Optimism among small businesses in Louisiana is up – but so is uncertainty. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, says while the optimism index remains below the 50-year average, there are encouraging signs.
As for the increase in the uncertainty index, Long says you can blame the debate in Baton Rouge over tax reform.
Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves is hailing the overwhelming House passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. The bill that passed 327 to 75 eliminates the Windfall Elimination Penalty and the Government Pension Offset. Graves says Louisiana has been among the most impacted by these two provisions.
The two provisions had the effect of reducing Social Security benefits for people who worked in the public sector, such as teachers, police officers and firefighters.
A bill that would drastically increase the tax rate for online sports betting from 15% to 51% has been shelved for the session.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has signed the nation’s number one recruiting class. All four of the signees are five-star prospects. The highest ranked prospect according to ESPN is Grace Knox, a six-foot-three forward from Las Vegas.