One session comes to an end and another one begins at the State Capitol. Halen Doughty spoke with political analyst Clancy Dubos on what passed and what didn’t in the regular session…
voicer 5 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

State lawmakers also approved a 26-billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. But with the state facing a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, several areas of the budget are underfunded, like TOPS, public education, universities and hospitals.

A special session designed to raise revenues to close a 600-million dollar budget deficit begins at 6:30. A key bill to watch is House Bill 11, which would limit federal itemized deductions on income taxes. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this would mostly impact higher income taxpayers…
cut 4 (11) “…income brackets”

The Governor has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which supporters say will provide critical help for families. Advocacy Director for AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl says this will assist the more than 660-thousand family members who help out an aging relative…:
CUT 6 (08) “more independently”
Muhl says this measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstrations of medical tasks.