Despite being greatly outnumbered in the legislature, Democrats are confident in their agenda for this year’s session, which enters its second week today. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The state department of transportation hopes to identify the location for the proposed Mississippi River Bridge south of Baton Rouge by the end of the year. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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For Democrats in the legislature, there’s one issue that stands out over all others as the legislative session enters its second week. Marrero Representative Kyle Green is the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
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Green says while that includes things like prices we pay at the grocery stores and at the gas pumps, what it will not include in this session is a possible reduction in sales taxes. He says that’s because there’s talk about phasing out the income tax.
Cut 4 (11) “…a budget shortfall.”
Green says even though Democrats are outnumbered by Republicans by more than two-to-one in both the House and the Senate, all key pieces of legislation will require the cooperation of everyone on both sides of the aisle.
Cut 5 (12) “…need Republican support.”
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The state transportation department plans to pick a location for a new Mississippi River Bridge in the Baton Rouge area by the end of this year. DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet says they are looking at three different locations south of Baton Rouge in Iberville Parish. He says they are currently looking at environmental impacts…
Cut 6 (11) “…selective alternative.”
Ledet says they are also taking public input and held two public meetings on both sides of the river, one in Plaquemine and the other in St. Gabriel. He says DOTD expects to present the final preferred bridge location as part of an Environmental Assessment by December…
Cut 7 (12) “…environmental assessment.”
Ledet says 400-million dollars in funding has already been secured to build the bridge. But the total price tag is around two-billion dollars and Ledet says they are examining other funding sources…
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There is a bill awaiting debate on the House Floor to name the proposed bridge after President Donald Trump. The bill’s author, Monroe Representative Michael Echols, says if the bridge is named after President Trump, there’s a good chance more federal dollars will be available to build it.
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It’s the final week of winter and Mother Nature is giving Louisiana one last dose of it. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says what a difference a day makes…
Cut 9 (10) “…temperatures.”
Keim says high temperatures were in the mid-80s yesterday, today they are in the 50s and upper 40s for north Louisiana…
Cut 10 (10) “…top of that.”
Keim says temperatures get below freezing tomorrow morning for north and central Louisiana…
Cut 11 (11) “…the weekend..”