Public Affairs Research Council Of Louisiana

From Sunshine Review

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) corporation that researches and creates solutions to critical public issues in Louisiana and focuses public attention towards these solutions. Also known as PAR, the council views itself as a government watchdog. The council has existed for over 50 years and it extensively researches Louisiana state and local government and monitors reforms and reminds public officials of promises made.^[1] The Public Affairs and Research Council of Louisiana is governed by the following Board of Directors and managed by the following staff members.

Board of Directors^[2]

• Chairman: David Eustis: Whitney National Bank - New Orleans
• Vice Chairman: Donna M. Saurage: Civic Activist - Baton Rouge
• Treasurer: R Hunter Pierson: Pierson Investments - New Orleans
• Secretary: Gordon A. Pugh: Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson L.L.P. - Baton Rouge

Staff^[3]

• President: James C. Brandt
• Research Analyst and Staff Attorney: Ann W. Heath
• Director of Development: Susan Mintz Kantrow
• Office Manager: Julie Mascarella
• Research Director: Jennifer Pike
• Special Projects Manager: Karen Rowley

Contents 1 Policy Positions 2 Current Projects 3 Funding 4 Awards 5 References

[edit] Policy Positions

• State Budget Reform: PAR has been a leading advocate of spending reform in Louisiana government. Many of PAR's recommended reforms have been enacted including:
  • Limits on Future State Debt
  • Requiring feasibility studies prior to financing construction projects
  • Consensus revenue forecasting;
  • Creation of an independent legislative fiscal staff;
  • Creation of the legislative auditor's office;
  • A balanced state budget requirement;
  • Creation of a mineral stabilization trust fund and "rainy day" provision, and
  • Limits on state spending growth.

• Public Education Reforms: PAR had emphasized K-12 Education and Vocational education reforms. enacted reforms include:
  • Creation of the Quality Education Trust Fund (8g);
  • An appointed state superintendent of education;
  • Modernization of vo-tech facilities;
  • Four-year concurrent terms for the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and local school boards;
  • Initiation of school progress reports, and
  • Tighter controls on the Quality Education Trust Fund with limits on administrative costs.

• Other Governmental Reforms that have resulted from PAR research include:
  • Reorganization of state government;
  • The new state constitution;
  • Actuarially sound funding of public retirement systems;
  • Investment of idle state cash;
  • A single ethics board with power to initiate investigations;
  • A campaign finance reporting and prohibitions law;
  • Strong open meetings and public records laws;
  • Curbing of dual office holding;
  • Equitable reapportionment of the Legislature into single-member districts;
  • Comprehensive capital budgeting, and
  • A single, expert agency to issue state bonds.

• Par also strongly supports Citizen and Voter Education. They have created several guides to achieve this;
  • Guide to the Proposed Constitutional Amendments, published prior to every election on amendments;
  • Citizen's Guide to the Louisiana Legislature, published every four years, with annual updates;
  • Citizen's Rights Card (guide to the open meetings and public records laws), updated as needed.^[4]

[edit] Current Projects

PAR currently is working on several accountability and reform projects including "A Close-Up on Educational Accountability, A series on Louisiana Sunshine Laws, and PAR Says Bidget Needs a Reality Check. ^[5][6]

[edit] Funding

PAR is funded mostly by members. Yearly membership dues begin at $100 and the council has over 3,000 members. 65% of PAR's funding comes from members, 20% from special research grants from foundations, 8% from special event revenue and 7% from investment income. ^[7]

[edit] Awards

The Government Research Association recently granted the organization three national awards for their work on:^[8]

1. Questioning Candidates Beyond the Platitudes, Most Effective Education, state-level winner.
2. Spending Federal Disaster Aid, Most Distinguished Research, certificate of merit.
3. PAR Research in Governmental Ethics and Transparency Yields Reforms, Outstanding Policy Achievement, certificate of merit.

[edit] References

1. ↑ What is PAR
2. ↑ Board of Directors
3. ↑ Staff
4. ↑ PAR Accomplishments
5. ↑ Highlights
6. ↑ PAR Publications
7. ↑ FAQ
8. ↑ Shreveport Times, Watchdog group wins national awards, August 16, 2008

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