It’s back to work at the Capitol today as lawmakers keep working to solve the state’s $940 million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. The lower chamber sent to the Senate legislation that cuts government spending by 100-million dollars, and it includes a 44-million dollar reduction for public schools. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the state department of education is not happy…:
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The Senate now has the one penny sales tax increase bill and the House is set to take up items today including alcohol and cigarette tax raising bills.

North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Democrat Foster Campbell announced on the Jim Engster Show that he is making preparations to run for the US Senate:
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Secretary of State Tom Schedler says heading into Thursday, 47,000 early votes were cast in the March 5th Louisiana Presidential Primary, compared to just 35,000 through the entire early voting period in 2012. He says it’s nice to see republican and democratic voters get involved in the process..:
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Early voting remains open through Saturday.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has submitted a bid to host the SEC baseball tournament at Zephyr Field in Metairie from 2017 to 2021. President Jay Cicero says the Zephyr’s new owners are extremely supportive of the bid…:
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The SEC baseball tournament has been held in Hoover, Alabama for the last 18 years. It’s expected the SEC will award a bid to host the tournament after the 12 team event is held in late May.

The Center for Reproductive Rights says the abortion admitting privileges law, which got the go-ahead this week by the 5th US circuit Court of Appeals, puts women’s health in jeopardy. Attorney David Brown says now there are only two clinics with abortion doctors who can admit patients to a nearby hospital, one in Shreveport and on in New Orleans…:
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He believes now woman will turn to unsafe ways to have an abortion. They plan to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court.

The man known as Mr. Wonder, a Monroe children’s television host in the 70s, has officially been indicted on rape charges according to an AP report. A grand jury in Rapides Parish indicted 76-year-old Frank John Selas III on two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual batter and 8 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Louisiana’s budget instability over the last several years has led Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the state’s credit rating which makes it more expensive to borrow money for construction projects. Lawmakers say they are staying the course as the House sent the one penny sales tax increase bill to the Senate.

A Hammond woman was booked into jail Thursday after East Baton Rouge Parish Sherrif’s office says she was jumping up and down and dancing naked on top of a vehicle parked at the children’s clothing store “Oh Baby” on Jefferson Highway. A report indicates 52-year-old Elizabeth Ferger was cussing and shouting that she wanted to save the world then trashed the store and threw a metal table through a window. Deputies booked her into Parish Prison on several charges.

The SEC is thinking about moving its annual baseball tournament and New Orleans has put in a bid. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The state House sends to the Senate a bill that will increase the state’s sales tax by another penny for 18 months starting April 1st. It’s expected to generate an estimated 200-million dollars this fiscal year, but Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says more needs to be done to deal with the 940-million dollar shortfall..:
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The full House still has revenue generating tax measures to take up.

With two days to go, Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voting totals for the March 5 Louisiana Presidential Primary have already surpassed 2012 numbers. He says there’s been a lot of interest in this Presidential election…:
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Lots of folks are buzzing about the Republican Presidential debate last night where Marco Rubio and, at times, Ted Cruz went on the attack of Donald Trump in an intense showdown.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced, and the Center for Reproductive Rights plans to take it to the high court.
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North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell announced on the Jim Engster Show that he is making preparations to run for the US Senate. Campbell says if he goes to Washington he’ll bring is populist beliefs with him…:
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The House moved legislation that would raise the four-cent sales tax by one penny, but there’s still more work to do to solve the state’s budget crisis. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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A Shreveport Police Officer is on paid leave after allegedly driving drunk and crashing into a concrete wall on I-49. Shreveport PD says their patrol was called to the scene of a wreck around 5am Thursday where they located the driver of a truck, 38-year-old John Scheen of Shreveport. Investigators believe Scheen, a Shreveport Police Officer, lost control of his vehicle when he crashed. He was charged with DWI and placed on paid leave.

The Center for Reproductive Rights plans to appeal the ruling by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that says Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced. David Brown, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, says the ruling will make it very difficult for Louisiana women to get a legal abortion…:
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He says they are appealing the 5th Circuit’s ruling to the US Supreme Court.

Public Service Commissioner Democrat Foster Campell announces he’s running for the US Senate. The North Louisiana PSC member said on the Jim Engster Show that he has the support of Governor John Bel Edwards and that Louisiana needs someone in Washington who isn’t afraid to speak their mind.

The Louisiana House of Representatives has voted 76 to 27 in support to raise Louisiana’s sales tax by a penny. This is a huge victory for Governor John Bel Edwards as part of his plan to balance the state’s budget deficit. The legislation is now on its way to the Senate and is expected to generate more than 210 million dollars for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The current budget deficit is about $900 million dollars.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany’s PROTECT Act to help the Louisiana seafood industry has been signed by President Barack Obama. Boustany says the PROTECT Act will help Louisiana producers expand their markets around the country. He says if other countries want to sell seafood in the United States, they need to play by our rules…

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A new study from AAA shows 87% of drivers engaged in at least one risky behavior while driving in the past month. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the data is not surprising because about 30 to 40 thousand people die in car crashes each year in the US.

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Felons in Louisiana face more employment obstacles that any other state, according to a new study. Louisiana has 389 job restrictions but the average number in the US is 123. Allyson Fredericksen, with the Alliance for a Just Society, says this problem can often lead ex-inmates to return to a life of crime to make ends meet. She says some of these restrictions need to be lifted….

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Fredericksen says the Alliance for a Just Society is seeking to eliminate the lifetime legislative bans to employment and review the restrictions to see if they are all still applicable.

The state House has approved a bill that will increase the state sales tax by a penny, from four cents to five cents. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson is the sponsor of the legislation….
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It needed 70 votes for approval and 76 House members voted for it.

The sales tax hike is a significant part of Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to balance the budget as there’s currently a 900-million dollar deficit. If senators agree to a higher sales tax, it would raise an estimated 210-million dollars by June 30th.

The House also approved legislation that makes 101-million dollars in cuts to the current budget, which is 81-million dollars more than what the governor had proposed. K-through-12th grade state funding would be cut by 44-million dollars under the House plan.

Louisiana’s budget instability over the last several years has led Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the state’s credit rating. The drop in the state’s credit rating will make it more expensive for the state to borrow money for construction projects. Crowley Representative Jack Montoucet reacted to Moody’s decision on the House floor…
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Montoucet is referring to the work the House did on Thursday in trying to solve the state’s budget crisis.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s disappointing Moody didn’t wait until the conclusion of the special session to make a decision on Louisiana’s credit rating. Edwards says it’s more important than ever for the legislature to work with him to stabilize the budget.

The House voted 76 to 27 in support to raise the state’s sales tax up once cent, to 5 cents. The legislation is headed to the Senate. This is a big win for Governor John Bel Edwards as he’s working to reduce Louisiana’s massive budget deficit. This new tax will tainse over 210 million dollars for this fiscal year.

A new study from AAA shows 87% of drivers engage in risky behaviors while driving. Halen Doughty has more…
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A three judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Louisiana can enforce a state law requiring doctors preforming abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles. Benjamin Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says he doesn’t know how the Department of Health and Hospitals will proceed.
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A study finds felons in Louisiana face more employment obstacles that any other state. Allyson Fredericksen, with the Alliance for a Just Society, says many of the restrictions are state laws that keep convicted felons from being hired for certain positions in fields like health care and government offices. She says Louisiana makes it hard for released inmates to get their life back on track…

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