Internet retailers based outside of Louisiana will soon have to start collecting sales tax on transactions coming from the Bayou State. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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AAA expects a record 112-million people will travel for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Senator Kennedy was one of 12 to vote against the bi-partisan criminal justice reform bill in the Senate. Matt Doyle has more.
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While many internet transactions are already seeing sales taxes collected for the state, as of January 1, all purchases from out of state internet retailers will be subject to a flat 8.45 percent tax. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says some of the bigger retailers have already been collecting the tax.
Robinson says the idea behind the tax is to have level playing field between internet retailers and brick and mortar stores and adds all the internet vendors who are new to collecting the tax have been waiting to receive additional guidance that they now have received.
Cut 5 (06) “…to start collecting.”
Robinson says of the 8.45 percent sales tax rate collected, 4 percent of that will go to local government.
Cut 6 (09) “…local sales tax rate.”
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AAA projects over 1/3 of the nation’s population will be on the move during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. Spokesperson Don Redman says for as long as AAA has looked at holiday travel numbers, they’ve never seen anything like this.
Cut 7 (10) “…the record books.”
Redman says it’s important that travelers practice patience and give themselves a little extra time to get where they need to go, as there is a notable jump in travelers compared to last year.
Cut 8 (07) “…number of people.″
Redman says travelers can expect gas prices along the Gulf Coast to be relatively low.
Cut 9 (10) “…higher than Louisiana.”
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Senator John Kennedy was one of 12 Republican Senators to vote against the national criminal justice reform bill in Congress. The legislation aims to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders and reduce recidivism, but Kennedy says it lets potentially dangerous people back into society too soon.
But criminal justice reform advocates like Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer applauded the vote, and say like that effort in Louisiana in 2016, the legislation will likely be a major success that brings down crime and saves money.
Cut 11 (11) “…worst offenders”
But Senator Kennedy disagrees, and says the classification of “non-violent” includes a lot nastier crimes than most folks would think.
Erspamer says those criticisms are not accurate and based in facts, and a careful analysis of the success of such legislation in other states indicates it will be a substantial success.
The bill has the backing of the President and will likely be signed into law. The bill was backed by Sen. Bill Cassidy.
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The state GOP is calling for a return to closed primaries that only let party members vote for party candidates. Currently voters are free to vote for whoever in the primary, and the top two candidate’s progress to the general election. Most states have closed primaries, but on Ask the Governor, Governor Edwards said in this case its ok to stand out.
The call was made by GOP State Chairman Louis Gurvuich, who says the “Jungle Primary” creates issues for Republicans when they have large fields of candidates.
But John Bel Edwards says closed primaries would foster a political culture that’s closer to the one we see in Washington DC.
The state Democratic Party has not formally endorsed the plan, but according to The Advocate has supported plans that would move federal races to a closed party primary. Edwards says he will likely oppose any efforts to make that change.
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LSU signed 19 players on the first day of college football’s early signing period as they work towards securing a top five recruiting class. Three of the players that signed on Wednesday are 5-star prospects and all from Louisiana, Derek Stingley, John Emery and Kardell Thomas. Coach Ed Orgeron likes the diversity of the class…
LSU still has room to sign a half dozen more players and many of those signees will come in February. Orgeron says he will not sign anymore running backs. He likes the two he got on Wednesday, Southern Lab’s Tyrion Davis and Destrehan’s John Emery. Coach O on how he got Emery to de-commit from Georgia and come to LSU
Orgeron says five-star offensive lineman Kardell Thomas from Southern Lab is the type of student-athlete they like to bring to LSU…