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Income Tax Repeal Out, What's In?

After the legislature tabled all tax repeal bills, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus ditched the parts of its tax package that would cut taxes. But it’s keeping the part that raises revenue.

Representative Katrina Jackson leads the caucus. She says under her plan, the funds from raising the tobacco tax would be dedicated. “It starts making the areas of higher education systems whole, and the area of health care as well,” Jackson said.

The caucus' efforts are symptomatic of a larger move within the legislature to shore-up higher education and healthcare.

The Fiscal Hawks want to reprioritize the budget and prevent the use of funds that aren’t available every year on expenses that occur annually. The group has routinely butted-heads with budget officials from theJindaladministration. But they’re a minority of around 35 in a 105 member house.

Cutting one-time funds won’t generate revenue. But Rep. Joel Robideaux,  Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, says the fiscal hawks plan will provide more stability. “It does make for budgeting that’s a little more realistic with what’s coming into the state," Robideaux said, "and then if that’s notgoing be enough to provide the services that the legislature feels need to be provided, then the revenue raising debates will be on the table.”

But Governor Jindal has said he won’t support any net tax increases.

Jackson said she isn’t concerned with whether the Governor is going to veto her package. “I think the public forgets that we have the last power in vetoing, the veto override,” and, Jackson points out, it takes the samesupermajorityto pass a tax increase as it does to override a veto.

Copyright 2021 WRKF. To see more, visit WRKF.

Kelly grew up in Baton Rouge. She started out in radio at Baton Rouge High where she was first on air at WBRH and KBRH. While studying film and politics at Hendrix College, she reported and hosted for KUAR in Little Rock, AR. She then moved on to KUT in Austin, TX. She misses the dry air, live music at Studio 1A and breakfast tacos, but is happy for crawfish and non-ironic use of Mardi Gras beads.

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