Blueprint Effort Makes Progress
by Jeff Moore - Opelousas Daily World (excerpt)

A citizen-driven effort to fundamentally improve the state is making progress. Representatives from Blueprint Louisiana recently visited Lafayette for one of nine regional meetings across the state. The group offered an update on its work to date, including its accomplishments in the 2008 legislative sessions.

"I think it was a very productive first year," said Blueprint Louisiana spokesman Brad Lambert. "But we're committed to finishing the remaining items on that original agenda."

Founded in 2006 by Lafayette businessmen Clay Allen, Matt Stuller and Bill Fenstermaker, Blueprint Louisiana was formed to provide solutions to some of the state's long-standing challenges. The group proposed specific reforms in six areas - ethics, education, workforce development, health care, transportation and coastal protection and restoration - and asked legislative candidates to support the reforms if elected.

The plan gained a solid base of legislative approval, with 82 percent of the Senate and 71 percent of the House signing a contract to support it.
Legislation passed during the 2008 special and regular sessions accomplished the better part of the first three items of the Blueprint agenda.

The group enjoyed complete success in its ethics reforms, with all four of its recommendations being adopted.