The surprise march of marijuana legalization through the Legislature is over for the session after the House rejects a bill that would set the tax rate for recreational pot sales. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says his legalization effort would have generated a lot of revenue for the state that will now remain in the hands of drug dealers and the cartels.
Nelson attempted to win over skeptical law enforcement by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot…
Despite the failure the House did vote last week to decriminalize possession of a small quantity of weed. That legislation awaits a hearing in a Senate committee.
Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is out as House Education Chairman following preassure from the Legislative Black Caucus after he said in committee that students should study “the good, the bad, the ugly,” of slavery. The statement went viral and Garofalo says the Legislative Black Caucus wanted him removed for a bill he brought, not his comments, but says he was removed so tax reform would pass.
Garofalo says his comment was taken out of context and there’s nothing for him to apologize for.
And effort to increase hunting and fishing license fees to cover a budget shortfall in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries falls short on the House floor by just two votes.
Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields legislation mandating kids attend kindergarten when they turn five advanced out of house Education.