The half-cent sales tax came just 7 votes short of passage on the last night of the previous session, but 20 Republican legislators in the House are at odds with plan, and would prefer a third penny and 126 million dollars in across the board cuts. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says after a hard fought battle to get the bipartisan budget, suggestions by Appropriation Chairman Cameron Henry that money be shuffled out of healthcare and state worker raises will not be entertained.
Cut 6 (11) “revenue measures.”

Freshman Republican Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello, one of the 20 House Republicans who voted against the half penny, but for the third penny, says the state can get by without the higher tax.
Cut 7 (11) “to be”

Two high schoolers from Lake Charles want to bring delivery services to stadiums so that hot dog comes right to you in the stands. The idea from Malik Ellis and Alex Brown of LaGrange High School won the SEED Center Business Pitch Competition this year. SEED Center Business Incubator Executive Director Adrian Wallace saw the pitch.
The potential app is called “Runner Eats” and would function similarly to Waitr.
Wallace says the key to their success was a highly developed business plan that would put many of the contestants on the businesses competition show Shark Tank to shame.
Ellis and Brown said they were proud to represent Lake Charles, and hope their idea could bring jobs to the area. Wallace says it might not be too long before that happens.
Cut 15 (08) “for it”