Louisiana. We now have a chance to bolster t.... |
| 12/16/2005 | The Louisiana Asset Management Pool (LAMP) has been operating for 12 years now as a way for local governments to pool their money to protect the princ.... |
| 12/16/2005 | Signs of rebuilding and recovery are evident throughout the state, and one area that will require our continued focus in the next coming months and ye.... |
| 10/26/2005 | Signs of recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are evident throughout south Louisiana. From Lake Charles to New Orleans, it wont be long until peo.... |
| 10/26/2005 | Weve all seen the commercial with the slogan that says when banks compete, you win. This same basic concept applies to the State Treasurys Internet au.... |
| 8/4/2005 | Most people ring in the New Year when the ball drops on December 31. At the Treasury, however, we count down the minutes to midnight on June 30 .... |
| 6/16/2005 | You have probably heard the term lockbox used to describe a way to safeguardassets, especially funding for government programs that are important to t.... |
| 5/17/2005 | In 2001, Louisiana sold 60 percent of its tobacco settlement in order to reduce the risk that tobacco companies may not make all of their annual payme.... |
| 5/10/2005 | The Regular Session of the Legislature began April 25, and there are many worthwhile programs that our senators and representatives will be considerin.... |
| 4/12/2005 | Turn on any talk radio station or television newsprogram today, and chances are you will catch a discussion about SocialSecurity. In fact, both P.... |
| 1/26/2005 | Small businesses and working families in our state have a lot more in common than one might think. They both know how to stretch a dollar, live on a b.... |
| 1/26/2005 | The movie Catch Me if You Can is based on the life of Frank W. Abagnale, who as a young man had an uncanny ability to maneuver his way in and out of a.... |
| 1/11/2005 | December 31, 2004, marks the end of another tax year. Citizens will begin gathering their W-2s and other paperwork to prepare for tax time, and many o.... |
| 1/5/2005 | Louisiana is a diverse state with a unique mix of culturesand influences. The TreasuryDepartment recognizes this, and to celebrate our states ric.... |
| 11/23/2004 | Since taking over as State Treasurer in 2000, Ive been talking about how the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund (LEQTF) is one of the biggest succ.... |
| 11/8/2004 | Chances are you have heard me talk about the State TreasurysUnclaimed Property Program and our efforts to return lost money to Louisianac.... |
| 11/5/2004 | Each autumn, the Treasury makes available the names of folks in Louisiana whohave new unclaimed property waiting for them to claim. On September 30 an.... |
| 11/5/2004 | Louisiana recently joined 39 other states and the College Savings PlanNetwork to proclaim the month of September as College Savings Month.... |
| 7/12/2004 | Tax time is finally over, and many Louisiana citizens are breathing a sigh of relief and making plans with this years refunds. If you receive a tax re.... |
| 5/18/2004 | Regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, chances are you have felt the pinch of higher gas prices recently, and it looks like its going to get wor.... |
| 4/26/2004 | Louisiana is a diverse state with a unique mix of culturesand influences. The TreasuryDepartment recognizes this, and to celebrate our states ric.... |
| 4/21/2004 | There seems to be two categories that most income tax payers fit into. Some individuals prepare their taxes way ahead of time and enjoy their refunds .... |
| 4/21/2004 | Spring is right around the corner, and many of us have reluctantly begun collecting receipts, statements and other necessary paperwork for tax day. On.... |
| 3/25/2004 | Fiscal Year 2002-2003 (FY 2003) was more than just another year for me. It marked the completion of my first term as Louisianas State Treasurer. We ha.... |
| 2/25/2004 | Louisiana families are working harder than ever, with many of them spending nights and weekends on the job instead of at Little League, Scouts or the .... |
| 2/9/2004 | I encourage working families in our state to take advantageof an important and often overlooked tax credit when they file theirreturns this tax season.... |
| 12/3/2003 | Whether the markets are up, down or somewhere in between, it is important to do everything possible to earn money on your investments. This is especia.... |
| 12/3/2003 | My colleagues and I in state government talk a lot about our public school system, and many of us make decisions that impact elementary and secondary .... |
| 8/11/2003 | Summer is in full swing, and high school seniors are enjoying their time off as they anxiously wait for the first day of college. In addition to fall .... |
| 8/11/2003 | Saving money is a way an individual can build a nest egg to prepare for unexpected emergencies or ensure that theres enough money to pay for future ex.... |
| 7/10/2003 | BATON ROUGE, LA Louisiana high schools will soon be preparing students for their financial futures by teaching them how to manage their money, u.... |
| 6/23/2003 | There's nothing quite like the feeling of walking into a new home for the first time. Homeownership is a dream that many Louisiana citizens reach for,.... |
| 5/9/2003 | Many people take their credit rating for granted, but I was reminded this month how important it is to have good credit. For years Louisiana had the l.... |
| 3/24/2003 | One of the goals I set out to accomplish during my first term as Treasurerwas to take the State Treasury to places its never been before. In additiont.... |
| 3/24/2003 | Chances are youve seen or heard about the popular television show where people ask professional appraisers to price objects ranging from family heirlo.... |
| 3/24/2003 | Saving for college isnt easy. Even though many of our states students qualify for the TOPS Program, that alone isnt enough. To help with the increasin.... |
| 3/24/2003 | When did the holidays become so expensive? There are the parties, presents, and decorations not to mention the food. Its hard to make ends meet as it .... |
| 11/20/2002 | Its been said you cant really understand people until you walk a mile in their shoes. Ive always had a tremendous amount of respect for our states edu.... |
| 10/24/2002 | Public offices looking for ways to save taxpayers money should try investing in the Louisiana Asset Management Pool (LAMP). LAMP acts as a central dep.... |
| 10/9/2002 | Its an age-old dilemma. Youre walking into a store when you stumble across a $20 bill in the parking lot. Do you pick it up and keep it, or do you tur.... |
| 8/20/2002 | Most of us can rattle off the names of companies embroiled in corporate scandals as fast as we can say the letters of the alphabet. Corporate fraud ha.... |
| 7/12/2002 | Its no secret that our nations corporate climate experienced some ups and downs this past year. We watched in disbelief as Enron collapsed, and thousa.... |
| 5/15/2002 | What do you do for a living? Its a common question, and when individuals say they are public servants, they often get a common reply: Government jobs .... |
| 5/15/2002 | Ask anyone what his or her first memory of saving money was and chances are it had something to do with dropping coins into a piggy bank. While no one.... |
| 3/28/2002 | Homeownership is one of the first steps an individual takes on the road to financial stability and independence. Buying a home is also one of the most.... |
| 3/28/2002 | State government needs to embrace technology in order to do a better job for taxpayers. Whether its something as simple as making interactive forms av.... |
| 3/28/2002 | The Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), a non-partisan government watchdog group, recently met with news reporters to suggest steps the state could.... |
| 3/28/2002 | For more than a year now, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury has been traveling down a path to what I hope will be one of the greatest success s.... |
| 3/28/2002 | History tells us that everyday citizens played a major role in the World War II war effort by doing little things to help out their country. Women pai.... |