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.

CUT 3 (11) “or impaired”

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….
cut 28 (09) “…18 months”
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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The House 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. The legislation is now on its way to the Senate and is expected to create more than 210 million dollars for this fiscal year.

A new report says Louisiana felons face more job restrictions that in any other state. Michelle Southern has the story…
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Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany’s PROTECT Act to help the Louisiana seafood industry has been signed by President Barack Obama. Boustany says this legislation can keep illegal crawfish and seafood products produced outside the United States from ever leaving their country of origin.
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A new study from Triple A finds Eighty-seven percent of drivers engaged in at least one risky behavior while driving in the past month. Spokesperson Don Redman says 42% or drivers admit to texting and 70% admit to being on the phone. Redman says driving when you’re sleepy is also unsafe for drivers.
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He says in the US about 30 to 40 thousand people die each year in car crashes.

At the state capitol, members of the Louisiana House Representatives are trying to agree on a plan to address the state’s 900-million dollar shortfall this fiscal year and it appears they are making progress. They’ve approved a one-cent increase to the state sales tax and agreed to 101-million dollars in cuts.

A three judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Louisiana can enforce a state law that requires doctors preforming abortions must have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles. Benjamin Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says this legislation ensures that in an emergency the physician can take the proper steps to protect the health of the woman…
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Planned Parenthood says the ruling will force the closure of three out of the four abortion clinics in the state.

A survey from AAA finds 87-percent of respondents admit to at least one risky behavior while driving in the past month. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says a lot of drivers say they’ve recently talked on the cell phone, sent a text message and traveling more than 15 miles over the speed limit…
cut 5 (07) “…impaired driving”

A new report says felons in Louisiana face more employment obstacles that any other state. The average number of job restrictions for felons in the US is 123, but Louisiana has 389. Allyson Fredericksen, with the Alliance for a Just Society, says many of the restrictions are state laws that prevent convicted felons from being hired for certain positions in fields like health care and government offices…
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Fredericksen says this problem can often lead ex-felons returning to a life of crime to make money.