Landry: State's successes the 'greatest story that has yet to be told'
LegisGator is the largest legislative event in the state. Hosted each year to bring constituents, state and federal representatives together in the same room, the luncheon serves as an opportunity for lawmakers to update community members on state and federal actions directly.
This year several state leaders attended the luncheon, including U.S Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and Gov. Jeff Landry.
This was not the first LegisGator for these government leaders, but it was for Chamber of Southwest Louisiana President Scott Walker. He opened the luncheon by speaking on how the region is 'on the cusp' of dynamic change.
He stepped into the role of president about six months ago. In that time, he has recognized Southwest Louisiana as an adaptive region 'built on energy, industry and grit' that 'pulls together to get things done.'
'We are shaping and innovating the future of energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense,' he said. 'I see us creating opportunity here, right here in Southwest Louisiana. We can create opportunity here for companies, for workers, for families and for our communities.'
For Landry, LegisGator was an 18-month check-in.
More than a year into his term. Louisiana has been gradually moving up the ranks in surveys, with the state jumping up in nationwide rankings, he said. This is in addition to statewide increases in job opportunities, new business interests and an impending industrial boom, he said.
Louisiana has reached a historic level of economic activity, Landry said. There is $70 billion in private investment planned throughout the state — from the $10 million AI data center being built in Richland Parish to the several carbon-capture projects that have been proposed in Louisiana.
Among that growth, he called Southwest Louisiana one of the 'bright, shining spots' in Louisiana. With investments like the LNG Center of Excellence and the I-10-Calcasieu River Bridge Project, the region is keeping up with the state's momentum.
These steps taken towards a more diversified economy are thanks to 'one of the most cohesive congressional delegations,' he said.
One of those delegates is Cassidy, who is finishing his second term as a U.S. Senator.
Working to better the state and country is his 'higher purpose,' he said.
'If I'm only living for myself, what's the worth of living? But if I'm waking up and thinking about how do I work and win for the people of Louisiana and the people of the United States of America, I got a spring in my step.'
He spoke to a few of the feathers he has in his legislative cap. He worked to help secure the $11 billion Louisiana infrastructure that came with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which includes $150 million for the Calcasieu River Bridge and 'hundreds of millions of dollars' for flood mitigation and coastal restoration.
Kennedy said he believes the state's future can be better than its past and present, but will take hard work and self-sufficiency.
'We're only as good as our dreams. We shouldn't fear our future when we ought to grab hold of it. I'm not going to bubble wrap. No one's coming to save us but ourselves, folks. And in Washington, D.C., the water is not going to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek.'
Louisiana's present is the 'greatest story that no one in this state is writing about,' Landry said.
'Over the past 18 months, we have actually been able to assemble that critical mass of people who want to put aside the selfish part of politics and are hell-bent on changing the state,' he said. 'We are no longer the laughingstock of the South. Louisiana, for once in a lifetime, is poised to take its place as a leader in a new industrial South. And if you don't believe me, just go look up Google.'
He urged residents to get 'past the gaslighting that people like to do that divides us' and have 'faith in those that we have elected to change the state.'
'While we have waited, I want you to know, we don't wait anymore. Today, the world gets to see us as who we are. … As the people who get to share a culture of hard work and humility,' he said. 'And whether they write this story today, or not, today we are living in the greatest story that has yet to be told.'
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