Two bills have been filed for the upcoming session that would increase the tax on consumable hemp products, increasing the tax from three percent to as high as 20-percent. Needless to say, retailers who sell hemp products are not happy. Joe Gerrity, the CEO of Crescent Canna, says those bills only hurt the retailers who already face a great deal of red tape.

Cut 9 (08)  “…know they enjoy.”

The legislative session begins next week and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy  polled 800 Louisiana voters and found that a majority of them support school choice legislation. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer,,,

Cut 5 (13) “…fully funded”

Governor Landry has proposed 93-million dollars for the LA Gator scholarship program, the state’s new school voucher program. That would provide about 11-thousand families with state funds for education expenses.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is actively involved in litter removal with this week being Love the Boot Week. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says partnering with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, DOTD employees are engaged in cleanup efforts statewide…

Cut 14 (12) “…100 miles of roadway.”

Mallett says the state spends more than 13-million dollars annually by picking up trash on the side of roadways.

Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla calls the decision by a Plaquemines Parish jury that Chevron must pay 745-million dollars in damages for contributing to coastal land loss a black eye for the state. Moncla says it’s a frivolous lawsuit and the decision reached is an industry killer…

Cut 12 (16) “…begged to do”

Attorney John Carmouche represents several parishes in these so-called legacy lawsuits and says defendant companies failed to follow state law and restore sties as close as possible to their original state.