It’s Mardi Gras Day and the hottest spot to celebrate in the nation today is in Louisiana. Michelle Southern speaks with Fat Tuesday expert Arthur Hardy:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
______________________________________
The Public Affairs Research Council provides ideas on how the state can better control its spending. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
______________________________________
New Republican Louisiana Speaker of the House Taylor Barras says he was anticipating more proposed spending reforms in Governor John Bel Edwards call for the special session which begins Sunday. Halen Doughty reports…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
______________________________________
It’s Mardi Gras Day and the hottest spot to celebrate in the nation today is in Louisiana. Fat Tuesday expert Arthur Hardy, who puts out a comprehensive guide to all things Carnival, says he can not remember the last time we’ve had such beautiful weather for the parades. He says the greater New Orleans area had a 12-day parade season…:
cut 4 (09) “just remarkable”
There are also events all over south Louisiana today like the unique Courir de Mardi Gras chicken runs in the smaller Cajun towns. Hardy says Zulu gets things kicked off in New Orleans this morning, which is one the oldest African American Club founded in 1909…:
Cut 5 (06) “marvelous parade”
Hardy says Zulu will be followed by Rex in downtown New Orleans, and at the same time the huge Argus parade begins in Metairie before the popular truck parades. He says since Fat Tuesday fell so early this season, they don’t believe folks are coming out in record numbers — but the crowds are huge:
Cut 6 (08) “this entire season”
______________________________________
Congressman Charles Boustany makes the case for why he should be elected to Louisiana’s open US Senate seat this year. He says the state needs a senator who has a deep understanding of our nation’s problems. Boustany says strengthening our national security is a must…:
CUT 7 (08) “operations”
Boustany says we must begin working on ways to grow our economy to give families the opportunity to pursue the American dream…:
Cut 8 (11) “lowering taxes”
Boustany says we can’t lose sight of the deeply held values that made America the most exceptional nation on earth…:
Cut 9 (10) “to succeed”
______________________________________
With Louisiana facing historic budget shortfalls, a good government group, the Public Affairs Research Council, recommends ways the state can control its spending. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says one of their suggestions is for Governor John Bel Edwards to come up with a plan to make sure retirement costs and health care plans for employees do not escalate
Cut 10 (07) “year to year”
PAR has published a nine page report on ways to control state spending. Scott says one suggestion is to do away with various tax credits the state gives, like the tax deduction parents receive for sending their child to a private school…
cut 11 (08) “not possible”
Some of PAR’s other recommendations include no merit pay increases for state employees next fiscal year, stay away from funding local pork projects and no more tax amnesty programs. Scott admits legislators have a difficult task in front of them
cut 12 (10) “the traffic”
______________________________________
New Republican Louisiana Speaker of the House Taylor Barras says he was anticipating more proposed spending reforms in Governor John Bel Edwards call for the special session which begins Sunday. Barras says, as expected, the governor’s call included a list of revenue raising options, primarily with tax changes…:
Cut 13 (07) “structural fixes”
The session begins Valentine’s Day at 4pm, and must end 6pm, March 9th. Barras says their first focus will be on what needs to be done in the current year as they quickly come up with the more than $750 needed to fill the budget hole by July 1st. He says, of course, every administration tries to avoid cuts to higher ed and healthcare…:
Cut 14 (09) “inflicted”
Barras says he expects that when the governor presents next fiscal year’s executive budget to lawmakers this weekend, it will have $2 billion dollars removed from various departments to fill the gap. He says from that point you’ve got to work out ways to keep certain areas up and running, then consider what you can live without over the next 12 months…:
Cut 15 (07) “as well”
______________________________________