An obscure Louisiana House of Representatives committee that has never met before put the Legislative Fiscal Office on the hot seat today, questioning the staff’s motives in its analysis of how much revenue would be generated on tax bills.
The News-Star reports lawmakers on the Fiscal Note Review Committee said they are concerned the fiscal office has underestimated the amount of revenue that would be generated from tax bills being heard by the Legislature, perhaps under pressure from Gov. John Bel Edwards to do so.
“Sometimes members believe there is pressure on a (fiscal) note to be higher or lower depending on who’s on the fourth floor (governor’s office),” said Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Fiscal officer John Carpenter fired back.
“Nobody pressures us into doing something we don’t have a high level of professional confidence in doing,” Carpenter said. “I don’t care if it’s the governor, the president or you. We do not react to pressure in that sense.”
Later in the day during a press conference, Gov. John Bel Edwards said the suggestion “is categorically false.”
“I suggest Cameron have a little more to go on before making those kinds of accusations,” he said.
Committee Chairman Chris Broadwater, R-Hammond, tried to dial down the tone of the inquiry.
“All we’re trying to do is get it right and make sure it’s only about numbers,” Broadwater said. “Our questions shouldn’t be perceived as accusatory, but we have a job to do.”
