Author: manshipxgr

By Jack Richards

BATON ROUGE — The House voted 60-38 to change the way multi-state corporations have to calculate their corporate income tax. The bill was amended by a 71-21 vote to give the biggest oil companies in the state a different method than other companies.

Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, gave a “layman’s explanation” of the corporate income tax apportionment, due to its complex nature, by explaining it was a method by which companies that do business in multiple states determine how much in taxes is owed to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

Read the story in The Shreveport Times

By Samuel Carter Karlin

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers voted to kill a key part of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ revenue-raising package Wednesday, throwing a wrench in his plan to close the state’s $600 million budget deficit. Continue reading “HOUSE PANEL VOTES DOWN KEY EDWARDS REVENUE PACKAGE IN 10-9 VOTE” →

By Samuel Carter Karlin

BATON ROUGE — A House panel approved more than $180 million in tax increases Tuesday, getting a start on plugging an estimated $600 million budget shortfall during the year’s second special session, which ends June 23.

The biggest move was a tax on health maintenance organizations, by Rep. Andy Anders, D-Clayton, that would raise more than $150 million this year. House Bill 35 passed unanimously.

Read the story in The Concordia Sentinel

By Jack Richards

BATON ROUGE, La. —  The House and Senate gave the final nod to a bill requiring aborted fetuses be buried or cremated – arranged and potentially paid for by the performing physician – and furthered the state’s stance against the transport and sale of post-abortion fetal organs.

Read the story at WWLTV.com

By Samuel Carter Karlin

BATON ROUGE — Legislators Tuesday began working on addressing changes  to the state’s tax code during the first special session. Among those items under reconsideration are Girl Scout cookies and garage sales.

Read the story in The Town Talk

By Justin DiCharia

BATON ROUGE — House Bill 2, arguably the second most important measure in front of the Louisiana Legislature during its regular session, funds state and local construction projects.  The $1.4 billion dollar spending measure covers such things as the Lafayette airport, I-49 in Shreveport and downtown developments in Monroe.

Read the story in The Daily World

By Jack Richards

BATON ROUGE — When the 2016 Louisiana Legislature withdraws on June 23 from its Statehouse entrenchment,following a second special session that begins today, it will have served 19 consecutive weeks, the longest weekly stretch in the legislative branch’s 204-year history.

Starting Feb. 14, it will have spanned three seasons of the year.

Read the story in The Shreveport Times

By Justin DiCharia

BATON ROUGE – With just days left in the 2016 General Session of the Louisiana Legislature, lawmakers have written and introduced 1,644 bills, but only 281 of them have become law – a 17 percent success rate.

Read the story in The News Star

By Samuel Carter Karlin

BATON ROUGE – Quietly discussed changes to Louisiana’s individual income tax could be a means in the upcoming special legislative session to relieve the deflated budget if lawmakers agree revenue is needed to fund TOPS, safety-net hospitals and other agencies.

And lawmakers could make those changes as soon as the special session beginning Monday night, but some legislators, especially in the House, are wary of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ plan to raise revenue and reluctant to touch anymore tax increases.

Read the story in The Daily World

By Justin DiCharia

BATON ROUGE — What was thought to be a routine amendment to placate senators calling a ban on abortions for genetic abnormalities unconstitutional may unintentionally have rendered the bill moot.

House Bill 1019 passed the Senate 29-6 over the claim that the bill was unconstitutional and reminders that the state is in no financial shape to cover costly legal challenges and one senator’s accusations of rampant hypocrisy in the chamber.

Read the story in The Advertiser