Texas is Eating Our Lunch…. Because We Gave It To them
Every legislative session, every economic development conference, and every campaign season, Louisiana politicians tell us the same thing: "We want to compete with Texas."
Then we turn around and do exactly the opposite of what Texas does.
Just look at what happened with Air Products.
The company announced it is pulling the plug on its massive Louisiana Clean Energy Complex after determining the project no longer met its financial objectives. That is certainly disappointing on its own. But what happened next should really get our attention.
Almost immediately, Yara announced a $1.3 billion investment to acquire a major ammonia facility in Texas City. Louisiana loses a marquee investment opportunity, and Texas gains one. It is a familiar story.
Too often in Louisiana, major projects are greeted with lawsuits, extortion, activist campaigns, conspiracy theories, and organized efforts to convince companies they are not welcome. Instead of asking how to make investments work safely and responsibly, some immediately begin searching for reasons to stop them altogether.
Texas has figured out something we still seem unwilling to accept.
Investment creates jobs. Jobs create opportunity. Opportunity creates tax revenue that pays for roads, schools, and public safety.
Duh.
That does not mean every project deserves automatic approval. Companies should follow the law and be held accountable when they don't. But there is a world of difference between reasonable oversight and creating an atmosphere where businesses conclude they are better off investing somewhere else.
Texas understands that difference. It competes aggressively for capital instead of apologizing for it. It welcomes employers instead of assuming the worst about them. And when companies are deciding where to spend billions of dollars, that attitude matters.
Louisiana cannot keep claiming we want to become the next Texas while rewarding the exact behavior that sends investment across the Sabine River.
Every billion-dollar project that leaves takes construction jobs, permanent jobs, tax revenue, supplier contracts, and future opportunities with it.
If we truly want to compete with Texas, we need to stop making it so easy for Texas to win.