The third special session of the year starts today, and lawmakers only have ten days to work out a deal to generate revenue to avoid steeps cuts to TOPS and other services. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) I’m Matt Doyle“
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Eyes across the state are on the kick off of the third special session as we may soon know a definitive sales tax plan. Kevin Barnhart has the story:
Cut 2 (30) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The number of people employed in Louisiana has reached its second highest level ever. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The third special session of the year kicks off today, with some legislators expected to go to battle for the last time this year over the state’s persistent budget issues under the specter of deep cuts to TOPS and other state services. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says passing the half penny sales tax renewal will be the focus, because it fully funds the government.
Cut 4 (11) “right now.”
The half-cent sales tax came just 7 votes short of passage on the last night of the previous session, but 20 Republican legislators in the House are at odds with plan, and would prefer a third penny and 126 million dollars in across the board cuts. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says Democrats won’t let that happen.
Cut 5 (08) “the board.”
The Governor signed the legislative budget that fully funds healthcare, but unless more revenue is generated would require 648 million in cuts to other sectors. Johnson says after a hard fought battle to get the bipartisan budget, suggestions by Appropriation Chairman Cameron Henry that money be shuffled out of healthcare and state worker raises will not be entertained.
Cut 6 (11) “revenue measures.”
Freshman Republican Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello, one of the 20 House Republicans who voted against the half penny, but for the third penny, says the state can get by without the higher tax.
Cut 7 (11) “to be”
Muscarello, whose district includes Southeastern, says he’s open to a revenue deal that fully funds higher education, but says he’s warry about spending increases in other sectors.
Cut 8 (10) “state agencies.”
If the legislature manages to pass a revenue bill, it will likely be a short term deal lasting at most 6 years. That means half a decade from now, the whole process will likely start again. Dardenne says he’s disappointed that it came down to another sales tax, instead of permanent structural tax reform.
Cut 9 (09) “years ahead.”
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Eyes across the state are on the kick off of the third special session. Governor John Bel Edwards was 7 votes away from closing in on his wishes to renew a half-cent sales tax in the most recent special session, so now the attention has been turned toward legislators whose votes can tip the scales to approving a definitive tax plan. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are many factors that play into the lawmakers’ decisions.
Cut 10 (10) “…do for them.”
Pinsonat says that even though the discussion has been focused on renewing a sales tax that is either a third of a penny or a half of a penny, there may be discussion of an amount somewhere in between the two amounts.
Cut 11 (10) “…cutting the budget”
The analyst seems fairly optimistic that a solution will be met in the third special session, but says it’s always a possibility that more stalling could occur.
Cut 12 (07) “…rest of the year.”
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Two high schoolers from Lake Charles want to bring delivery services to stadiums so that hot dog comes right to you in the stands. The idea from Malik Ellis and Alex Brown of LaGrange High School won the SEED Center Business Pitch Competition this year. SEED Center Business Incubator Executive Director Adrian Wallace saw the pitch.
Cut 13 (10) “energetic”
The potential app is called “Runner Eats” and would function similarly to Waitr.
Wallace says the key to their success was a highly developed business plan that would put many of the contestants on the businesses competition show Shark Tank to shame.