LRN PM Newscall June 22nd

Senate leaders have proposed a way for cuts not to occur if the fiscal cliff arrives without a sales bill passing in this third special session. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

A Slidell couple is in jail facing multiple charges for drugs and dog fighting following an investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

 

US Senator John Kennedy has attached an amendment to an appropriations bill to keep taxpayer money from going towards first-class airline tickets for federal employees. Kennedy says there’s only two reasons why a federal worker should receive a taxpayer funded first-class ticket….

cut 9 (10)  “…abused”

The Senator says a federal audit found that federal employees have been misusing allowable upgrades to ride first class in 56-percent of cases. He says in a recent three-year period an extra one-million dollars in taxpayer money went to unnecessary first class tickets…

Cut 10 (05) “…will do”

In a report released last March, EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt allegedly spent 105-thousand dollars on first class flights in his first year on the job. Kennedy says if his amendment makes it through Congress, even agency heads will not be able to fly first class unless there’s a legitimate medical or security reason…

Cut 11 (12) “…priviledge”

______________________________________________________

A four star quarterback from Alabama announced on Twitter he plans on attending LSU. Peter Parrish’s verbal commitment gives the Tigers 14 commitments for their 2019 class. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Parrish can run a speedy 4.5 in the 40 and scouts say he’s improving as a passer

Cut 12 (09)   “…offered him.”

LSU has four quarterbacks competing to be the starter in 2018 and Moran says they have more signal callers on their way for a position that’s given the Tigers problems over the last decade

Cut 13 (12) “…the position” 

_________________________________________________________

After a week of difficult negotiations the House has approved legislation that sets Louisiana’s sales tax rate at 4.45 percent through mid-2025. That  would be enough revenue to prevent cuts to higher education and the TOPS scholarship program next fiscal year. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis had this message before the critical vote

Cut 14 (12)  “constitutents.”

Since the first special session in February, lawmakers have struggled to figure out a way to renew part of an expiring one-cent sales tax. Democrats  pushed for half-a-cent renewal, while in this session Republicans sought four-tenths of a cent. They eventually comprised at .45 percent. Davis congratulates the two sides for coming together

Cut 15 (11) “…their services.”

The measure needed 70 votes to pass and it got 74. It brought a sigh of relief to lawmakers who have been trying to solve the fiscal cliff

Cut 16  (07) “…applause.”