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.

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 will result in a 282-million dollar cut to higher education…
cut 15 (11) “…trained work force”
The vote in favor of the SAVE fund in the House was 59-44, it passed by a much larger margin in the Senate.

Also in the final hours of the session, legislators approved a 50-cent cigaratte tax increase. Pushing the tax on a pack of cigarettes to 86-cents and using the additional revenue to pay for health care costs. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton…
cut 29 (05) “…healthcare”

The state House rejected a resolution that asked the Louisiana AG to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release Albert Woodfox. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 1 (30) “…Michelle Southern”

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”
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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”
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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’

Work at the Capitol is nearing completion according to House and Senate leaders. The session must end today at 6pm. Lawmakers indicate they’ve mostly come to an agreement on ways to stop cuts to higher ed and healthcare. House Speaker Chuck Kleckley opened today urging members to move it along…:
CUT 20 (08) “goal line”
Lawmakers risk a veto of the budget if they don’t keep the spending plan for next fiscal year revenue neutral.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana to gather information on Red River flooding damage. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says it’s too early to tell if the flooding is extensive enough to qualify for federal assistance:
CUT 9 (11) “of the damage”

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 in new tariffs on exports if Congress doesn’t pass the legislation. Abraham says this issue goes farther than just beef, pork, and poultry…:
CUT 13 (08) “my farmers”
The measure now heads to the US Senate.

The LSU baseball team is on their way to Omaha and the fans won’t be far behind as preparations begin for the Tigers 17th College World Series appearance. LSU will play TCU on Sunday at 2pm. Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Deborah Ward says they love it when the Purple and Gold Nation is in town…:
cut 1 (07) “the country”
Ward says if you’re still planning a trip, you can go to visitomaha.com to check on hotel availability.

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) “reporting”

The legislative session ends today and lawmakers have until 6 PM to approve a budget for next fiscal year and pass revenue generating bills that would stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. LSU President and Chancellor F King Alexander…:
CUT 18 (07) “very concerned”
House leaders say they are very close to coming to an agreement.

The state House didn’t want to ask the state to drop its appeal of a federal judge’s ruling to set free the last of the Angola 3. Albert Woodfox has been in solitary confinement more than four decades for killing a prison guard but his last two convictions were overturned. But Jackson Representative Ken Havard says if the man is set free then the victim’s family would suffer…:
CUT 11 (09) “out of there”
The resolution failed 65-18.

The LSU baseball team is on their way to Omaha today as preparations begin for the Tigers 17th College World Series appearance. LSU will play TCU on Sunday at 2pm.

The state House rejected a resolution today that asked the Louisiana Attorney General to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release Albert Woodfox; the last of the Angola three. Woodfox has been in solitary confinement for over 40 years for killing a prison guard. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says it’s time to drop this:
CUT 10 (09) “lose again”
Several House members defended the AG and the resolution failed 65-18.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana assess Red River flooding damage. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says the data collected is needed in a request for a federal disaster declaration…:
CUT 7 (11) “disaster declaration”

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis went on a bizarre rant about “crayfish” directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming on the US House floor. Polis disagreed with Fleming’s stance on a bill that would prevent the federal government from enforcing federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized it. Here’s how Polis responded to Fleming’s remarks…:
CUT 3 (07) “to ban that”
Fleming says Polis’s rant was very odd and puzzling…:
CUT 4 (09) “on the floor”
Fleming believes Polis should get his facts straight before going on another such rant.

State lawmakers have until 6 today to reach an agreement on the budget. Leaders say they are very close to coming up with a spending plan for next year. One of the major items up for debate is what to do about the cigarette tax which the House wants to raise 32 cents but the Senate wants to make it much higher.

Legislators have until 6 tonight to agree on a budget for next fiscal year. House Speaker Chuck Kleckley open today’s session of the House by telling lawmakers they’re very close to reaching an agreement on a spending plan…:
CUT 20 (08) “goal line”
Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater has told lawmakers that higher education could be cut 282 million dollars, if Jindal vetoes revenue generating bills that are not offset with a tax cut. LSU President and Chancellor F King Alexander says that will be tough to swallow…:
CUT 19 (08) “July 1”
As part of the budget deal, lawmakers are still trying to figure out how much to riase the tax on cigarettes. The House agreed to a tax increase of 32 cents and the Senate believes it should be much higher than that.

The rising waters of the Red River have some concerned that could lead to a higher number of mosquitoes this summer. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (25) “reporting”

The Livingston Police Department arrests a 28-year-old man for allegedly having sex with an underage girl in a public restroom. Authorities say witnesses reported Jason Kelly and a 15-year-old girl regularly visit the bathroom in the park across from the police department. Cops ended up finding the two and the suspect confessed to the crime. Kelly is charged with two counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.