Making the Grade Overall, voters in Louisiana at the end of 1997 are feeling somewhat more positive about those elected to serve in state government and the actions they have taken while in office. But when asked to think of themselves as teachers and give the Legislature and state elected officials a grade based on their performance, they remain cautious. This small degree of improvement suggests voters continue to look for results. While this may be disheartening to some, there is also encouraging news. The performance ratings tracked by The People's Agenda since 1994 are better than at that time.
Voters are slow to award high marks and cautious about where to place their trust.
Notable Actions in 1997 The People's Agenda issues, although generally identified in broad terms, encompass a number of narrower, specific areas of concern that demand short-term actions. If approved by voters in 1998 it will allow the state to save money when times are good, for use during more difficult economic times. Unfortunately they did not save any money for the trust fund, raising concerns about the lack of planning for the future when the state experiences economic downturns. The Legislature and governor missed, however, an opportunity to give the Regents the fiscal authority it needs to ensure that its policy initiatives are carried out. This program pays student tuition fees to Louisiana, universities, community and technical colleges for high school graduates with moderately good grades.