The Manship School at LSU has created a game that lets taxpayers put forward their own plan on how to address the billion dollar fiscal cliff. “Solve The Budget” presents players with a list of budget items that can be cut or funded, and tax proposals that can be adopted to rejected to close the budget gap. Manship Dean Jerry Cepos says Early results from the first 1700 people to play are mixed, with only Medicaid reform and some tax proposals receiving a noticeable level of support. Cepos says last year, support for one category stood out.
The website is solvethebudget.com
Jefferson Parish Representative Kirk Talbot has filed a bill for the regular session that would let voters decide in October if internet fantasy sports betting should be legal in Louisiana. The issue dates back to a 1991 attorney general opinion concluding that fantasy draft games done over the phone were illegal and by expansion, now includes websites such as Draft Kings and Fan Duel. Currently, there is a clause on the Draft Kings website that says quote, “Legal residents of the Excluded States are eligible to open and maintain accounts on the Website for use only in games that do not offer prizes”. Talbot says it’s time to allow Louisiana players to participate so they can win cash prizes…
The Trump Administration is backing a plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The plan is aimed at making American metal production more competitive at home, but Director of State Projects at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation Scott Drenkard says the tariffs would cost the US 9 billion dollars a year.
Much of Louisiana’s economy is dependent on the imported goods that crowd our docks. Drenkard says if history holds up, many of those jobs could be at risk.
The Louisiana State Police are reporting the arrest of assistant Tallulah police chief Jimmy Guy. Guy was arrested on charges of encouraging child delinquency and malfeasance in office. State police say they were contacted in February about a complaint. They started an investigation and Guy has been charged. Bond is set at 5750.00 dollars.