Empowering Louisiana: How ‘Better Louisiana’ Leaders are Tackling Education & the Insurance Crisis

A new group, Leaders for a Better Louisiana, is focusing on key issues like education, the property insurance crisis, and economic growth as the legislative session kicks off in April.

This organization is a merger of two older groups: the Committee of 100 for Louisiana, established in 1992, and the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), which has roots dating back to 1962. Now, they are united under the name Better Louisiana.

Adam Knapp, who led the Committee of 100, is now the CEO of Better Louisiana. Barry Erwin, former head of CABL, takes on the role of chief policy officer. They recently spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club to outline their plans.

According to Erwin, while there have been improvements in education policy, many young children starting kindergarten are still not as prepared as kids in other states. He emphasizes the need for continued investment in early childhood education to boost readiness among kindergartners.

Despite these challenges, there are positive trends in Louisiana. More students are improving their reading skills by third grade, graduation rates are rising, and more high school students are earning industry credentials or college credits.

Knapp highlighted that the state’s economic development efforts also require attention. Although some improvements have been seen under Governor Jeff Landry, there is room for more progress.

Better Louisiana aims to enhance site development in the state, urging the government to invest in infrastructure that attracts businesses. Knapp pointed out that other states are outpacing Louisiana in this area.

The group plans to address the ongoing insurance crisis as part of their economic strategy. High insurance rates are a barrier to attracting new projects. They intend to urge lawmakers and Landry to enact new laws aimed at lowering these rates, backing Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple’s initiatives that have received support from insurers.

Additionally, Knapp and Erwin emphasized the importance of government accountability and transparency—issues previously championed by CABL. They are concerned about any legal changes that could weaken ethics or limit public oversight of government operations.