House lawmakers are back at the Capitol to try again to pass a spending plan for next fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards recommends lawmakers pick up where they left off in the regular session with the conference committee report.

Cut 7 (08) “their committees”

The special session ends June 19.

As this special session gets underway, there’s already talk of another to come later with the goal of implementing meaningful tax reform. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes says both chambers couldn’t come to an agreement on how to reform the state’s tax code.

Cut 5 (10) “complete quandary”

Stokes says this was the year to implement tax reform, as there won’t be another fiscal session until 2019.

After what many call a grueling regular session, Democratic lawmakers are calling for a change of leadership in the House, starting with Speaker Taylor Barras. But Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says Barras is looking out for the interests of the people who do not want their taxes to go up.

Cut 13 (10) “tax increases”

But Democrats say there is no leadership in the House.

Two cases of dog flu have been confirmed in Monroe. Dr. Phillip Cancilleri says some pets from Florida participated in a dog show and brought the virus with them to Louisiana. But he says typical backyard dogs aren’t at much risk of contracting the virus.

Cut 15 (11) “have been”

Dog flu is spread through contact like the human flu.