AM Newscall, May 7th, 2015

Today House leaders will vote on various proposals that will go towards filling a massive budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s bill to reduce penalties for simple marijuana possession will be heard on the House floor. Eric Gill has more…

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Legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk in Louisiana did not make it out of a Senate Committee. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Today is decision making day for House leaders as they will vote on what changes to make when it comes to tax hikes and scaling back incentives in order to balance the state’s budget. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher, Jeremy Alford, says this entire legislative session is about the budget and filling a $1.6 billion shortfall. He says today we’ll find out which way the budget will lean…

cut 4  (08)  “fill those holes”

Among the issues up for debate are repealing of tax breaks for businesses and an increase in the state’s cigarette tax. Alford says today’s House session will be a long one and something we have not seen in recent history…

Cut 5  (10)  “the House floor”

Alford says the House could meet well into the night. He says the absolute linchpin this legislative session is the inventory tax. Whether the tax credit is scaled back or the tax is repealed altogether, Alford says lawmakers must do something to the inventory tax system…

Cut 6 (11)  “the House side”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s bill to reduce penalties for simple marijuana possession will be heard on the House floor. Jill Trahan’s son is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for simple marijuana possession. Trahan wants lawmakers to really consider the penalties imposed on marijuana possession convictions…

CUT 7 (07)  “and strong”

The measure passed the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 10-4 vote. Livingston Representative Sherman Mack questioned the need for Badon’s bill since judges and district attorneys already have the ability to shorten a sentence for simple marijuana possession…

Cut 8  (12)  “could possibly get” 

Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman voiced her opposition to Badon’s measure saying this bill doesn’t do enough…

Cut 9 (10)  “not retroactive”

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Legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk in Louisiana did not make it out of a Senate Committee. The bill’s author, Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur, says there are many who believe purchasing raw milk is a basic human right and not something for government to be involved in…:

Cut 10 (09) “raw milk”

The same measure made it out of the house last year but died in the Senate. Opponents argue there are dangers associated with consuming raw milk but LaFleur doesn’t think it’s bad enough to warrant government regulation…:

cut 11 (09) “against the law”

The vote was 5-3 and the issue is essentially dead for the session. Many people believe the nutrition found in raw milk is far better than what’s in pasteurized milk. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says he struggles with this issue because he drank raw milk as a kid, but knows the risks are much greater now…:

cut 12 (09)   “pasteurized”

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Two bills that seek to control the wild hog population in Louisiana pass the House Natural Resources Committee. One measure would approve year-round hunting seasons on razorbacks and the other would create a lifetime hunting license for the animal. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says something must be done…:

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The bills now head to the Full House. Barham says the razorbacks destroy farm land and are tearing up levees. He says it’s a rural problem that’s about to become an urban one…:

Cut 14 (12) “one day”

Barham supports the lifetime license bill saying they want to be able to choose the price. Ouachita Parish DA Jerry Jones says it will be easier on farmers to have a one-time permit…:

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There’s been reports the Pelicans will hire former McNeese State star and Detroit Piston Joe Dumars. Dumars is a former team president of the Pistons and built a roster that won an NBA championship in 2004. Jake Madison, a writer for Bourbon Street Shots dot com says Dumars could be an asset to the Pelicans front office…

Cut 16  (20)  “key contributor”

Madison says if Dumars joins the Pels, Dell Demps will likely remain as the general manager. He says Demps did a terrific job this past season, making a key trade to reshape the roster with enough talent to get into the playoffs…

Cut 17 (18)  “that wasn’t playing”

It’s been reported Dumars is friends with Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and General Mickey Loomis. Loomis also has a role in the Pels front office and Madison could see Dumars joining the Pels in some type of role

Cut 18 (20) ”   a lot of success”‘