State Attorney General Jeff Landry joins with ten other states to file another lawsuit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges whether it’s legal to use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to force the shots. Landry says that’s unconstitutional and will contribute to even more shortages of healthcare workers…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…want to do.”

Landry’s department investigates Medicaid fraud and the mandate hits too close to home.

LSU President William Tate announces the school is lifting its mandatory mask rule for indoor areas on the Baton Rouge campus. The mask order had been in place since summer, when the so-called fourth wave hit. Tate’s decision was made with help from the university’s Health & Medical Advisory Committee. It also ends restrictions for on-campus events, like sports.

The state Speaker of the House is disappointed to see Constitutional Amendment One fail at the polls last Saturday. Dave Brannen has more…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Brannen.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is miffed to see the dramatic increases in gas and diesel fuel prices. He points the finger at President Biden and his energy policies…:

CUT 14  (05)        “increase their production.”

He says Biden should put Americans back to work producing oil for our motor fuels.

Constitutional Amendment One – which would have created a single, centralized state sales tax collection agency – fell to defeat in last Saturday’s election. That disappoints state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who is glad that at least the second part of tax reforms, Amendment Two, did pass…:

CUT 04  (11)        “…into our state.”

Currently there are 54 sales tax collection entities in Louisiana.  48 other states have but one.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation that was supposed to lower our auto insurance rates, yet they have instead gone UP. Why? Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an increase in traffic fatalities in our state is part of the reason…:

CUT 08  (10)        “…distracted driving.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy lauds the signing of the $1-trillion-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden Monday. The senator says he’d have preferred to have a conservative president oversee all that spending, but he is nevertheless pleased to see New Orleans’ Mitch Landrieu tapped for the job…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…can only help.”

Out of that bill Louisiana will get billions for roads & bridges and money to establish high speed internet in every parish.

Attorney General Jeff Landry files another suit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges the legality of using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to mandate the shots. He says that’s hits too close to home for his comfort..:

CUT 10  (07)        “…to be vaccinated.”

Landry joins ten other states in this lawsuit.

Senator Bill Cassidy is lauding the signing of the trillion-dollar-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden on Monday.
Cut 12 (11) “…improve internet access.”
Cassidy says the infrastructure bill will deliver to improve the lives of people in Louisiana.

When it comes to Louisiana politics, there’s still some surprise that Constitutional Amendment one did not pass. It would have created a centralized sales tax collection system. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder authored the legislation…
cut 3 (09) “…it go down”
The state currently has 54 tax collection entities making it complex for businesses and individuals to maneuver through and a lawsuit was filed yesterday declaring Louisiana’s system as unconstitutional based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2018.

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

New registration fees are in place for motorboats. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say they went into effect Monday as a result of legislation approved this year. For boats smaller than 15-feet and eleven inches the fee is 36-dollars, for boats larger than 40-feet, the registration fee is now 99-dollars.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, concerning vaccine mandates. Now he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, mandating all employees be vaccinated at facilities that receive CMS funding.

Cut 9 (09) “…CMS bucket.”

The mandate requires full-time and part-time employees, along with volunteers and contract employees at healthcare facilities that receive CMS funding otherwise that funding could be withheld.

Facility and students at LSU campuses are no longer required to wear face masks indoors. LSU President William Tate issued the notice this morning that they are lifting the mandate based on the recommendation of the university’s Health and Medical Advisory Committee due to declining case numbers. The Governor ended the statewide mask mandate in October.

The leader of the Louisiana House is expressing disappointment at the failure of Constitutional Amendment 1 on Saturday.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

COVID hospitalizations in Louisiana have increased to 209, they fell below 200 on Monday after a steady decline the last few weeks.

When lawmakers approved legislation last year changing how the courts would handle car accident lawsuits, supporters said it would lead to lower insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said during a task force meeting on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates are actually going up two percent. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says the law went into effect this year and has yet to have an impact on rates

Cut 7 (08) “….later on.”  

Voters statewide approved Constitutional Amendment Two which lowers the income tax brackets to 1.85-percent for the lowest income earners, 3.5-percent for middle incomes and 4.25-percent for the highest. State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Lewis says will mean a great number of taxpayers will find they owe the state less when they file their 2021 state taxes…:

Cut 11 (10) “…to the rate change.”

Louisiana is being sued by an out-of-state retailer because of the state’s burdensome tax collection system that’s costing it more than double what it cost to collect a dollar in sales taxes for the state. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Broderick Fobbs has been fired as head football coach of Grambling State. The Tigers are three and seven this season and didn’t win a game in the spring. The three-time SWAC Coach of the Year led Grambling to two conference titles.

In 2020, when lawmakers approved legislation that changed how the courts would handle lawsuits involving car accidents, supporters said it would lead to lower auto insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said during a task force meeting on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates are actually going up

 cut 6 (06) “…through October” 

LSU-Health Shreveport is helping parents by making it as convenient as possible to have children ages five to eleven get vaccinated at schools in north Louisiana. Hospital K-12 Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Deason says they already had established relationships with the schools when they did COVID testing, and now they are providing vaccines.

Cut 13 (08) “…atmosphere.”

Deason says they are requiring both written and verbal consent from parents for the children to be vaccinated.

Voters statewide approved Constitutional Amendment Two, which will lower state income tax brackets, cap the highest brackets, and remove the deduction for federal income taxes paid. With that done, what comes next? State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Lewis they’ll immediately put out new state withholding tables that reflect the new rates.

Cut 10 (15)  “…effective January 1.” 

A deer that entered Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Monday afternoon in Baton Rouge has been euthanized. Wildlife officials say drivers saw the deer in the median near the hospital with blood coming from its nose and believe it was hit by a car before it stumbled into the building and made its way up the elevator. State Veterinarian Jim LaCour says the deer suffered severe internal injuries from being hit and would not recover and so it was euthanized.

Days after voters said no to Amendment One to create a single tax collection system, a federal lawsuit has been filed in New Orleans to force the change. Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, says Louisiana’s collection system is one of two in the nation that’s overly complex and possibly unconstitutional.

Cut 5 (08) “…we’re the worst”

Voters did approve Amendment Two, which will lower state income tax brackets, cap the highest brackets and remove the deduction for federal income taxes paid. State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Lewis says state legislators worked with her department to create a tax reform that would have minimal impact on small business and individual taxpayers.

Cut 12 (10) “…all income levels.”

A Legislative Audit found the Louisiana Workforce Commission made $2.9 million in payments that might have violated state and federal unemployment rules. LWC spokesperson Chris Fiore says while the agency acknowledges the mistake, they also had to process a huge number of claims with little federal guidance.

Cut 7 (11) “…win for us.”

LSU-Health Shreveport is helping parents by making it as convenient as possible to have children ages five to eleven get vaccinated at schools in north Louisiana. Hospital K-12 Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Deason says understandably many are apprehensive about getting a shot and so they try to ease their fears and even ask if they’ve ever been pinched by their sibling.

Cut 15 (09)  “…relatable.”

Parental consent is required.

Louisiana is being sued by an out-of-state retailer because of what the plaintiff calls burdensome and costly tax collection system. Dave Brannen has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Broderick Fobbs has been fired as head football coach of Grambling State. The Tigers didn’t win a game in the spring and they are three and seven this season. The three-time SWAC Coach of the Year led Grambling to two conference titles.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office says the state made two-point-nine million dollars in unemployment payments during the coronavirus pandemic that did not follow state and federal rules. The audit found that three percent of the $10-billion paid out by LWC was in overpayments. LWC spokesperson Chris Fiore says an overpayment of unemployment benefits happens in normal times too.

Cut 8 (11) “…circumstance.”

With the passage of Amendment Two on the November 13th ballot. Tax brackets will be lowered on January first but Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Kimberly Lewis says that doesn’t mean everyone will see a tax break…

cut 11 (10) “…rate change”

Suppporters say the change to the state’s tax code is revenue neutral.