More illnesses will be eligible to be treated with medical marijuana under a bill signed by the governor. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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A report is recommending a reduction in the use of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (26) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The last ditch special session compromise tax bill failed, leading to the passage of a budget that slashes TOPS and higher ed. Matt Doyle has more.
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The Secretary of State’s office has been warning the public that Louisiana has aging voting machines that could fall apart, and now we have a price tag for replacing them, 60 million dollars. The feds have offered to chip in with nearly 6 million to get the process started. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says it’s not going to happen overnight.
Ardoin says that means thousands of machines will have to be repaired or replaced, overhauling the
The office is still reeling from sexual harassment allegations that led to the resignation of former Secretary of State Tom Schedler. Ardoin worked closely with Schedler as First Assistant, and says a new culture of “if you see something, say something” needs to be enforced.
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More Louisiana residents will have the ability to treat ailments with medical marijuana. Despite some early objections, the bill gathered surprsing bipartisan support in what was an otherwise contentious regular session. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the bill which was authored by Baton Rouge Democrat Rep. Ted James.
Cut 7 (:12) “…make life more enjoyable”
It adds glaucoma, PTSD, Parkinson’s and other ailments to list of illnesses eligible for medical marijuana. In addition to the medical benefits, James says the state is expecting to see monetary benefits as well.
Cut 8 (:11) “…this has been a fiscal savings.”
With the expansion of medical marijuana, The Baton Rouge Democrat anticipates a bill in 2019 to potentially green light recreational use. He says he’s already heard from some of his colleagues across the isle that the legislation would get serious consideration from some Republican lawmakers who are interested in the fiscal benefits.
Cut 9 (:12) “…pay down our debt.”
Medical marijuana is expected to be available later in the summer.
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About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and now, a new study has found that many breast cancer patients can skip chemo. Dr. Lucio Miele (MEE-LAH) of LSU Health New Orleans chimes in…
Cut 10 (09) “… the answer is yes.”
The report, which is being considered a landmark study, is the largest ever done of breast cancer treatment, and comes as the focus turns to cases where chemo’s value increasingly is in doubt. Miele says chemo’s prevalence came from a risk mitigation mentally in the medical field.
Cut 11 (12) “…hormone therapy and chemotherapy.”
There are some that are hesitant to put their full faith into the studies results after years of campaigns advocating for chemotherapy. Dr. Miele says it is time to trust the research.
Cut 12 (12) “…there really was no guidance.”
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
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A special session compromise tax bill crashed and burned last night as lawmakers failed to pass a tax bill, leading to a last second budget that cuts TOPS by 30 percent, and higher ed by 20 percent. The key moment of the night was the House’s 64-40 rejection of a Senate backed tax plan. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson laid the blame for the session’s failure at the 40 House member’s feet.
That Senate backed plan would have raised 507 million dollars by renewing half of the expiring penny sales tax, and fully funding TOPS, higher ed, and healthcare. The bill received opposition from key Republican leaders House GOP Chairman Lance Harris, and Speaker Taylor Barras who questioned some of the tax’s legitimacy.
Governor John Bel Edwards says he was embarrassed by the lack of cooperation in the legislature. Edwards says the body’s failure means another session will have to be called, costing taxpayers 50,000 dollars a day, in part to pay per deims to legislators for their return trip to the capitol.
In particular he singled out a specific group of conservative House Republicans who he says are at the center of the legislature’s inability to get a deal done.
While he did not say when it would be held, it is likely the Governor will call for another special session before the June 30th deadline. Edwards did not indicate whether or not he would veto the legislature’s last second budget.