The centerpiece of Governor John Bel Edwards tax overhaul plan receives a hearing today in the House Ways and Means committee. The Commercial Activity Tax imposes a tax on businesses for any transactions they make. The bill’s author, Franklin Representative Sam Jones, says so far this is the only plan that’s been presented to deal with the one-point-three billion dollar fiscal cliff in 2018…
cut 8 (10) “…to fund TOPS”
So far, there’s very little support for this proposal.

A major construction project begins today on the first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street. Director of New Orleans Public Works Col. Mark Jernigan says they’ll remove and replace the existing pavement, along with all of the infrastructure underneath.
Cut 10 (09) “90 years”
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

Today the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee takes up a proposal by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell that would exempt diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”