LABI Releases 25th Annual Legislative Scorecard, Four-Year Term Scores Highlight a Record 88 Champions

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, Sept. 12 -- The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry issued the following news release on Sept. 11, 2023:

Today the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released its 2023 Legislative Scorecard, highlighting legislators inside the State Capitol who supported pro-business legislation in this year's regular session and throughout the four-year term now coming to a close. LABI, the state's chamber of commerce and manufacturers association, worked with a bipartisan group of legislators and stakeholders to push for solutions to Louisiana's insurance crisis, the promotion of innovative energy technology, as well as tax and education reforms.

"We want to share our appreciation for those in the Legislature who consistently stood by the business community and with LABI throughout the term," said LABI Interim President and CEO Jim Patterson. "This term was not without its challenges and disappointments, but the group of lawmakers elected in 2019 brought with them an eagerness for change and innovative problem-solving to enact significant reforms long sought on behalf of Louisiana's business community, including legal reform and tax reform."

During the term, business issues were considered and prioritized annually by LABI members who provided their expertise and input through the organization's nine issue councils. Policy positions were then developed and incorporated into LABI's Program of Work, which guides its advocacy. The criteria outlined in the Program of Work determine the weight given to each piece of legislation throughout the session and guides the final votes selected for the annual analysis and scoring.

The Legislative Scorecard, which for decades has served as a valuable tool for LABI members and the public to learn where Louisiana's legislators stand on critical business issues, is also featured as a special section within the pages of LABI's statewide business publication, 5th & Main, which hits mailboxes in the coming weeks.

"We're looking forward to 2024 when we will see a new group of freshman legislators who have that same hunger for change as we try to set our state on a course for success," said Patterson. "We will continue working with our legislative partners, and a new administration, to move our state forward as we close this chapter and begin fresh."

To read more on LABI legislative wins, click HERE (https://labi.org/newsroom/press-releases/labi-celebrates-legislative-wins/). Keep reading as LABI highlights the legislators that made those wins happen over the last four years and in the 2023 Legislative Session.

TERM CHAMPIONS

Ten legislators were named as "Term Most Valuable Policymakers" (MVPs), scoring a perfect 100 percent on bills important to LABI and the state's business community throughout the entire term.

Those members are:

Sen. Heather Cloud (District 28), Reps. Beau Beaullieu (District 48), Rick Edmonds (District 66), Barbara Freiberg (District 70), Ray Garofalo (District 103), Jonathan Goudeau (District 31), Wayne McMahen (District 10), Thomas Pressly (District 6), Troy Romero (District 37) and Laurie Schlegel (District 82).

63 legislators earned the ranking of "Term All-Stars," scoring 90 percent or higher on legislation important to LABI and the state's employers over the full term.

Those Term All-Star members are:

President Page Cortez (District 23), Sens. Mark Abraham (District 25), Bret Allain (District 21), Louie Bernard (District 31), Stewart Cathey (District 33), Mike Fesi (District 20), Franklin Foil (District 16), Cameron Henry (District 9), Sharon Hewitt (District 1), Patrick McMath (District 11), Barry Milligan (District 38), Robert Mills (District 36), Beth Mizell (District 12), Mike Reese (District 30), Barrow Peacock (District 37), Kirk Talbot (District 10), Bodi White (District 6), Glen Womack (District 32), and Reps. Beryl Amedee (District 51), Tony Bacala (District 59), Ryan Bourriaque (District 47), Rhonda Butler (District 37), Dewith Carrier (District 32), Jean-Paul Coussan (District 45), Raymond Crews (District 8), Paula Davis (District 69), Daryl Deshotel (District 28), Phillip DeVillier (District 41), Mary DuBuisson (District 90), Michael Echols (District 14), Julie Emerson (District 39), Les Farnum (District 33), Gabe Firment (District 22), Bryan Fontenot (District 55) Larry Frieman (District 74), Foy Gadberry (District 15), Lance Harris (District 25), Dodie Horton (District 9), Mike Huval (District 46), John Illg (District 78), Mike Johnson (District 27), Tim Kerner (District 84), Tanner Magee (District 53), Danny McCormick (District 1), Jack McFarland (District 13), Scott McKnight (District 68), Blake Miguez (District 49), Greg Miller (District 56), Buddy Mincey (District 71), Richard Nelson (District 89), Joe Orgeron (District 54), Chuck Owen (District 30), Bob Owen (District 76), Alan Seabaugh (District 5), Rodney Schamerhorn (District 24), Vinney St. Blanc (District 50), John Stefanski (District 42), Phillip Tarver (District 36), Polly Thomas (District 80), Chris Turner (District 12), Debbie Villio (District 79), Bill Wheat (District 73) and 'Zee' Zeringue (District 52).

15 legislators earned "Term Honorable Mentions," scoring 80 percent or higher on legislation important to LABI and its members this term.

Those members are:

Sens. Bob Hensgens (District 26) and Jay Morris (District 35), Speaker Clay Schexnayder (District 81), Reps. Larry Bagley (District 7), Stuart Bishop (District 43), Kathy Edmonston (District 88), Stephanie Hilferty (District 94), Valarie Hodges (District 64), Barry Ivey (District 65), Sherman Mack (District 95), Nicholas Muscarello (District 86), Neil Riser (District 20), Francis Thompson (District 19), Malinda White (District 75) and Mark Wright (District 77).

2023 SESSION CHAMPIONS

38 legislators were named as "Most Valuable Policymakers" (MVPs), scoring a perfect 100 percent on bills important to LABI and the state's business community in this year's session.

Those members are:

Senate

President Page Cortez (District 23)

Sen. Louie Bernard (District 31)

Sen. Heather Cloud (District 28)

Sen. Franklin Foil (District 16)

Sen. Cameron Henry (District 9)

Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter (District 17)

Sen. Patrick McMath (District 11)

Sen. Barrow Peacock (District 37)

Sen. Kirk Talbot (District 10)

Sen. Glen Womack (District 32)

House

Rep. Beau Beaullieu (District 48)

Rep. Dewith Carrier (District 32)

Rep. Paula Davis (District 69)

Rep. Michael Echols (District 14)

Rep. Rick Edmonds (District 66)

Rep. Julie Emerson (District 39)

Rep. Les Farnum (District 33)

Rep. Gabe Firment (District 22)

Rep. Bryan Fontenot (District 55)

Rep. Barbara Freiberg (District 70)

Rep. Ray Garofalo (District 103)

Rep. Jonathan Goudeau (District 31)

Rep. Dodie Horton (District 9)

Rep. Mike Huval (District 46)

Rep. John Illg (District 78)

Rep. Tim Kerner (District 84)

Rep. Jack McFarland (District 13)

Rep. Scott McKnight (District 68)

Rep. Wayne McMahen (District 10)

Rep. Blake Miguez (District 49)

Rep. Joe Orgeron (District 54)

Rep. Thomas Pressly (District 6)

Rep. Troy Romero (District 37)

Rep. Laurie Schlegel (District 82)

Rep. Alan Seabaugh (District 5)

Rep. Vinney St. Blanc (District 50)

Rep. Polly Thomas (District 80)

Rep. Debbie Villio (District 79)

Six legislators earned the ranking of "All-Stars," scoring 90 percent or higher on legislation important to LABI and the state's employers.

Those members are:

Senate

Sen. Stewart Cathey (District 33)

House

Rep. Raymond Crews (District 8)

Rep. Foy Gadberry (District 15)

Rep. Mike Johnson (District 27)

Rep. Francis Thompson (District 19)

Rep. John Stefanski (District 42)

31 legislators earned "Honorable Mentions," scoring 80 percent or higher on legislation important to LABI.

Those members are:

Senate

Sen. Mark Abraham (District 25)

Sen. Bret Allain (District 21)

Sen. Patrick Connick (District 8)

Sen. Mike Fesi (District 20)

Sen. Bob Hensgens (District 26)

Sen. Sharon Hewitt (District 1)

Sen. Eddie Lambert (District 18)

Sen. Barry Milligan (District 38)

Sen. Robert Mills (District 36)

Sen. Beth Mizell (District 12)

Sen. Jay Morris (District 35)

Sen. Mike Reese (District 30)

Sen. Jeremy Stine (District 27)

House

Rep. Beryl Amedee (District 51)

Rep. Tony Bacala (District 59)

Rep. Stuart Bishop (District 43)

Rep. Ryan Bourriaque (District 47)

Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan (District 45)

Rep. Daryl Deshotel (District 28)

Rep. Phillip DeVillier (District 41)

Rep. Kathy Edmonston (District 88)

Rep. Lance Harris (District 25)

Rep. Valarie Hodges (District 64)

Rep. Jason Hughes (District 100)

Rep. C. Travis Johnson (District 21)

Rep. Chuck Owen (District 30)

Rep. Bob Owen (District 76)

Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn (District 24)

Rep. Chris Turner (District 12)

Rep. Malinda White (District 75)

Rep. 'Zee' Zeringue (District 52)

This year's LABI MVPs, All-Stars, and Honorable Mentions will be honored by the organization's members on November 9, 2023, at its annual Business & Boots: Free Enterprise Awards ceremony alongside other businesses and individuals who have proven their exemplary commitment to their local communities and improving the state's business climate. More information on the LABI Free Enterprise Awards can be found HERE (https://labi.org/events/free-enterprise-awards-and-business-boots/). LABI encourages Louisianans to visit https://labi.org/research/score-card/ for this year's report explaining LABI's 2023 priorities, the outcome of the recent session, descriptions of the bills used in the Scorecard analysis, the individual legislators' session and overall term scores, and the detailed methodology used in arriving at those scores.

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Original text here: https://labi.org/newsroom/press-releases/labi-releases-25th-annual-legislative-scorecard-four-year-term-scores-highlight-a-record-88-champions/