For more than 60 years CABL has been a leader in developing, promoting, and protecting policies to move Louisiana forward. Today we are announcing a brand new chapter in that long history that sets the stage for an even more dynamic future.

CABL is merging with the Committee of 100 for Economic Development to form a new organization called Leaders for a Better Louisiana, or Better Louisiana, for short. Better Louisiana will combine CABL’s longstanding commitment to education, policy advocacy, and leadership development with the influential business leadership of C100.

Why did we do this? The reason was simple. Both of our organizations were looking for ways to have a greater impact on our state. We thought the best way to do that was to do it together.

CABL has a long history of work on education, workforce development, state fiscal policies, and government accountability. C100 has been an influential roundtable of business executives who share our passion for moving Louisiana forward. Through Better Louisiana we believe we can do even more to position our state for a brighter future.

CABL and C100 already have a successful track record of working together on major policy issues. The most notable example is our effective collaboration with the Public Affairs Research Council on our RESET Louisiana initiative. That effort led to the creation of a policy framework for the 2023 state elections that produced a 40-page game plan with 55 recommendations addressing many of Louisiana’s most pressing problems.

We believe this merger will allow CABL and C100 to build on that type of work while preserving the legacies of both organizations and enhancing our ability to create lasting change.

Of course, Leadership Louisiana has been a signature part of CABL’s work and that will remain the same with the new organization. We will continue to bring together great leaders from around our state just as we’ve been doing for more than 35 years. The good news is that through this merger we believe we will be able to do even more to enhance the program and support our 1,600-plus alumni.

The leadership of both organizations will remain part of Better Louisiana. Adam Knapp, the CEO of C100, will serve as CEO of Better Louisiana. Barry Erwin from CABL will serve as Chief Policy Officer.

CABL Legacy

As CABL begins a new chapter in its long history, it leaves a lasting legacy that has had a significant impact on our state.

CABL was formed in 1962 by a group of committed citizens from across Louisiana who aspired to the words they put in the organization’s name, “a better Louisiana.” Many of the issues they were concerned about back then still challenge us today, but there is no question that CABL’s work has led to tremendous progress on all of them.

In the early years that included things like enacting the state’s first code of governmental ethics, putting in place much-needed fiscal policy reforms, and the reorganization of the governance of K-12 and higher education.

As times changed, CABL changed. While it continued to work on major public policy initiatives, it also became more involved in being a catalyst for big projects. Ed Stagg, CABL’s first Executive Director, is widely credited as being “the father of the New Orleans World’s Fair.” While remembered by some as a venture that lost money for its investors, Stagg had a bigger vision which ultimately came to fruition – the redevelopment and revitalization of the New Orleans riverfront which led to the transformation of its downtown.

CABL was also a leader in the creation of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), the state’s earliest modern effort to research critical issues involving Louisiana’s coast.

In some ways it is fair to say that the history of CABL is the story of the reform movement in Louisiana from the 1960’s forward. The breadth of issues where CABL played a leadership role is impressive and includes, among its highlights:

• Numerous governmental ethics reforms.
• Passage of a constitutional amendment ending retirement benefits for legislators and other part-time elected officials.
• Sound state fiscal policies such as the Rainy Day Fund and other reforms to protect taxpayer dollars.
• Creation of the modern framework for tax reform.
• Creation of Louisiana’s original School Accountability System along with subsequent updates.
• Development and passage of Louisiana’s first charter school legislation.
• Creation and expansion of the LA-4 pre-k program for at-risk four-year-olds along with ongoing support for early childhood education.
• Creation of the original Recovery School District and its embrace of charter schools in New Orleans.
• Implementation of higher academic standards and better assessments in public education.
• Creation of the state’s community and technical college system.
• Support for higher education, workforce development, and enhanced opportunities for all students to have access to postsecondary education and training.
• Preservation in trust of 75% of Louisiana’s multi-billion-dollar tobacco settlement.
• Levee board and tax assessor consolidation and reform in New Orleans and southeast Louisiana.
• Almost 30 years of co-sponsoring debates in gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races with Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Over the course of more than 60 years, CABL has lived up to the vision of its founders. Sometimes the positions it has taken have been controversial. Sometimes they have ruffled the feathers of the politicians of the day. But CABL has always stayed true to its mission. Its policy ideas remain focused on the broad public interest and achieving the best possible outcomes for the people of Louisiana.

While on the one hand CABL as we knew it is going away, the truth is its values and ideals are simply transitioning to a new organization. The Council for A Better Louisiana is now part of Leaders for A Better Louisiana. And its new vision rings true to the heart and soul of CABL: To transform Louisiana into a dynamic, future-ready economy that offers every business and citizen the opportunity to thrive.

For more information, visit the landing page at betterla.org