Post by pavel on Mar 7, 2016 9:17:45 GMT -6
Louisiana House raises taxes on beer, wine and liquor; Senate OKs eliminating corporate deduction
The Louisiana House approved a small tax increase on alcohol Sunday while Gov. John Bel Edwards and lawmakers engaged in high-stakes negotiations to try to find agreement to raise enough other taxes to fill a shortfall that is threatening the cancellation of university classes and a reduction in state health care for the poor.
Time is running short because the 25-day special session — called by the governor to solve the budget crisis — ends Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
“The worst thing we can do would be to leave here and not address the problems facing Louisiana,” said state Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston, shortly before the House adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
Much of the behind-the-scenes negotiating is focused on a measure pushed by business lobbyists and Republicans in the House that surfaced on Friday. It would add an extra half penny or so to the state sales tax beyond the 1 cent that both the House and Senate have already approved. It would be in effect for two to four years, House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, said in an interview.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15102969-123/louisiana-senate-oks-eliminating-federal-income-tax-deduction-for-corporations
The Louisiana House approved a small tax increase on alcohol Sunday while Gov. John Bel Edwards and lawmakers engaged in high-stakes negotiations to try to find agreement to raise enough other taxes to fill a shortfall that is threatening the cancellation of university classes and a reduction in state health care for the poor.
Time is running short because the 25-day special session — called by the governor to solve the budget crisis — ends Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
“The worst thing we can do would be to leave here and not address the problems facing Louisiana,” said state Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston, shortly before the House adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
Much of the behind-the-scenes negotiating is focused on a measure pushed by business lobbyists and Republicans in the House that surfaced on Friday. It would add an extra half penny or so to the state sales tax beyond the 1 cent that both the House and Senate have already approved. It would be in effect for two to four years, House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, said in an interview.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15102969-123/louisiana-senate-oks-eliminating-federal-income-tax-deduction-for-corporations