Blueprint Louisiana Supports LSU-S, Tech Merger

[SportTechFan]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012

For more information, please contact:

Jim Harris or Brad Lambert


225-344-0381 office


jharris@hdaissues.com

blambert@hdaissues.com

Blueprint Louisiana Supports LSU-S, Tech Merger

BATON ROUGE — Blueprint Louisiana announces its support for the proposed merger of LSU-Shreveport with Louisiana Tech University under the University of Louisiana System. Two bills in the current regular legislative session provide for the merger, House Bill 964 by State Rep. Jim Fannin and Senate Bill 527 by State Sen. Mike Walsworth.
“The proposed merger of these two campuses is consistent with our previous recommendation to re-organize institutions from a statewide and regional perspective,” said Blueprint Louisiana Chairman Jimmy Maurin, Chairman of Stirling Properties in Covington. “Several North Louisiana leaders and community groups took the initiative to study this idea, and many agree a merger will better serve students, the northern region and the state as a whole.” The merger recommendation was contained in a February 2012 report conducted by higher education consultant, Eva Klein & Associates of Virginia. The extensive, 158-page report was prepared for The Community Foundation of North Louisiana, The Committee of 100 (Shreveport-Bossier), The Shreveport-Bossier Imperative for Higher Education and the Louisiana Board of Regents.
For a merger of higher education institutions to occur, the Louisiana Constitution requires the Board of Regents to study the issue and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, which occurred in late February. Any legislation must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the House of Representatives and State Senate. Established in 2006, Blueprint Louisiana is a citizen-driven effort to identify and implement essential changes to fundamentally improve life and economic opportunity in the state. The group’s original vision for a better Louisiana focused on major governmental reforms in the areas of ethics, education, workforce development, health care, transportation and coastal restoration and hurricane protection. In 2009, it added a “new economy” component (higher education and economic innovation) to its reform agenda. In 2011, it released a list of policy recommendations around the state budget as well as an updated reform agenda. The nonpartisan effort is led and supported by community and business leaders from across the state.

# # #

Related links: www.blueprintlouisiana.org

[DellDawg]

I know this is a good thing. What exactly does this mean?

[SportTechFan]

I know this is a good thing. What exactly does this mean?

see attached FAQ files: SBI - common questions edits3-1-12.pdfConsolidating LaTech and LSUS from good to great - QA#2.pdf

[qng001]

Here is a list of Blueprint Louisiana's supporters.

[champion110]

This is good pressure.

[TechAlum05]

Here's a list of the Blueprint Louisiana Board of Trustees. There are a few familiar people on the list.

http://www.blueprintlouisiana.org/trustees.cfm

[HogDawg]

Here is a list of Blueprint Louisiana's supporters.

That's 30 state reps and 14 state senators. Question: How many state reps and state senators does the state of Louisiana have in total?







HD

[DellDawg]

That's 30 state reps and 14 state senators. Question: How many state reps and state senators does the state of Louisiana have in total?







HD

105 Representatives and 39 Senators according to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisia...te_Legislature

[rebelboi]

when is this supposed to get voted on?

[GermDawg]

105 Representatives and 39 Senators according to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisia...te_Legislature

So assuming that the Blueprint Senators & Reps vote for this, we need another 12 Senators and 40 Reps to get it passed...

Subtract from those numbers the Senators & Reps not listed on Blueprint but have said they are for this (Senators-Buffington & Riser; Reps-Carmody & Fannin)

That leaves 10 Senators & 38 Reps...

[Blue Dawg]

Honestly, I'm not that worked up about this. Do I want it? Hell yea. But if the lsu-supporters shoot it down, well, LSUS's loss, not ours. We'll be fine.

That being said, I'm extremely excited to see some pressure.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Honestly, I'm not that worked up about this. Do I want it? Hell yea. But if the lsu-supporters shoot it down, well, LSUS's loss, not ours. We'll be fine.

That being said, I'm extremely excited to see some pressure.

It will be our loss as this could be huge for us/TECH!!

[GermDawg]

It will be our loss as this could be huge for us/TECH!!

It would be a missed opportunity, more than a huge loss...

I think if it doesn't happen this year, then once the one-lsu movement gets rolling and Lombardi doesn't get rehired after this year the dismantling of the LSU-System will begin and LSUS to Tech will happen...

[Blue Dawg]

I agree that it would be huge, but I don't think it would be that much of a loss, is what I'm saying. GREAT if it happens, but we'll be ok if it doesnt.

[JuBru]

Honestly, I'm not that worked up about this. Do I want it? Hell yea. But if the lsu-supporters shoot it down, well, LSUS's loss, not ours. We'll be fine.

That being said, I'm extremely excited to see some pressure.

LSU supporters are for this. The System, those that will lose their preferential treatment, and those that think they are part of LSU A&M are the ones against it.