The Florida school shooting that left 16 children and one adult dead has sparked a new push for gun control legislation. Matt Doyle has Governor Edwards’ thoughts on gun control.
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A House committee is expected today to hear Representative Jack McFarland’s legislation that would require Medicaid patients to pay a copay at an E-R for non-emergency treatment. Jeff Palermo has more.
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State Police is asking the public not to share unsubstantiated threats through social media. Kelley Ray has more…
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Governor John Bel Edwards addresses the issue of gun control during his monthly call-in radio show. Edwards says in the wake of the latest mass shooting in Florida, he’s calling for a more robust background check system for firearm purchases.
Edwards says he would like to see a purchasing ban for those on the No-Fly list, and firearm bans for those who commit violent crimes, and have a history of mental illness.
Edwards also came out against aftermarket additions that alter the capabilities of legally purchased automatic rifles.
Florida shooter Nickolas Cruz was 18-years-old when he lawfully purchased ten rifles from South Florida dealers. Edwards says legislators may need to look at increasing the legal purchasing age for such weapons.
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The special session grounded to a halt yesterday after a vote on a tax reform bill that would have kept a quarter of the one penny sales tax intact, and remove some of the special sales tax exemptions for specific industries was postponed indefinitely. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it was the bill with the most momentum, and its failure could tank the entire session.
The tax bill would have plugged 300-million-dollars of the one billion dollar looming budget gap.
Lawmakers were optimistic heading into the capitol Monday, but Alford says the political realities of an impending election and a bitter partisan divide didn’t take long to grind the session to a halt.
Alford says if the session burns out without a solution, the legislature’s failure to work together to find a deal could become campaign talking point for Edwards’ 2019 re-election campaign.
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A House committee is expected today to hear Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland’s legislation that would require Medicaid patients to pay a copay if they use an emergency room for non-emergency treatment. McFarland says the bill is an attempt to stop Medicaid patients from using the ER for a common cold or minor medical issues…
The New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America Health Care Chairman Haley Sauicer (So-shea) says Medicaid recipients don’t abuse the system in receiving care…
Sauicer says if Medicaid recipients are forced to meet copays in emergency rooms, they would be unable to receive the necessary medical care they need…
McFarland points out that this bill would not apply in emergency situations such as a heart attack or stroke, but it would stop the abuse that some Medicaid patients have shown in the past…
McFarland says his legislation will save millions of dollars a year and those savings can be used to pay doctors at partner hospitals, so they can treat Medicaid patients for minor medical care.
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State Police is asking the public not to share unsubstantiated threats through social media. Senior Trooper Dustin Dwight says they encourage citizens to report suspicious activity, but they ask the public not to share unsubstantiated threats through social media because it creates chaos and panic…
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Dwight says if you do see a threat and if it’s viewed as an imminent danger, you should call 9-1-1. If there is more investigation needed, other agencies will step in. He says citizens are more scared than usual right now and are reporting suspicious activity quicker…
Dwight says State Police in no way is discouraging people to report suspicious activity, but to be aware of where some of these threats originate…