October 10, 1995
      Kemp   01          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"SECURE" TO LAUNCH STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN AT SLU MONDAY
     HAMMOND -- The Select Council on Revenues and Expenditures on Louisiana's
Future, generally known as SECURE, will launch a statewide information campaign Oct. 16 with
a public meeting at Southeastern Louisiana University.
     SECURE chairman Lee Griffin, also chairman and CEO of Premier Bancorp in Baton
Rouge, will be the keynote speaker. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. in Room
125 at the University Center, 700 Columbus Drive in Hammond. The public is invited.
     The "Committee for a SECURE Louisiana," a statewide organization committed to
reforming state government, is made up of business owners, corporate CEOs, labor leaders,
teachers, students, state and public officials, and government watchdog groups.
     SLU president Sally Clausen said "this is the first meaningful opportunity higher
education has had to join forces with business leaders who understand how critically important
education is to the state's economy."
     "Higher education," she continued, "must look at the work SECURE has done over the
last two years and seize the rare opportunity to work with a group that is dedicated to improved
funding for education at all levels."
     According to SECURE publications, the reform group's "first priority is to make state
government more efficient and effective." It proposes to accomplish this by "introducing proven
innovations and management techniques pioneered by private industry."
     SECURE also says state government can save money " by streamlining staffs, reducing
the duplication of effort, paying state workers competitive salaries and freeing them to be more
productive." Over the next five years, SECURE's cost saving measures could save Louisiana
taxpayers more than $3 billion.
     SECURE's goals include more investment in education at all levels, a balanced state tax
system, more efficient and effective state government, and economic development. It proposes to
fully fund higher education, invest in early childhood development, make teachers pay more
competive, bring technology into classrooms, and create a community college system. 
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