A couple of things are clear as the Legislature begins its second week: First, Republicans in the House (who hold the key to any tax reform deal) are unhappy with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ plan to cut taxes for 95 percent of Louisiana households and make corporations pay more to fund state government. And second, those same House Republicans are nowhere close to coming up with a plan for solving the $1.4 billion fiscal “cliff” that will come when a slew of temporary taxes expire on July 1, 2018.
Number of the Day
$58.7 million - Estimated cost to Louisiana - over five years - of eliminating the state sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products, which is proposed in Senate Bill 24 by Sen. J.P. Morrell of New Orleans (Source: Legislative Fiscal Office)