Our state and country have endured economic collapse before. When faced with the most uncertain times, there is really only one impactful thing government can do to reboot: put people to work building roads and bridges. All of the unknowns associated with COVID-19 do not change the undeniable truth about investing in roads and bridges.
Tens of thousands of Louisiana workers have lost their jobs due to COVID–19, with the biggest hits coming from the retail, restaurant and hospitality industries. Lawmakers have been busy passing tax bills to provide relief to businesses in Louisiana. The fact is, no amount of tax relief will save a business that has no customers. The same good people who are without work due to COVID-19 could easily be put right back to work rebuilding Louisiana’s broken system of roads and bridges. It would literally take a single act of the legislature to begin restoring our economy.
Building public infrastructure is the one area that Government can create thousands of both direct and indirect jobs. We have been here before, and Government got it right. That’s how we came out of the Great Depression with system of roads and bridges that was the envy of the world.
This crisis may be new, but Government’s role in economic recovery is time tested. Let’s join together to do what works. Let’s rebuild Louisiana now and reap the benefits for decades to come. #FixLARoads