The legislative session is in full swing, and Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers now is the time to implement comprehensive tax reform, so Louisiana can end the cycle of midyear budget cuts. The governor’s proposals would increase taxes on many businesses, but lower rates for individuals.

Cut 13 (12) “days ahead”

The legislative session will last for two months.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has opened the line of credit for Louisiana to receive the $1.6 billion Congress appropriated for flood recovery. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer says now is the time for flood victims to fill out the survey at restore.la.gov to see if they are eligible for homeowner assistance. She say the state should have a program manager in place in the next couple of weeks.

A Chinese chemical company chooses Louisiana over Texas to build a 1.1 billion dollar manufacturing complex. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says this will help Louisiana grow as a global leader in chemical manufacturing and he says the project by Wanhua (Wan-hwah) Chemical Group will bring 170 new direct jobs to the state.

Cut 4 (09) “a year”

LED estimates the project will also result in 945 indirect jobs.

Another study by LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott finds the return isn’t there when it comes to state’s film tax credits program as the report shows it causes a significant hit to Louisiana’s budget. Scott says the return of investment was 22-percent in 2016.

Cut 7 (07) “million bucks”

Governor John Bel Edwards asks lawmakers to leave partisan politics at the door as they begin the 2017 legislative session. Michelle Southern has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The governor also wants to pour more money into Louisiana’s roads. In so many words, he announced his support for an increase to the gasoline tax…
cut 14 (07) “….traffic congestion”
There’s been talk of raising the gas tax anywhere between seven and 17-cents.

The House Ways and Means committee will begin tomorrow pouring over some of the proposals included in the governor’s tax plan. John Bel Edwards ambitious proposal will increase taxes on many businesses, but he says it will lead to lower income taxes for 90-percent of the taxpayers. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is confident once more details of the plan come out, there will be ample support.
Cut 10 (11) “very top”
But West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says Louisiana has one of the lowest income tax rates in the nation. He’s concerned about putting too much of the tax burden on businesses and losing jobs. He says lawmakers need to be cautious about lowering taxes for individuals and getting businesses to foot the bill..
Cut 11 (10) “to business”

Governor John Bel Edwards called today for a bipartisan effort to pass tax laws that will alleviate the state’s fiscal challenges it faces every year. Edwards is also urging lawmakers to raise the minimum wage and pass equal pay legislation so women receive the same wages as men for equal work…
cut 15 (08) “….applause”
The legislative session began today and it will last two months.

Gas prices are on the rise as the summer driving season approaches. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the statewide average of $2.19 is about 7 cents higher than the prior week which is typical for this time of year.
Cut 12 (11) “in June”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same…
Cut 6 (09) “…with the governor”
The governor’s communciations director, Richard Carbo, denies the state is holding up the process and instead blames red tape with the federal government. Carbo says Graves comments are not helping homeowners…
cut 9 (08) “…not accurate”

Starting today, Louisiana homeowners who flooded in 2016 are asked to fill out a survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov. The survey will give the state a better idea on where flood victims are in the recovery process and more importantly help determine if they are eligible federal homeowner assistance.

The 2017 legislative session started today with a 38-minute speech from Governor John Bel Edwards in the House chambers. The governor is pushing an ambitious tax plan that will mean higher taxes for businesses, but possibly lower taxes for many Louisiana residents. Edwards also says he wants to put money towards better roads, even if that means increasing the state’s gasoline tax…
cut 14 (07) “…traffic congestion”
The legislative session will conclude on June 8th.

As is typical when the weather warms up, the price at the pump also starts going up. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer…:
CUT 11 (10) “a gallon”
The current statewide average is $2.19.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance…
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Christopher Few was arrested over the weekend in Avoyelles Parish on a domestic abuse charge. Few is the father of Jeremy Mardis, the six-year-old autistic boy killed during a police chase. Chief Deputy Steven Martel says Few is in their parish jail and he also has outstanding warrants for theft in St. Landry…
cut 15 (05) “….on him”

The 2017 session is underway and Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers now is the time to pass long-term tax reform that provides budget stability, so Louisiana can better fund its priorities. Edwards is pushing a plan that would increase taxes on many businesses, but promises to lower taxes on most Louisiana residents…:
Cut 13 (12) “days ahead”
Edwards said he can’t respect legislators who vote no on every proposal, without offering their own ideas. The session must end June 8th.

Gas prices are on the rise. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week to $2.19….:
Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”

The feud between Governor John Bel Edwards and Congressman Garret Graves over the pace in which flood victims are getting federal aid heats up. Graves said he’s so confident that the state is at fault, he’d resign if it was actually the federal government slowing things down…:
Cut 8 (08) “or not”
But the Governor’s spokesman, Richard Carbo, says these kinds of comments aren’t doing anything to help homeowners…:
Cut 9 (08) “not accurate”
Carbo says he has a letter from HUD saying the state has not received the funds yet.

Meanwhile today was the first day flood victims could fill out a survey that would help state leaders determine how to distribute the money. The mandatory questionnaire is online at restore.la.gov, or you can call 1-866-735-2001.

The 2017 Legislative session is officially underway in Baton Rouge. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to lawmakers in a joint session and outlined what he hopes to see accomplished over the next two months. He said among his proposals, he wants to model Louisiana’s sales tax structure utilizing best practices from other states. He urged lawmakers to take a serious look at what we can do to better invest in our state’s roads — Increase minimum wage and support equal pay. And work to reduce the state’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate. He says the most important thing they all must do, is work together…:
CUT 25 (10) “people of Louisiana”
He said he hopes politics and partisanship don’t blur the path to the goal. The session must end by noon on June 8th.

Gas prices are on the rise as the summer driving season approaches. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the statewide average of $2.19 is about 7 cents higher than the prior week which is typical for this time of year.
Cut 12 (11) “in June”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.
Cut 3 (09) “strangle her”
Few is charged with domestic abuse battery.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The father of the 6 year old child who was gunned down by former officers in Marksville in 2015 was booked over the weekend for allegedly strangling his girlfriend. Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steven Martel says there was enough evidence to arrest Christopher Few:
Cut 4 (07) “had occurred”
Few is charged with Domestic Abuse Battery.

As is typical when the weather warms up, the price at the pump also starts going up. Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer, which will lead to a decrease in supply. He says you can expect to pay more this year than in 2016…:
CUT 11 (10) “a gallon”
The current statewide average is $2.19, up 7 cents from the prior week.

A teacher has been arrested by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office accused of inappropriately touching one of his male students. Detectives says they received a complaint about the alleged incident last month, in which the victim stated happened on numerous occasions in 2015 when he was 15 years old. 31-year-old Raymond P Johnson is booked with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Republican Congressman Garret Graves says he’s so sure that it’s the state delaying the process of distributing federal flood recovery dollars to homeowners he’ll resign if it turns out the problem is with the federal government….
cut 8 (08) “…or not”
But the governor’s communications director Richard Carbo says he has a letter from HUD indicating that the money has yet to become available for the state to use..

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.
Cut 3 (09) “strangle him”

Have you noticed gas prices are on the rise? AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week for a statewide average of $2.19. Redman says it’s that time of the year when the price at the pump rises.
Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

The legislative session begins today and taxes will be the big debate. Over 850 bills have been filed including the measure that requires exotic dancers in strip clubs to be at least 21-years-old. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says the new measure is less broad than last year’s when it comes to the definition of nudity. But the goal is the same, prevent human trafficking…
cut 14 (07) “…my intent”
The legislative session will last until June 8th.