re: ExxonMobil withdraws ITEP requests, future Baton Rouge expansion in question

City of St. George loves Exxon.

quote:

---

This gives local government more control over which industries they attract and the power to reward businesses that contribute more to the local economy.

---

The government should not be picking winners and losers. It should be a fair system. Not one ripe for corruption and cronyism.

quote:

---

City of St. George loves Exxon.

---

If in fact there becomes a city of St George it loses as much as BR if Exxon decides to halt expansion.

quote:

---

This is about more than that small amount of money. They probably see the direction of the city and the leadership.

---

Too bad places like BR Business Report didn't see this coming.

quote:

---

His Master’s Degree is in Social Policy


Well, obviously much better credentials on this topic than a preeminent PhD economist. Maybe he should go back and help those blokes with Brexit

---

He wouldn't be the first policy wonk to flout London School of Economics as if he's an economist but really has a one year masters in something else.

TBR would have us all in a modern day share cropping alternative of some farmer co-op than a real job. What they sell is no different than the lottery - dreams.

quote:

---

FWIW, Broderick Baggert (of TBR fame) has a Masters degree from London School of Economics. Does that make him an expert too?

---

FWIW this is not as good of answer as you think it is.

quote:

---

What a dumb post

---

Overall pretty good discussion though, except for a few jackass comments.

If he had any degree in economics then he would realize that increasing the GDP of an area is the only way to truly improve the standard of living. If you can 1 democracy/republic that has a higher per capita gdp than Louisiana and is worse off. Teachers are paid less, students are given worse educational opportunities, economic situations are worse, etc....
I would bet Broderick can’t even tell you the formula for figuring out a regions gdp.

While I understand the frustration from these two reps... returning it to state control is a HUGE mistake.

We should continue to focus on removing local decisions from state control. We should be continuing to remove state influence and the size of state government.

The state should not be giving out local property tax exemptions.

This is another example of so-called "GOP" legislators wanting to further the Huey P style of big state government.

What these two reps should be doing is working on getting pressure on these school board members, and looking for people to run against them in the next election.

Also...

quote:

---

The school board rejected the requests, saying the property tax exemptions in question were for projects the oil and gas giant had already completed.

---

I don't think this is getting enough play. The school board thinks that gave them leverage, but they are ignoring that XOM has leverage in the form of placing future projects. But before everyone freaks out, I'd like a company to toss a new ITEP project before the school board and see how they vote.

quote:

---

Letting a school board have the first say in determining if multi-billion dollar projects locate in your parish is an equally, if not worse, mistake.

---

1) They don't have the "first say". The state must approve the application first.

2) There are multiple jurisdictions that have to vote on whether to grant ITEP for the taxes they charge. EBRSB just happened to be the first to cast votes on this one.

3) The school board should be the final decision-maker on the taxes that they actually assess and collect.

Do you think an unelected board of DC bureaucrats should be able to tell Louisiana what it can charge and what exemptions it must grant? Because that would be the same as this.