The state’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall will be the centerpiece for this year’s legislative session which gets underway today. Senate President John Alario says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue. He says it will take several weeks before lawmakers can agree on a plan…

cut 15 (10) “those solutions”

There are several bills that seek to increase the tax on tobacco products, but for the governor to approve them, there has to be a tax cut somewhere else to offset new revenue.

Some wonder how involved Governor Bobby Jindal will be as lawmakers grapple with the budget deficit. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think the legislative session will stop Jindal from traveling outside the state pursuing his presidential hopes. However, Pinsonat says you can’t run for president when the state you’re supposed to be running is a disaster…

cut 6 (09) “national ambitions”

One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

Showers and thunderstorms continue across Louisiana today which has raised concerns of flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for a large portion of southwest Louisiana through this evening. In southeast Louisiana, a Flash Flood Watch is in effect through tomorrow evening. Flood Warnings are also in effect for several areas in the state.