Emails show Jindal adviser was told about credit rule

A top official in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration was notified shortly after the Louisiana revenue department issued a controversial ruling to expand an alternative fuel vehicle tax credit, The Associated Press has uncovered. Since the controversy over the tax credit came to light, a Jindal spokesman has said the governor didn’t know of the ruling until mid-June. But a review of Department of Revenue e-mails by the AP shows Jindal’s natural resources secretary and chief legislative lobbyist, Scott Angelle, was told about the ruling on May 1—the day after it was issued. Jindal rescinded the tax credit expansion June 14 after lawmakers complained it could blow a hole in the budget, potentially costing upwards of $100 million per year. However, the internal emails, obtained through a public records request, also suggest the actual cost of the credit expansion hadn’t been determined, and that Revenue Secretary Cynthia Bridges left her job because of the controversy. The credit provided up to $3,000 for those who purchased one of the 112 various auto models included in the credit program. The Department of Revenue has begun a rule-making process to determine the proper scope of the credit, and plans to grant refund requests postmarked on or before June 14. The (Monroe) News-Star, citing Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association data, reported June 25 that the state’s maximum exposure could exceed $200 million annually. Read the full story here for email excerpts and more details.