LRN PM Newscall January 20

Governor John Bel Edwards has offered a plan to the state legislature to address the state’s budget crisis. Eric Gill has a look at what Republicans think about it…

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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A New Orleans woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of her 3-year-old grandchild. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has offered several options to the state legislature to address the state’s budget crisis. House Majority Leader, Republican Lance Harris of Alexandria, says the delegation is still studying the governor’s plan. He says House Republicans will work on their own plan to deal with the fiscal mess in the coming weeks…

CUT 3 (08)  “matches up”

Harris says he appreciates the governor being so candid about the budget numbers. Governor Edwards has proposed a one-cent hike in the state’s sales tax. In regards to that, Harris says you have to look at everything in its entirety and he just hasn’t had time to form an opinion on the issue…

CUT 4 (09)  “on that”

He believes everyone in the legislature and the Edwards administration is committed to fix the state’s budget problems. Harris says it’s still early in the process and a lot is up in the air, right now…

CUT 5 (11)  “for everybody”

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The current, sharp drop in the price of oil is having an adverse effect on the state’s budget. This morning the price of crude oil dropped below $27 a barrel. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moeller says diminishing mineral revenues are doing a real number on the budget…

CUT 6 (11) “dropped again”

Projected oil revenues are used in creating the state budget. He says the budget has already been adjusted twice because of declining oil prices and may have to be adjusted again. Moeller says not only are shrinking mineral revenues hurting the budget, oil field layoffs are as well…

CUT 7 (08) “sales tax collections”

Noble Drilling has announced a layoff of 100 to 120 employees due to the anticipated shutdown of a rig offshore. Moeller says the massive drop in oil prices is a very serious problem across the board in Louisiana…

CUT 8 (09) “stay afloat”

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A New Orleans woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of her 3-year-old grandson. New Orleans Police says 43-year-old Deonca Kennedy first reported that the gun was under her pillow and went off hitting the child in the chest — then refused to cooperate with police or give a statement. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says the police should’ve done more testing before filing charges…

CUT 9 (08)  “have waited”

Kennedy has been charged with negligent homicide and second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Meche says a variety of tests will be conducted to find out how the gun was fired…

cut 10 (09)  “the gun”

Meche says there needs to be more investigating as to who owned the firearm and why it was there. He says in some New Orleans neighborhoods having a loaded gun in your home isn’t uncommon.

Cut 11 (11) “the crime”

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How much pressure is on the state legislature to go along with Governor John Bel Edwards budget repair proposals which include raising taxes? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says with elections a few years down the road, right now lawmakers are more concerned about the thoughts of the constituents back in their districts…:

cut 12 (10) “conservative districts”

Pinsonat says Edwards is tasked with convincing voters across Louisiana that we need this much revenue…:

cut 13 (10)  “back home”

Pinsonat says former Governor Bobby Jindal was heavily criticized for leaving office with such a big deficit by moving money around, but one thing he didn’t do was raise taxes. Pinsonat says now the public is faced with whether or not they want the burden of filling the budget hole on their shoulders…:

cut 14 (11)  “controversial”

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