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In 1970, PAR director Steimel questioned why Louisiana voters "seem to have an unusually high tolerance for abuse of public office" as well as a proclivity toward [[gambling]]. He specifically criticized the existence of pinball machines which he claimed attract primarily the young and the poor: "Very few rich people ever play the pinball machine."<ref name=ejsmph>"Steimel Says State People Have Tolerance for Abuse," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 21, 1970, p. 1.</ref> At the time, Steimel found that Louisiana had an "inadequate supply of highly skilled labor." He questioned economic policies of the Louisiana legislature, which in 1970 raised [[sales tax]]es from 2 to 3 cents per dollar to fund increases in teacher pay.<ref name=ejsmph/>​

In 1970, PAR director Steimel questioned why Louisiana voters "seem to have an unusually high tolerance for abuse of public office" as well as a proclivity toward [[gambling]]. He specifically criticized the existence of pinball machines which he claimed attract primarily the young and the poor: "Very few rich people ever play the pinball machine."<ref name=ejsmph>"Steimel Says State People Have Tolerance for Abuse," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 21, 1970, p. 1.</ref> At the time, Steimel found that Louisiana had an "inadequate supply of highly skilled labor." He questioned economic policies of the Louisiana legislature, which in 1970 raised [[sales tax]]es from 2 to 3 cents per dollar to fund increases in teacher pay.<ref name=ejsmph/>​

 

In 1974, Steimel advanced arguments both pro and con in regard to the new Louisiana Constitution approved by voters. [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]] took Steimel's negative points to mean that Steimel really opposed the Constitution. Edwards called Steimel "a carpetbagger from Arkansas."<ref>"PAR Director Here as Lions Speaker," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 10, 1974, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1974, Steimel advanced arguments both pro and con in regard to the new Louisiana Constitution approved by voters. [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]] took Steimel's negative points to mean that Steimel really opposed the Constitution. Edward termed Steimel "a carpetbagger from Arkansas."<ref>"PAR Director Here as Lions Speaker," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 10, 1974, p. 1.</ref>

 

In 1986, Steimel declared Governor Edwin Edwards' proposal to legalize casino gambling, which was eventually enacted, "crazy" and likened the issue to a tax plan advanced in 1959 by then Governor [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], who was for a time confined to a mental institution when questions arose about his fitness to serve in office. Steimel said that gambling would never produce the 100,000 jobs and $250 million in state revenues that Edwards had forecast.<ref>"Steimel calls gambling 'crazy,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 21, 1986, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1986, Steimel declared Governor Edwin Edwards' proposal to legalize casino gambling, which was eventually enacted, "crazy" and likened the issue to a tax plan advanced in 1959 by then Governor [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], who was for a time confined to a mental institution when questions arose about his fitness to serve in office. Steimel said that gambling would never produce the 100,000 jobs and $250 million in state revenues that Edwards had forecast.<ref>"Steimel calls gambling 'crazy,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 21, 1986, p. 1.</ref>​

 

In 1972, Steimel challenged the large fees received by inheritance tax attorneys in Louisiana and instead proposed that the office of the state revenue collector handle such matters. Steimel proposed that the state establish a combination of sales, [[income tax|income]], and [[property tax|property]] taxes to replace its past reliance on [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] levies, which began to decline as a share of state revenues in the early 1970s.<ref>"Mandate for Change: PAR Meeting Theme," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 7, 1972, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1972, Steimel challenged the large fees received by inheritance tax attorneys in Louisiana and instead proposed that the office of he state revenue collector handle such matters. Steimel proposed that the state establish a combination of sales, [[income tax|income]], and [[property tax|property]] taxes to replace its past reliance on [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] levies, which began to decline as a share of state revenues in the early 1970s.<ref>"Mandate for Change: PAR Meeting Theme," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 7, 1972, p. 1.</ref>​

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Jim Brandt, a former PAR executive director, said that Steimel took the formerly small organization and "built it into a statewide powerhouse. He went on to LABI and did the same there."<ref name=bra/>​

Jim Brandt, a former PAR executive director, said that Steimel took the formerly small organization and "built it into a statewide powerhouse. He went on to LABI and did the same there."<ref name=bra/>​