As the legislative session was coming to a close yesterday, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills. Governor Bobby Jindal calls it a very successful session, since the legislature passed a balanced budget…

cut 16 (12) “taxes”

Opponents called the legislation a gimmick and only proposed to help Jindal’s presidential ambitions.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s 4th week of Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says the state needs to take the money it gets for roads and bridges and use it for its intended purpose…

cut 13 (09) “on those items”

You can find all four candidate responses at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

The legislature passes a bill that increases the tax on cigarettes by an additional 50-cents a pack. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

The National Weather Service is predicting the Red River will crest in Alexandria at 38 feet late Sunday night or early Monday morning. It’s estimated that about 100 homes are at risk of flooding in the Alexandria area. Several roads are closed due to flood conditions and more could be closed as the crest nears.

The key piece of the legislation that was needed to prevent a veto of revenue generating bills made it through in the final hours of the session. Jeff Palermo has more

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The legislature also passed a measure that would allow law enforcement agencies to scan license plates in an effort to crack down on car thieves and insurance violations. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says the technology is a more efficient way for police to cross check license plates with their databases. The measure creates a pilot program that will allow the use of the scanners until 2021.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s weekly Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says with our growing economy and population it’s crucial that we address the transportation projects piling up, but it must be done as part of overall budget reform…:

cut 12 (09) “for the state”

All four candidate answers can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the Red River is predicted to crest at Alexandria at 38 feet late Sunday night or early Monday morning. He says property in Alexandria, Pineville, and areas north of the levee system are at risk of flooding. Brazzell says the biggest issue facing residents is backwater flooding…

Cut 5 (09) “Rigolette area”

Brazzell says it’s estimated that about 100 homes are at risk of flooding in the Alexandria area.

In the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater told House members a vote against the SAVE fund will result in a 282-million dollar cut to higher education…

cut 15 (11) “trained work force”

The measure is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills.

Legislators approved a 50-cent hike on the state’s cigarette tax. At 86-cents, Louisiana’s cigarette tax would surpass Mississippi’s tax rate, but remain lower than Arkansas and Texas. During debate on the House floor, Leesville Representative James Armes stood up for smokers…

cut 8 (08) “wanna smoke”

Revenue raised from the higher cigarette tax will go towards Medicaid funding.

Louisiana Radio Network’s fourth question in our Governor Q&A asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says building roads and bridges are fundamental to our economic development. He says it’s time we put the trust back into the Transportation Trust Fund…

cut 11 (09) “other areas of government”

You can find all candidate answers at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

The Red River has crested in the Shreveport area and now it’s moving toward Alexandria. Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says residents can expect waters to continue to rise for the next few days…

cut 4 (06) “next week”

Brazzell says property in Alexandria, Pineville, and areas north of the levee system are at risk of flooding.

In the waning hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards called the legislation a gimmick and only proposed to help Jindal’s presidential ambitions…

cut 14 (11) “right thing”

Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater told House members a vote against the SAVE fund would result in a 282-million dollar cut to higher education.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s 4th week of Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. US Senator David Vitter says he’s sick and tired of sitting in hours of traffic instead of spending time being productive or with family….

cut 10 (09) “change that”

All four candidate responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

State lawmakers have voted to increase the state’s cigarette tax by 50-cents. If the measure is not vetoed, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will go up from 36-cents to 86-cents on July first. Leesville Representative James Armes voted against the tax hike, he says Louisiana benefits from having the third lowest tax in the country on cigarettes…

cut 7 (12) “restaurants”

Revenue raised from the higher cigarette tax will go towards Medicaid funding. The measure gained final legislative approval on a House vote of 75-29.

The 2015 Legislative Session is in the books and an agreement was reached on next year’s $24 billion dollar budget that would prevent deep cuts to higher education and health care. One of the ways the House and Senate came together to balance the budget was to agree to a 50 cent increase on the state’s cigarette tax. Tax breaks were also minimized as were business subsidies.

The key piece of the legislation that was needed to prevent a veto of revenue generating bills made it through…:
CUT 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The US House votes to repeal a law requiring country of origin labels on beef, pork, and poultry. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says it’s projected that Louisiana could face $1.3 billion dollars in new tariffs on exports if Congress doesn’t pass the legislation, and he says lawmakers in Washington are left with very few choices…
CUT 2 (12) Q: ‘from the tariffs”
The measure now heads to the US Senate.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana, gathering information on the amount of damage from the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says the data is needed in a request for a federal disaster declaration. More than 300 homes were affected in the Shreveport area.

CUT 1 (09) “clapping”
And that’s a wrap on this year’s session. It was a hustle and bustle and as predicted it came down to the last second today with the House and Senate passing all of the budget and tax bills.

Lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards called the legislation a gimmick and only proposed to help Jindal’s presidential ambitions..:
CUT 14 (11) “right thing”
The vote was 30-9 in support in the Senate, and 59-43 in the House. The measure essentially paves the way for next fiscal year’s $24 billion dollar budget to be signed by Governor Jindal.

Damage assessment teams are in Northwest Louisiana to gather information on the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says -if there is a federal disaster declaration- that would give financial assistance to those affected in the region….
CUT 8 (11) Q: ‘it would’

In a bizarre rant in Washington from Colorado Congressman Jared Polis directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming, who is on record supporting a bill that would prevent the feds from enforcing federal marijuana laws in states with legalized pot, Polis asked Fleming if he would like “smoking crayfish” to be banned. Fleming fired back at Polis…
CUT 6 (06) Q: ‘we boil them’
Fleming says it’s not unusual to see Polis act this way in Congress.

On the final day of the legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to approve a 50 cent per pack tax increase on cigarettes. That tax is expected to raise 108 million dollars for the state. The legislature also approved the SAVE fund which is critical for a revenue-neutral budget.

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis went on a crazy rant about “crayfish” directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming on the US House floor…
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”
==========================
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana to gather information on the amount of damage as a result of the Red River flooding…
CUT 7 (11) “disaster declaration”
That’s GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley.

The State House rejected a resolution today that asked Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release the last of the Angola three. Albert Woodfox has been in solitary for over 40 years for killing a prison guard, but his last two convictions were overturned. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says it’s time to drop this:
cut 10 (09) “lose again”

There is a 6 pm deadline for this last day of the legislative session, and leaders in the House and Senate have basically agreed on the need to protect higher ed and health care from cuts. However, disagreements remain over Governor Bobby Jindal’s tax parameters. This afternoon, legislators did agree-and overwhelmingly voted-to raise the cigarette tax 50 cents per pack. That bill is now on its way to the Governor’s desk.

The House has rejected a resolution asking Attorney General Bobby Caldwell to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release the last of the Angola three. Albert Woodfox has been in solitary for 40 years for killing a prison guard, and many think this punishment has gone too long, but others -like Jackson Representative Ken Harvard support the A.G. Harvard says this should have been handled a long time ago…
CUT 12 (09) Q: “incorrect”
—————————–
The US House votes to repeal a law requiring country of origin labels on beef, pork, and poultry. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says it’s projected that Louisiana could face $1.3 billion dollars in new tariffs on exports if Congress doesn’t pass the legislation, and he says lawmakers in Washington are left with very few choices…
CUT 14 (12) Q: ‘from the tariffs”
The measure now heads to the US Senate.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana, gathering information on the amount of damage from the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says the data is needed in a request for a federal disaster declaration. More than 300 homes were affected in the Shreveport area.

With just hours to go before the legislative session ends, the House and Senate are trying to strike a deal on next year’s budget and the tax plans to make it work. Most lawmakers agree on how to raise money to avoid cuts to higher ed and health care, but there is diasgreement over meeting the Governor’s guidelines to be revenue neutral.

The State House rejects a resolution asking the Louisiana AG to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release Albert Woodfox…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
—————————
Damage assessment teams are in Northwest Louisiana to gather information on the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says -if there is a federal disaster declaration- that would give financial assistance to those affected in the region….
CUT 8 (11) Q: ‘it would’

It was rather bizarre rant in Washington from Colorado Congressman Jared Polis (POLL us) directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming, who is on record supporting a bill that would prevent the feds from enforcing federal marijuana laws in states with legalized pot. Polis asked Fleming if he would like “smoking crayfish” to be banned. Fleming fired back at Polis…
CUT 6 (06) Q: ‘we boil them’