Greg Hilburn Archives - Louisiana Budget Project

September 7, 2018

Work requirements debate continues

As the farm bill conference committee moved behind closed doors on Thursday, Rep. Ralph Abraham continued his support for punitive work requirements for SNAP recipients.

Number of the Day

$37 - The amount of corporate income tax Louisiana collected per capita in fiscal year 2016, the lowest of any state with a corporate income tax. (Source: The Tax Foundation)

August 27, 2018

Credit rating improves with budget deal

Borrowing money for things like road projects and other infrastructure needs got a little easier and less expensive for the state last week after the Standard & Poor ratings agency upgraded Louisiana’s credit outlook from “negative” to “stable.”

Number of the Day

41 - Additional days a person would have to work in 2018 at the federal $7.25 per hour minimum wage to have the same earning power as a minimum wage worker in 2009. (Source: Forbes)

June 21, 2018

Showdown in the House

Two-plus years of debates, multiple studies and three special sessions now come down to this: The Louisiana House will take up three revenue-raising bills today, each one renewing a different fraction of the temporary “clean penny” of sales tax that expires on June 30.

Number of the Day

$11 million - Remaining cut to local sheriffs’ funding for housing state prisoners, in budget plan passed by House Appropriations on Wednesday. (Source: Nola.com/TimesPicayune)

May 7, 2018

The rush to adjournment

This morning marks the annual ritual when members of the public are invited to testify to the Senate Finance Committee about the state budget.

Number of the Day

3 percent - Amount that local school boards could charge teachers’ unions for collecting dues on their behalf, under legislation backed by business interests. The costs would likely be passed on to teachers. (Source: Will Sentell, The Advocate)