Advocate editorial Archives - Page 2 of 4

June 19, 2018

It may come down to a tenth of a penny

With a July 1 deadline looming to agree on a revenue package, Gov. John Bel Edwards asked lawmakers to put partisan politics aside as they convened Monday for the year’s third special session.

Number of the Day

100 million - the difference in revenue between a 4.4 and 4.5 percent sales tax rate. (Source: The Advocate)

June 18, 2018

Once more, with feeling

Thirteen days from today marks the start of the 2018-19 state fiscal year. If the Legislature fails to craft a revenue deal by then, Louisiana faces the specter of unprecedented cuts to higher education, public safety and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which puts food on the table for nearly 1 in 5 Louisianans.

Number of the Day

$67.5 million - Annual cost to the state of administering the food assistance program (SNAP). A $34.7 million cut would force the program to shut down during the 2018-19 fiscal year (Source: LBP via House Fiscal Division)

June 6, 2018

Reflections on a meltdown

The Legislature’s failure to agree on a revenue package that supports the budget bill they passed brought swift condemnation from editorial writers and opinion columnists throughout the state.

Number of the Day

$.17 - The difference in sales tax on a $100 purchase between the House GOP plan (4.33 percent) and the one backed by broad majorities in the House and Senate (4.5 percent). (Source: Simple arithmetic)

June 4, 2018

It’s Sine Do or Die

The Legislature has until midnight to wrap up its work in the special session, which means passing a budget bill along with the revenue measures that support that spending.

Number of the Day

$21 million - Annual cost of modestly expanding Louisiana’s Earned Income Tax Credit from 3.5 percent to 5 percent of the federal credit, which would benefit nearly 1 in 3 state income tax filers. (Source: Legislative Fiscal Office)