37,000 letters warning Medicaid patients that their programs could be canceled go out today. Jeff Palermo gets reaction from Republican legislators.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Louisiana Economic Development projects 475 direct and indirect jobs will be created from a new 3 million dollar facility in Shreveport. Michael Farrar has more.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Michael Farrar”
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Two medical marijuana bills are getting closer to final passage. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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37,000 letters are being mailed out to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says after multiple failed attempts to fund the programs, people need to start preparing for the worst.
Cut 4 (11) “be coming”
But many Republicans are balking at the release of those letters, saying they amount to a political stunt. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton, who voted for the House spending plan that included the Medicaid cuts, says the panic isn’t justified because the process isn’t over.
Cut 5 (08) “figure is”
She accused Governor John Bel Edwards of playing politics and using the letters as a scare tactic targeting the state’s most vulnerable.
Cut 6 (06) “one has”
Dardenne hit back at House Republicans who voted for the budget, yet criticized the mailing of the letters, saying this is what the deep budget cuts that fiscal hawks advocate for look like.
Cut 7 (10) “dire consequences”
Metairie Senator Danny Martiny tried to douse some of the growing fires by letting the 37,000 letter recipients know that the Senate has no intention of passing a budget that cuts their programs.
Cut 8 (10) “medical schools”
Gov Edwards says he’ll be holding a press conference Thursday to address the House budget’s appending cuts.
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Western Global Airlines will invest three million dollars in a new facility in Shreveport, which could lead to 170 direct jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that an additional 308 new jobs will be created by the facility run by the Florida based company. Secretary Don Pierson says they’ll take over the former Continental Express Jet hangar.
Cut 9 (10) “up there”
Pierson says there’s quite a few reasons why the shipping company, which conducts business with UPS and FedEx, chose the north Louisiana location.
Cut 10 (10) “the US”
Pierson says the state will pitch in a million dollars in maintenance repair, because it’ll help put people back to work who lost their jobs when Continental Express Jet left the city.
Cut 11 (10) “the US”
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A study for the Louisiana Chemical Association shows the industry is responsible for nearly 80-billion dollars in annual sales and is the number one provider of jobs in Louisiana’s manufacturing sector. Economist, Doctor Loren Scott, says his research shows the chemical industry is extremely important to our economy
Cut 12 (10) “tax income”
The Louisiana Chemical Association says it can remain a cornerstone of the state’s economy if it continues to have state support. President Greg Bowser says recent changes by the Edwards administration to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program has created uncertainty…
Cut 13 (08) “are consistent”
Governor Edwards has taken steps to tighten the tax exemption program, so it leads to more job creation. He’s also given local governments more say in who should receive it. More changes could be coming to the program. Scott says I-TEP allows Louisiana’s chemical industry compete with Texas
Cut 14 (09) “sales tax system”
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Two medical marijuana bills passed the Senate with amendments and are headed to the House. One bill would add additional categories, such as PTSD to the already existing list diseases medical marijuana is eligible to treat, and the other would allow the treatment to be given to autism patients. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says it’s a boon to families struggling with an autistic member.
Cut 15 (07) “so critical”
The bill allowing medical marijuana for autism patients passed 25 to nine.
Houma Senator Norby Chabert says allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed to more illnesses is a first step in combating the opioid crisis.
Cut 16 (10) “curtail that”
He closed with an impassioned plea to Senators who were on the fence.
Cut 17 (10) “for it”
The expansion bill passed 21 to 10