As a mother, engineer, and state senator, I’ve spent decades solving problems. I learned a long time ago that to find the root cause of a problem you convene the experts, analyze the data, and evaluate your options. But more importantly, to deploy smart, reasoned solutions you need a blueprint. Using my engineering training, business expertise and legislative experience, I will approach Louisiana’s complex challenges in the same way I streamlined processes at Shell that drove the company to becoming the most competitive company in the industry and just as I have enacted common-sense legislation to re-position Louisiana for success.
The Hewitt Blueprint is my plan for prioritizing the people, businesses and industries that drive Louisiana’s economy and removing the barriers that hold Louisiana back from leading the South in jobs, education, and quality of life. I will challenge “sacred cows,” prioritize Louisiana’s core values, cut taxes, grow our economy, and create more opportunity across Louisiana for every citizen.
As your Governor, I will unleash Louisiana’s economy to flourish, end the out-migration of our people and provide for the hard-working men and women of Louisiana. By implementing the Hewitt Blueprint, we will give citizens a reason to stay in Louisiana, rather than reasons to leave Louisiana.
I believe that a great education is the silver bullet that changes people’s lives. Education opens the door of opportunity, overcomes poverty, and gives our students a strong path to success. Currently, half of our third-graders are reading below grade level. As Governor, I will have our K-3 students reading at or above grade level in my first term by building on the work I began through SB222 in 2021.
From healthcare companies to technology companies, whether they are large corporations or family-owned businesses, everyone is struggling to find people who want to work. Our workforce participation rate in Louisiana is one of the lowest in the country. Let’s stop the brain-drain and give our students and young adults a reason to stay in Louisiana, with multiple pathways to success.
Insurance isn’t higher in Louisiana just because we have more hurricanes than other states. Insurance costs are high because our regulations and litigious environment are a deterrent to businesses wanting to work here. Sharon has already pushed for changes in the status quo to attract more companies to our state.
One of the best ways to ignite the economy is to build things. Louisiana has an $18B backlog of roads, bridges, ports, and airports that need to be built, upgraded, repaved, or expanded and our roads are rated a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers. We have lots of work to do. I will maximize transportation funding by instituting operational efficiencies and prioritizing critical need areas. And I will protect our state’s working coastline and support investments and policies that enable us to build back smarter and stronger for our state’s long-term resiliency.
