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In 1989, however, Steimel and Bussie united to support Republican John S. Treen, older brother of former Governor [[David C. Treen]], in a [[special election]] for the District 81 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, vacated by Charles Cusimano, who became a state district judge. Treen narrowly lost the race to [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former grand wizard of the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Duke later ran for the [[U.S. Senate]] and for governor in consecutive years in races which seemed to hamper the growth of the state Republican Party.​

In 1989, however, Steimel and Bussie united to support Republican John S. Treen, older brother of former Governor [[David C. Treen]], in a [[special election]] for the District 81 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, vacated by Charles Cusimano, who became a state district judge. Treen narrowly lost the race to [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former grand wizard of the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Duke later ran for the [[U.S. Senate]] and for governor in consecutive years in races which seemed to hamper the growth of the state Republican Party.​

 

In 1982, Steimel voiced immediate opposition to Governor Treen's proposed $450 million Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy tax on petroleum and natural gas and did so without even consulting his own board.<ref>"Steimel makes faux pas," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 10, 1982, p. 3.</ref> Opposed by LABI and many conservative lawmakers, such as Benjamin Franklin O'Neal, Jr., of [[Shreveport]] and [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, CWEL was defeated in the Louisiana House, where it failed to obtain the two-thirds majority required for taxes.<ref>"CWEL defeated in House vote," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 18, 1982, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1982, Steimel voiced immediate opposition to Governor Treen's proposed $450 million Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy tax on petroleum and natural gas and did so without even consulting his own board.<ref>"Steimel makes faux pas," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 10, 1982, p. 3.</ref> Opposed by LABI and many conservative lawmakers, such as Benjamin Franklin O'Neal, Jr., of [[Shreveport]] and [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, CWEL was defeated in the Louisiana House, where it failed to obtain the two-thirds majority required for taxes.<ref>"CWEL defeated in House vote," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 18, 1982, p. 1.</ref>​

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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>​

 

In the summer of 1987, Steimel endorsed a $30 million reduction in unemployment compensation payments. At the time Louisiana employers owed $1 billion to the unemployment fund, a situation Steimel termed another major deterrent to economic growth and a contributing factor to the high rate of unemployment in the state, which was 12.5 percent in 1986.<ref>"Sixth time in '86, LA No. 1 in joblessness," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 28, 1986, p. 1.</ref> According to Steimel, Louisiana employers were then paying $234 more per year per employee into the unemployment fund than were employers in competing southern states. The reduction approved by the legislature brought Louisiana in line with unemployment payments made by employers in neighboring states.<ref>"A breather for business," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 5, 1987, p. 2.</ref>​

In the summer of 1987, Steimel endorsed a $30 million reduction in unemployment compensation payments. At the time Louisiana employers owed $1 billion to the unemployment fund, a situation Steimel termed another major deterrent to economic growth and a contributing factor to the high rate of unemployment in the state, which was 12.5 percent in 1986.<ref>"Sixth time in '86, LA No. 1 in joblessness," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 28, 1986, p. 1.</ref> According to Steimel, Louisiana employers were then paying $234 more per year per employee into the unemployment fund than were employers in competing southern states. The reduction approved by the legislature brought Louisiana in line with unemployment payments made by employers in neighboring states.<ref>"A breather for business," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 5, 1987, p. 2.</ref>​

 

Steimel blamed environmental problems not on business but poor public policies regarding solid waste disposal and sewage treatment. He cited [[pesticide]] runoff from the American Midwest as a major pollutant of streams in Louisiana. Steimel once cited the cartoon character Pogo by Walt Kelly that, in reference to the environment, "the enemy is us."<ref>"The environmental enemy is us," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 3, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

Steimel blamed environmental problems not on business but poor public policies regarding solid waste disposal and sewage treatment. He cited [[pesticide]] runoff from the American Midwest as a major pollutant of streams in Louisiana. Steimel once cited the cartoon character Pogo by Walt Kelly that, in reference to the environment, "the enemy is us."<ref>"The environmental enemy is us," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 3, 1988, p. 1.</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 Gail Doerge (1935-1998), 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 Gail Doerge (1935-1998), 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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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.

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.

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==Later years==​

==Later year==

 

From 1989 to 2006, Steimel was the director of development of the [[Louisiana State University]] College of Engineering. During his tenure in that position, Steimel worked to obtain more than $58 million in private funds from industry and alumni. Through his efforts, LSU gained more than 50 scholarships, 106 professorships, and 15 special chairs.<ref name=steimel>{{cite web|url=https://archive.is/20130626180748/http://www.eng.lsu.edu/news/2006/7/ed-steimel-engineering-development-director-retires/|title="Ed Steimel, Engineering Development Director, Retires"|date=July 6, 2006|publisher=Eng.lsu.edu|accessdate=May 14, 2013|}}</ref>​

From 1989 to 2006, Steimel was the director of development of the [[Louisiana State University]] College of Engineering. During his tenure in that position, Steimel worked to obtain more than $58 million in private funds from industry and alumni. Through his efforts, LSU gained more than 50 scholarships, 106 professorships, and 15 special chairs.<ref name=steimel>{{cite web|url=https://archive.is/20130626180748/http://www.eng.lsu.edu/news/2006/7/ed-steimel-engineering-development-director-retires/|title="Ed Steimel, Engineering Development Director, Retires"|date=July 6, 2006|publisher=Eng.lsu.edu|accessdate=May 14, 2013|}}</ref>​

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