The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is applauding the work of state lawmakers during the two special legislative session held this year. The latest session targeted fiscal matters, including approval of business tax cuts and the allocation of a more than one-billion-dollar budget surplus, half of it for transportation infrastructure needs and 300-million for hurricane protection and coastal restoration. The previous session focused on toughening the state's ethics laws to help put a strangle-hold on political corruption. PAR believes that both sessions have "set the stage for greater investment in Louisiana."