The Press-Herald column, Jun. 6, 2018

Some facts about Louisiana taxes
http://press-herald.com/some-facts-about-louisiana-taxes/

Links:
http://press-herald.com/report-louisianians-pay-low-state-taxes/
https://taxfoundation.org/tax-freedom-day-2018/
https://taxfoundation.org/state-local-tax-burden-rankings-fy-2012/
http://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/Portals/0/AEG%20Tax%20Burden%20Study_2017_FINAL.pdf
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494/
http://labi.org/assets/images/media/FairShare2017.pdf
https://itep.org/wp-content/uploads/whopaysreport.pdf
https://taxfoundation.org/really-pays-washington-states-taxes/
https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/the_work_versus_welfare_trade-off_2013_wp.pdf

Obstructionism, amendment may risk innocent lives

As it turns out, in indirect fashion Louisianans may end up countenancing more murders beginning next year.

The regular legislative session that recently concluded didn’t produce any successful legislation directly affecting capital punishment, but one tangential to the issue will affect the practice’s effectiveness, depending on voter attitudes. That will put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that requires jury unanimity for felony convictions including capital sentences; presently, only 10 of a dozen jurors need agree to declare someone guilty.

Mathematically, this makes less likely a jury would convict an individual accused of murder, which increases the chances that a guilty suspect goes free. This translates to an increased chance of homicides occurring, as research demonstrates that every additional capital sentence carried out decreases the incidence of murder.

LA House Democrats throw Edwards under the bus

Either Louisiana House of Representatives Democrats did their level best to destroy their party’s Gov. John Bel Edwards’ reelection chances, or else he has so little influence that he can’t keep his party from melting down Louisiana government.

Last night (just about early this morning), the 2018 Second Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature ended in paralysis. The previous hour had seen some productivity for better or worse.

Worse was accepting HB 18 by Democrat state Rep. Katrina Jackson that expanded the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit. A dozen Republicans who should have known better supported it, although at least they placed a hard sunset date on it. To fund it, they raised taxes on mostly higher-income earners. Also bad: the sunset date for this and discussed tax measures was all the way into 2025, leaving little incentive to right-size state government.

House must modify bad tax deal or reject it

The Louisiana House of Representatives should walk away from the state Senate’s bad tax-raising deal, unless that undergoes major, substantial revisions.

By the end of today, unless both chambers agree to this legislation and a budget, a third special session of the year likely would have to take place. Without a budget after Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed a workable starter version from the regular session, that next iteration depends upon disposition of partial renewal of temporary taxes.

The House, through HB 27 by Republican state Rep. Lance Harris, proffered a five-year extension of a third of the temporary sales tax expiring in 27 days, plus continued suspension of about 100 credits, business utilities, and vehicle purchase exemptions. The Senate started with a half cent permanently, but passed a version extending to seven years.

The Advocate column, Jun. 3, 2018

Louisiana's budget crisis is at a fork in the road, but which path will lawmakers take?
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_5d2adc22-6516-11e8-a733-abbd30e01305.html

Links:
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_7eb54b8a-4fa3-11e8-acad-e3a3f581d4d6.html
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_5d4c18b0-591d-11e8-989a-d35b4bd66ec7.html
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494/
http://www.governing.com/gov-data/census/state-migration-rates-annual-net-migration-by-state.html
https://www.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/pdf.cfm?fips=22000&areatype=STATE&geotype=3
http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/gov-2017-state-personal-income-growth.html
http://gov.louisiana.gov/news/gov-edwards-2018-second-special-session-remarks
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494/
https://247wallst.com/special-report/2017/12/06/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-a-survey-of-all-50-5/print/

LA GOP lawmakers must resist bad hikes, budget

In sparring with Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards and legislative Democrats over the budget and taxes, to best serve the people Louisiana’s legislative Republicans need to keep a few things in mind.

In the next few days, they will deal with HB 12 by Democrat state Rep. Walt Leger. Now identical (even if the Legislature’s website has failed to keep up with things as of this post’s publication) to HB 27 by Republican state Rep. Lance Harris after Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee action on both, it would extend into perpetuity a third of a penny temporarily put in place over two years ago, set to expire in a month. It also extends the items over which this sales tax would apply.

HB 18 by Democrat state Rep. Katrina Jackson also will come into the queue. It strips the exemption for income taxes paid in other states, which primarily hits middle-class-and-above tax filers. Both have passed the House and await Senate floor action.

The Press-Tribune column, May 30, 2018

Reynolds’ leaving speaks volumes
http://press-herald.com/reynolds-leaving-speaks-volumes/

Links:

http://press-herald.com/reynolds-resigning-from-office/

http://press-herald.com/the-democrat-caucus-left-reynolds-long-before-the-special-session/

https://thehayride.com/2018/05/video-cameron-henry-is-less-than-enthralled-with-john-bel-edwards-budget-antics/

Stokes to make Democrats, conservatives choose

If Louisiana Democrats eschew a Trojan Horse strategy for the secretary of state special election this fall, Republican state Rep. Julie Stokes will do her best to make that choice difficult.

Signaling her large appetite for political ambition, Stokes declared earlier this month for the office left open when its former elected occupant Tom Schedler resigned amidst charges of sexual harassment. At this time last year, she was out campaigning for the treasurer’s job that became available with GOP Sen. John Kennedy’s election.

But an unfortunate cancer scare led to her withdrawal just days before qualifying. Happily, she beat back that foe and returned to her legislative duties. Now she hopes to vanquish political opponents for the statewide job.

Memorial Day, 2018

This column publishes every Sunday through Thursday around noon U.S. Central Time (maybe even after sundown on busy days, or maybe before noon if things work out, or even sometimes on the weekend if there's big news) except whenever a significant national holiday falls on the Monday through Friday associated with the otherwise-usual publication on the previous day (unless it is Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, Christmas, or New Year's Day when it is the day on which the holiday is observed by the U.S. government). In my opinion, in addition to these are also Easter Sunday, Memorial Day and Veterans' Day.

With Monday, May 28 being Memorial Day, I invite you to explore this link.

The Advocate column, May 27, 2018

Surprised by John Bel Edwards' inaction? Don't be -- look to his re-election campaign 
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_78a8d088-5f87-11e8-b2ed-1b89854be91c.html

Links:
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2018/05/edwards-ditches-reform-for-politics-as.html
http://gov.louisiana.gov/news/2018-legislative-agenda
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_8571e600-5ab0-11e8-86cf-77b804b4bdb7.html
http://press-herald.com/take-your-bill-and-go-home/