Changes

==Syndicated columnist==

==Syndicated columnist==

Late in 1986, in his syndicated newspaper column, Steimel declared the Louisiana tax burden the principal reason that the state has not sufficiently expanded its employment base.<ref>"'Business Can't Stand More Tax', Says Steimel," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 23, 1986, p. 2A.</ref>​

Late in 1986, in his syndicated newspaper column, Steimel declared the Louisiana tax burden the principal reason that the state has not sufficiently expanded its employment base.<ref>"'Business Can't Stand More Tax,' Says Steimel," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 23, 1986, p. 2A.</ref>​

In 1987, Steimel announced opposition to mandatory [[collective bargaining]] for Louisiana teachers, a process which he maintained would remove the role of the public from the negotiation of educational labor contracts. Collective bargaining is voluntary on the part of each school district within Louisiana. Steimel voiced support for teacher salary increases<ref>"LA at bottom of teacher pay list," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 30, 1986, p. 1.</ref> but opposed other demands from the teacher associations.<ref>"Steimel blasts Tauzin's stand on teacher unions," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 22, 1987.</ref>​

In 1987, Steimel announced opposition to mandatory [[collective bargaining]] for Louisiana teachers, a process which he maintained would remove the role of the public from the negotiation of educational labor contracts. Collective bargaining is voluntary on the part of each school district within Louisiana. Steimel voiced support for teacher salary increases<ref>"LA at bottom of teacher pay list," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 30, 1986, p. 1.</ref> but opposed other demands from the teacher associations.<ref>"Steimel blasts Tauzin's stand on teacher unions," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 22, 1987.</ref>​

Steimel encouraged the Democrat-turned-Republican [[Jock Scott]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], an outgoing member of the state House, to run in 1987 for the state Senate, a position which Scott subsequently lost to the Democrat businessman  [[Joe McPherson]] of  Rapides Parish, who held the Senate seat until 2012. One of the lawmakers generally supportive of LABI, [[Ron Gomez]], a Democrat from [[Lafayette]], in 1986 secured the "Most Valuable Player to Business" designation. Despite his pro-business voting record, Gomez had criticized Steimel for unproductive negativity toward the state's educational structure.<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron, And I Am a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative,'' [[Lafayette]], Louisiana: Zemog Publishing, 2000, p. 165.</ref>​

Steimel encouraged the Democrat-turned-Republican [[Jock Scott]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], an outgoing member of the state House, to run in 1987 for the state Senate, a position which Scott subsequently lost to the Democrat businessman  [[Joe McPherson]] of  Rapides Parish, who held the Senate seat until 2012. One of the lawmakers generally supportive of LABI, [[Ron Gomez]], a Democrat from [[Lafayette]], in 1986 secured the "Most Valuable Player to Business" designation. Despite his pro-business voting record, Gomez had criticized Steimel for unproductive negativity toward the state's educational structure.<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron, And I Am a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative,'' [[Lafayette]], Louisiana: Zemog Publishing, 2000, p. 165.</ref>​

[[Everett Doerge]], an assistant superintendent of schools in  Webster Parish in north Louisiana and later a Democratic member of the Louisiana House, accused Steimel and LABI of seeking to "destroy" public education. In a 1987 reply letter to Doerge published by ''The Minden Press-Herald,'' Steimel described the veteran educator as "a perfect example of why we can never change our present [educational] system. ...[His] reaction and behavior we have come to expect from many in the educational establishment who are more interested in protecting the status quo and jobs, rather than educating children".<ref>Edward J. Steimel, "In response to Everett Doerge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 7, 1987, p. 2A.</ref>​

[[Everett Doerge]], an assistant superintendent of schools in  Webster Parish in north Louisiana and later a Democratic member of the Louisiana House, accused Steimel and LABI of seeking to "destroy" public education. In a 1987 reply letter to Doerge published by the ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' Steimel described the veteran educator as "a perfect example of why we can never change our present [educational] system. ...[His] reaction and behavior we have come to expect from many in the educational establishment who are more interested in protecting the status quo and jobs, rather than educating children".<ref>Edward J. Steimel, "In response to Everett Doerge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 7, 1987, p. 2A.</ref>​

In one of his 1988 columns, Steimel aimed his pen at the [[United States Congress]] and the [[liberal]] majority elected in 1986 in the last two years of the administration of [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Steimel objected to an increase in the [[minimum wage]], a measure which he said would "wreak havoc  with the very individuals it is designed to help most -- new entrants into the work force and new minority workers in particular." He called the 1988 legislative session the "John Galt Congress", borrowing from [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]],'' in which uninformed people merely shrug their shoulders and ask "Who is John Galt"?" whenever they are questioned about the grip of expanded government on their lives and liberty.<ref>"The John Galt Congress," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 10, 1988, p. 2.</ref> A few days later, Steimel wrote that in the United States "political power usually gravitates to where public money is most available. ... We need our own money spent in our own community for things we need or want to improve our quality of life."<ref>"Your responsibility," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 16, 1988, p. 2.</ref>​

In one of his 1988 columns, Steimel aimed his pen at the [[United States Congress]] and the [[liberal]] majority elected in 1986 in the last two years of the administration of [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Steimel objected to an increase in the [[minimum wage]], a measure which he said would "wreak havoc  with the very individuals it is designed to help most -- new entrants into the work force and new minority workers in particular." He called the 1988 legislative session the "John Galt Congress", borrowing from [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]],'' in which uninformed people merely shrug their shoulders and ask "Who is John Galt"?" whenever they are questioned about the grip of expanded government on their lives and liberty.<ref>"The John Galt Congress," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 10, 1988, p. 2.</ref> A few days later, Steimel wrote that in the United States "political power usually gravitates to where public money is most available. ... We need our own money spent in our own community for things we need or want to improve our quality of life."<ref>"Your responsibility," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 16, 1988, p. 2.</ref>​

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LABI was headed from 1989 to 2013 by the executive director, Daniel Leo "Dan" Juneau (born June 1946), a [[Libertarian]]. Stephen Michael Waguespack (born February 1974) of Baton Rouge succeeded Juneau as executive director. A Republican, Waguespack was formerly the chief of staff to then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130906/BUSINESS/130906013/Former-Jindal-aide-Waguespack-named-head-Louisiana-business-group|title=Former Jindal aide Waguespack named head of Louisiana business group|date=September 6, 2013|publisher=''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]''|accessdate=September 7, 2013|url=https://archive.is/20130907122755/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130906/BUSINESS/130906013/Former-Jindal-aide-Waguespack-named-head-Louisiana-business-group|accessdate=September 7, 2013}}</ref>​ The LABI address is 3113 Valley Creek Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70898–0258.

LABI was headed from 1989 to 2013 by the executive director, Daniel Leo "Dan" Juneau (born June 1946), a [[Libertarian]]. Stephen Michael Waguespack (born February 1974) of Baton Rouge succeeded Juneau as executive director. A [[Moderate Republican]], Waguespack was formerly the chief of staff to then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130906/BUSINESS/130906013/Former-Jindal-aide-Waguespack-named-head-Louisiana-business-group|title=Former Jindal aide Waguespack named head of Louisiana business group|date=September 6, 2013|publisher=''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]''|accessdate=September 7, 2013|url=https://archive.is/20130907122755/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130906/BUSINESS/130906013/Former-Jindal-aide-Waguespack-named-head-Louisiana-business-group|accessdate=September 7, 2013}}</ref>​ The LABI address is 3113 Valley Creek Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70898–0258.

==Later year==

==Later year==