Jindal responds to business lobby opposition to tax plan

Gov. Bobby Jindal says he is unfazed by opposition from the state’s most powerful business organization to his tax overhaul proposal. LABI President Dan Juneau announced his opposition to Jindal’s plan earlier today, saying the plan as currently structured will hurt business because it shifts a larger portion of the state’s tax burden from individuals to businesses. Jindal says the only people defending the status quo are “those who can afford to hire attorneys and lobbyists.” The governor says his proposal to do away with corporate and personal income taxes and increase state sales taxes would create 12,000 new jobs and increase disposable income by more than $900 annually for the average family. Jindal says he is not worried politically about opposition from LABI’s powerful PACs in the upcoming legislative session. “It’s time to get rid of the loopholes,” Jindal says. “This is good for Louisiana families and Louisiana businesses.” Juneau says his group won’t support “a tax increase approaching a half-billion dollars levied on the business community.” LABI plans to support Jindal’s companion proposal for a state and local government commission for consolidated sales tax collections.—April Castro and Stephanie Riegel