Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards held a roundtable in Houma, LA with business leaders from the region to discuss the state’s budget and the looming fiscal cliff. The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss opportunities for Louisiana’s business leaders to offer input into ways the state can stabilize the budget for the long-term and solve the more than $1 billion budget shortfall that exists beginning on July 1, 2018. As part of his meetings, Gov. Edwards is also convening local elected officials to solicit input in this process.

“The fiscal cliff is quickly approaching, and my administration and I are doing everything possible to solicit input from broad group of stakeholders across the entire state,” said Gov. Edwards.  “These meetings have been extremely productive, and I appreciate everyone’s willingness to offer suggestions on the best ways to stabilize the budget and promote economic growth and job creation.  Since I have taken office, we have already made some very difficult choices, cutting some $600 million in spending, but we need to finish the job now.  It’s going to take input from everyone. It’s going to require hard choices, but if we can all come together to make the bold changes our state needs, Louisiana will come out of this stronger than ever.”

Last month, Gov. Edwards convened a meeting with business leaders from across the entire state to discuss their ideas.  In addition to his meeting in Houma, this week, Gov. Edwards will meet with business leaders in Alexandria, as well as local elected officials.  Next week, Gov. Edwards will travel to New Orleans and Shreveport for regional meetings with business leaders.  He will meet separately with local elected officials as well. 

Attending today’s meeting with Gov. Edwards were:

David Rabalais
Port of Terrebonne

Marguerite Knight    
Morgan Stanley

Cody Blanchard        
Whitecar Marketing

Jake Giardina            
Acadia Plantation

Chuck Borque          
St. Martin and Bourque

Dr. Raja Talluri        
St. Joseph Medical Clinic

Mark Folse
Coastal Commerce

Vic LaFont
South Louisiana Economic Council

William Eroche
Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick

Clarence Williams
Gulf Coast Labor

Phyllis Peoples
Terrebonne General Medical Center

Davie Breaux
Greater Lafourche Port Commission 

Matt Rookard
Terrebonne Economic Development Authority

Michael LaRussa
LaRussa Real Estate

Dustin Malborough
GIS Engineering, LLC

Chris Vordick
Hunting Energy Services

Robert LeBlanc
Mason Gulf LLC

JJ Buquet
Buquet Distributing

Hank Danos
Danos Company

Hank Babin
Login Babin Realtors

Mark Hepburn
Sontheimer Offshore

Robert Clempons
SeaCor

Mike Barker
Barker GMC

Billy Coyle
Bilcotools

Jared Toups
Oilstates

Chad Hebert
Work Logistics

Nick Hebert
Quality Energy

Donald Barrilleaux  
First American Bank 

David Duplantis      
Duplantis Engineers

Oneil Marlbrough    
Grand Isle Shipyard

Cindy Cutrera
Port of Morgan City