Governor John Bel Edwards calls for a higher state sales tax as one way to close a 750-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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According to an analysis by the personal finance website WalletHub, it costs less to smoke in Louisiana than in any other state. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Louisiana Family Forum is searching for Louisiana’s longest married couple. Emelie Gunn has more….
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Governor John Bel Edwards proposes adding one-cent to the state’s existing four-cent sales tax as a way to address a 750-million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year. Edwards will also provide lawmakers with other options as a way to raise revenue quickly and they include a higher telecommunications tax on all telephones and another increase to the cigarette tax
Edwards plans to call a three-week special session starting on February 14th. It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to pass any tax increase. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says another option for legislators to consider is legislation to require internet sales tax collection…
Edwards also proposes tapping into the rainy day fund, redirecting non-coastal dollars from the BP settlement and cutting discretionary state funds. Republican lawmakers will likely oppose plans for higher taxes and instead call for more cuts to the budget. Edwards says he’s willing to discuss that issue
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According to the personal finance website WalletHub, it costs less to smoke in Louisiana than in any other state. The report, The True Cost of Smoking By State, finds one resident in Louisiana spends about $24,000 a year in smoking-related costs. WalletHub spokeswoman Jill Gonzalez says it’s based on societal and economic factors…:
WalletHub found the total cost over a lifetime per smoker in Louisiana amounts to about $1.2 million dollars. Gonzalez says that’s half of what smokers in New York pay. She says the out of pocket expense for a smoker in Louisiana who picks up a pack a day is about $1700 a year…:
Gonzalez says, direct costs aside, Louisianians will lose an estimated $183,500 over a lifetime if they smoke due to workplace bias, missing work or being less productive due to health issues. She says the main reason it costs less to be a smoker in Louisiana is because they don’t have to dig too deep in their wallets at the store…:
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With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Louisiana Family Forum is searching for the state’s “Longest Married Couple” to share their story and commitment of marriage. President Gene Mills says it’s a great honor to meet these couples who have survived the test of time. He says it’s not every day you meet people together for 70 plus years…
Mills says last year, Lawrence and Varrie Player of Benton were recognized as the longest known married couple in the state at 80 years together. He says when talking to the Player’s you’re dealing with authentic Louisiana history.
Mills says most people enter into marriage assuming until death do us part but now-a-days it doesn’t always work that way. He says finding the longest married couple encourages others that marriage and family is a lasting and rewarding endeavor. (To enter a couple married for over 70 years contact the LFF before February 5th.)
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US Congressman Ralph Abraham is upset with the Department of Veteran Affair’s choice to lead health care operations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Skye McDougall has been appointed to oversee medical centers in Alexandria, Shreveport and New Orleans. Abraham says McDougall provided false testimony about four day wait times at V-A centers in Los Angeles.
Abraham believes the new director should be someone that is not involved in this scandal. McDougall was oringinally appointed to a position in Phoenix, but after Senator John McCain objected, she was appointed to her current position. Abraham says the VA should not use Louisiana as a place to deposit unwanted employees.
VA officials have defended McDougall’s testimony. Abraham says McDougall’s appointment is another example of how the VA is more concerned with protecting high-level bureaucrats than caring for veterans. Abraham says this highlights the necessity for legislation to reform the office of Veterans Affairs.