(Official editorial of the Advocate/Times-Picayune, Aug. 27)
Monday’s dedication of the East Campus of the University of New Orleans Research and Technology Park in honor of former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston was a welcome development for several reasons.
First, the new Congressman Bob Livingston East Campus recognizes the contributions Livingston, who represented Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District from 1977 to 1999, made to his state and nation.
Second, it’s a reminder that it is indeed possible to serve local and national needs while trimming the federal budget to more manageable size.
Third, it highlights anew the importance of UNO as it works through the process of rejoining the Louisiana State University system, and should inspire Louisianans to revitalize UNO as the excellent research and teaching university it can be.
When he chaired the House Appropriations Committee in the mid-1990s, Livingston proved one of the most successful budget cutters in U.S. history. But he did it carefully, cutting duplication and inefficiencies rather than essentials. And, more to the point here, he did it while ensuring that national needs were married to good local projects.
At the lakefront, Livingston secured $220 million to consolidate the U.S. Navy’s nationwide information technology into two massive buildings at UNO. For a quarter century now, the facilities have been serving the national defense, while bringing $350 million in economic benefits to the state and serving as training grounds for university students.
These sorts of solutions were a habit for Livingston, now 82, who worked with fellow Republicans as well as Democrats to secure funding for shipbuilding, port expansion, drainage improvements, streetcar lines, the project that would grow into the National WWII Museum and more.
A key lesson is that bipartisan goodwill joined with diligent attention to local needs can indeed produce real accomplishments through spending that is anything but mere government bloat.
At a time of deep partisan division in Congress, it was refreshing to see Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who now represents Livingston’s old district, join Democratic former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu in honoring Livingston’s legacy.
This week’s attention to the research park also shines a spotlight on UNO itself. Facing major shortfalls in funding and enrollment, the university nonetheless has the potential to regain its status as an educational powerhouse and a tremendous boon to the city. As one of only three Louisiana schools with a coveted “R2” designation, signifying research leadership, from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, UNO should be a big driver of the entire state’s economy.
Noting this week’s 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, GNO Inc. President Michael Hecht said in his remarks that “We’re really beginning the process of rebuilding and reinventing Louisiana for the next 20 years.”
That’s a big and worthy ambition, one appropriate for the vision Livingston had in 1991 when he began working to bring the Navy and UNO together.
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[That is the full editorial, but if you want a link to the original, it is here.]
