The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is considering two prominent allies of Gov. Bobby Jindal to head the powerful business lobby. According to The Baton Rouge Business Report, LABI's top contenders for the job include former House Speaker Jim Tucker of New Orleans and former Jindal Chief of Staff Stephen Waguespack. Current LABI President Dan Juneau will retire...
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is considering two prominent allies of Gov. Bobby Jindal to head the powerful business lobby. According to The Baton Rouge Business Report, LABI's top contenders for the job include former House Speaker Jim Tucker of New Orleans and former Jindal Chief of Staff Stephen Waguespack.
Current LABI President Dan Juneau will retire at the end of 2013, but the board could choose his successor as early as September, The Business Report said, citing unnamed sources. A third candidate has also been interviewed.
Dan Juneau, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, will retire at the end of the year. Former House Speaker Jim Tucker and ex-Jindal staffer Stephen Waguespack are possible replacements, media reports say. Calls to Tucker and Waguespack on Friday were not immediately returned.
LABI, a powerful force in Louisiana politics who can make or break a policy decision with its support or opposition, has historically supported the governor in his efforts to expand incentives for business growth and development.
The group supported Jindal's major education overhaul and changes to the retirement system for state workers -- both of which were ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court -- but came out against the governor's plan this year to scrap the state's income tax and replace it with a higher, broader sales tax.
Juneau has been the head of the group since 1989. LABI is one of the most influential lobbying groups in the state and represents roughly 3,200 firms, with a majority of its funding coming from small businesses.