The session kicked off today and lawmakers have until mid-June to consider roughly 900 bills and resolutions that run the gamut from marijuana legalization to increasing the gas tax. At the top of many priority lists is the legalization of sports betting. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says the biggest question is just how to tax the activity, and where to put that money…
Cut 14 (07) “…significant hurdle.”
Also up for consideration is legislation barring transgender athletes from participating in girl’s or women’s sports at public schools. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says like similar efforts in other states it has a good chance of passing.
Cut 13 (08) “…in Louisiana.” AM
The Governor will lay out his legislative agenda at 6:15 at Mumford Stadium on Southern’s campus.
Louisiana could be in line for billions of dollars in federal “infrastructure” aid under President Biden’s over two trillion dollar American Jobs Plan. Biden says Louisiana is in particular need, giving the state a D+ grade on the Infrastructure Report Card. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson doesn’t dispute that appraisal.
The bill includes 600 billion for transportation infrastructure, 50 billion for infrastructure environmental resiliency, 111 billion for clean water infrastructure, 300 billion for manufacturing, 100 billion for broadband, and 85 billion for public transportation. It’s currently unclear exactly how much of the two trillion dollar bill would be headed to Louisiana.
Nearly a million Louisianans have now completed their full vaccine series as of this morning’s update.