By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
Governor Jeff Landry addressed the Rotary Club of Shreveport on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Shreveport Convention Center, emphasizing the critical importance of the upcoming March 29 election and its potential to shape Louisiana’s future.
During his speech, Gov. Landry told attendees that the election would mark a turning point for the state, placing Louisiana’s future firmly in the hands of its citizens.
“You will look back and you will say that is the day that Louisiana got it right,” Landry said. “That is the day where we entrusted our legislature and our Governor with the tools necessary to not only compete in a new industrial South but to lead it.”
Landry pointed to $50 billion worth of construction projects planned by this summer as evidence of Louisiana’s forward momentum, but stressed that voter support is essential to maintaining and expanding economic growth.
A key focus of Landry’s address was Constitutional Amendment 2, which he argued is necessary to avoid financial instability in the state’s budget. He warned that if the amendment fails, Louisiana could be forced to cut funding for education and healthcare, leading to major disruptions.
“If you really want us to work on things like insurance reform and infrastructure programs, then we need the bandwidth to be able to do that,” Landry explained. “If that amendment fails, it’s going to really cause a lot of turmoil inside of our budget.”
The governor also highlighted economic development efforts, including Meta’s AI data center in Northeast Louisiana, which he called a game-changer for the state’s economy. He stressed the importance of insurance reform, saying the legislature is working to give the insurance commissioner more power to lower rates for Louisiana residents.
“We keep making changes that the insurance companies say save them money… but yet none of that is being driven down to the policyholder,” Landry said. “I mean, those are the facts.”
As the March 29 election approaches, Landry urged Louisianans to vote in favor of the amendments, particularly Amendment 2, warning that failing to pass them could halt progress on key issues like teacher pay raises, tax reductions, and government spending limits.
“These companies that have invested in Louisiana have hedged a bet that the people of Louisiana are smart enough to recognize that change,” Landry said. “We’ll see on Saturday if they are.”
The Shreveport Rotary Club address was Gov. Landry’s third stop of the day. Earlier, he spoke at the Louisiana Christian University in Pineville and later attended a Juvenile Center Announcement in Alexandria.