Columns

By Stephen Waguespack

The legislative session that adjourned in June left many folks frustrated. While everyone was satisfied that the budgets for health care and higher education were stabilized, the exclusive dependence on new taxes to accomplish this objective has led to quite a bit of concern. Employers, both small and large, expressed frustration due to the fact that the lion’s share of these new taxes fell on their backs. Legislators seemed frustrated with the contentiousness of the session and the awkward and confusing guardrails set up by the administration. Individual taxpayers felt frustrated because a comprehensive approach to smart budgeting seems to still be an illusive goal.

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Teen love (infatuation) is powerful, unbelievable, upsetting, life changing and long “remembering”. Most of us are victims. She was scarcely five in height, had big brown eyes which could melt stone. She would be eligible for the heavenly body class. The party was Friday night (like tonight) and this 10th grader must ask the ninth grader before she caught the bus to her home on the plantation four miles away. Getting up all the bravery in me I dashed to catch her on the stairs before the bus left. Barely. I timidly asked if she would like to attend the party with me. She said that she “would be delighted”. And we melted. (She knew I’d ask her). Our friend who had a car and a girl friend in the same area brought me to her house. Timidly, I knocked and the answer was coarse and loud coming from her dad. Upon entering, Daddy asked what I wanted as he kept cleaning a double-barrel shotgun. More sweat. I asked for Susan (not her name) as we left I heard “better be back by 11”.

by Stephen Waguespack

A scientific opinion poll released last week shows many Louisiana small employers offer a variety of family-friendly benefits to attract and retain the best talent for their company. In the aftermath of the national recession, budget restraints, inadequate preparedness and a lack of sales made it difficult for some small businesses to survive in Louisiana. In other situations, however, small businesses found creative ways to survive the down turn by offering a flexible benefits package to their employees.

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Dear Editor: Willis-Knighton has a long-standing policy of not speaking or responding publicly on the business decisions or actions of other health care providers.  Willis-Knighton (WK) also has a30 year public record and historyof being a staunch supporter and vocal advocate of the LSU HealthSciences Center-Shreveport (LSUMedical School). 

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Knowledge is power, but as Albert Einstein once said,“information is not know ledge.”This week, the LouisianaAssociation of Business andIndustry (LABI) will release its 2015 score card for the LouisianaLegislature. The scorecard will beavailable on LABI’s website at www.labi.org/scorecard and will give.

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It’s that time of year when many of us hit the road for asummer vacation. If you are fortunate, you will be joiningthem — after all, “all work and no play” is a difficult wayto live. But while you may not think it beneficial to workall the time, the same can’t be said of your investments andyour investment strategy — because, ideally, they shouldnever stop laboring on your behalf.

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