A constitutional amendment that would exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax clears the Senate Finance committee, but not before finding out it may cost the state more than previously thought. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Legislation to prohibit hand held cell phone use while driving cruises out of the House Transportation Committee on a 13-to-2 vote. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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LSU will hold its first Giving Day Tuesday, soliciting donations at geauxgive.lsu.edu. It’s a 24-hour fundraiser that starts at midnight. LSU Foundation spokesperson Sara Whittaker says April 30th is the anniversary of the dedication of the flagship campus in Baton Rouge in 1926 and the donation goal has significance as well.
Cut 3 (11) “…first giving day.”
LSU Giving Day is part of the university’s $1.5 billion dollar Fierce for the Future Campaign, which is the largest campaign for higher education in the history of Louisiana.
Whittaker says there are many matching challenges for students and alumnus.
Whittaker says she expects the Tiger community around the world will help smash the goal of 1860 donations, and when they do, it’ll unlock a big money match.
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A proposed constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax cleared the Senate Finance Committee, and is heading to the Senate floor, with debate focusing in on diapers.
Baton Rouge Diaper Bank Danielle Satawa says poor families often struggle to afford diapers, and end up needing to lift them from local groceries.
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt opposed the amendment, saying eliminating the 4.45 percent sales tax on diapers would not be impactful for mothers, but New Orleans Senator JP Morrell, the bill’s sponsor, disagreed.
Satawa says parents spend about 1,200 dollars a year on diapers for a child, and eliminating the sales tax would save them roughly 55 dollars a year.
The proposal has a fiscal note of 9.6 million dollars, but Hewitt expressed concerns that that number is not accurate, if proponents are correct and families do indeed spend more than the fiscal office claims.
The proposal would need a two thirds vote in both houses, followed by voter approval on the October ballot before becoming law.
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The House Transportation Committee overwhelming supports legislation that would prohibit hand held cell phone use while driving. Jennifer Smith with Stop Distractions-dot-org says 18 states have approved similar laws and in some states like Georgia, they’ve seen amazing results
A similar bill in Louisiana died in the Senate last year. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says there are plenty of things that can you distract you while you drive, so why just pick on hand held cell phone use
Supporters of the proposed handheld cell phone ban say statistics show that talking or texting on the phone is contributing to more and more accidents. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says she doesn’t need stats to know Louisiana needs a handheld cell phone ban
The measure now moves to the full House for more debate.
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Some residents are still without power from Thursday’s EF-3 tornado that struck Ruston, killing two and causing widespread damage. Mayor Ronny Walker says they have 88% of the electrical grid back up, but they will not hit 100% for a while.
Cut 12 (10) “…days is incredible.”
Walker says the rebuilding of aerial fiber optic lines is a slower process.
Walker says the outpouring of support from volunteers has been overwhelming in helping the community rebound.