Governor John Bel Edwards will publicly address Louisiana residents about the state’s historic budget deficit. The Thursday night address will air at 6:30 on television and radio stations. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says the governor is making an effort to restore the fiscal foundation of the state, without making major cuts to higher education and health care.
Louisiana’s budget problems are getting worse. The Revenue Estimating Conference has revised the deficit for this fiscal year from 750-million to 870-million dollars. Low oil prices are to blame for the decline in revenue, but that’s not the only issue. The legislature’s chief economist Greg Albrecht says corporate tax collections are also weak…
One of the first proposed bills for the special legislative session would raise the state tax on a pack of cigarettes to $1.08, an increase of 22-cents per pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this tax will generate more state revenue and could save money on long-term healthcare if the tax encourages people to quit smoking.
Busy people looking to get their ashes on this Ash Wednesday now have a much faster option. Mobile ash distribution sites are becoming increasingly popular. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier says that these drive up ashes are a response to fast-paced lifestyles…