The average cost of being a new mom in Louisiana is cheaper than all but two other states in the nation. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Connor Ferrill”
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Senator Kennedy is pushing to force the Social Security Administration to get more dead people off the rolls, to cut back on benefit fraud. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (31) I’m Matt Doyle”
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According to research from Move.org, Louisiana is the third least expensive state to be a new mom. Move.org spokesperson Cosette Jarrett says their study factored the cost of childcare for the first year of a child’s life as well as the medical cost of delivery.
Cut 3 (10) “…in the nation.”
Only two other states have lower costs as Mississippi is the cheapest $11,364 and Alabama is second at $11,522. Jarrett says the breakdown of the basic costs came down to two contributing price tags.
Cut 4 (12) “…is $5,747.”
Jarrett says at $12,103, the combined Louisiana cost of childbirth and childcare is cheaper than daycare alone in DC, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut.
Cut 5 (07) “…doing so much.”
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Flash flood watches are in effect across Louisiana through Saturday as another two to four inches of rain is expected. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says keep a close eye on the roads, and do not attempt to cross flooded streets…
Cut 6 (06) “…drown”
The same system has already caused localized flooding in the northwestern portions of the state, flooding the required rescue operations.
Steele says if at all possible, reschedule your plans for the next two days.
Cut 7 (07) “…the way.”
The Boot’s been getting pounded with severe weather events over the last few weeks, and Steele says after talking with meteorologists, it’s a pattern we could see continuing even after the rains stop late Saturday.
Cut 8 (09) “…future.”
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Senator John Kennedy is once again bringing legislation aimed at getting dead people off the social security rolls. The Republican says every year the federal government spends 144 billion dollars on improper payments, through Social security, Medicare, and other social programs.
Cut 9 (12) “…them“.
Kennedy says his legislation would address the long running issue by tackling the two biggest drivers of fraud, starting with Social Security’s list of deceased citizens…
Cut 10 (12)“…agencies.”
The Senator cited a case from last year in Louisiana where an instance of Social Security fraud by a relative cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars…
Cut 11 (11) “…cashing them.”
Six Democratic Senators have signed onto the legislation as well.
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House Ways and Means will hear a bill Monday that would repeal the .45 percent state sales tax levied in the last legislative session to plug a budget deficit. But Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says the nearly half-a-cent sales tax is producing a surplus..
Cut 12 (08) “…operate”
The bill is authored by Alexandria Representative Lance Harris.
The state sales tax was four percent for many years before Governor Edwards took office, and in his first year it jumped to five percent to cover a significant budget gap, before falling to 4.45 percent last year. But Horton says census figures show our population is declining…
Cut 13 (05) “…population.”
State census figures indicate the population fell by 10,840 residents between July 2017 and July 2018.
Removing that .45 percent sales tax would likely mean cuts to state services, but Horton says Louisiana needs to learn to live within it’s means.
Cut 14 (12) “…done that”
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