This is the quadrennial Washington Mardi Gras that does not kick off an election year. But politics still is much in the air. Attention is focused on this year’s chairman, Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, who said he will be traveling the state to gauge support for a possible challenge to Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014. Rep. John Fleming and former Rep. Jeff Landry, both Republicans, have not said they won’t run. Add another name to the mix. Chas Roemer, the Republican chairman of the BESE, is “seriously considering” making the race, according to a source close to him. Roemer himself says, “I cannot comment on that at this time.”
—Currently, disputes over state taxes are heard by the Board of Tax Appeals, while local tax questions go to district court, as do appeals of BTA decisions. As part of an effort to simplify and make uniform tax interpretations on both levels, the Jindal administration is looking into establishing tax courts within judicial districts, according to Jason DeCuir, assistant secretary at the Revenue Department. He says discussions with local governments are ongoing and would eventually include the state Supreme Court before legislation is filed.
They said it: “I’m just an encourager and enabler.” —Rep. Bill Cassidy, on his role as chairman of Washington Mardi Gras, in The Advocate.
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)
Today’s poll question: Would you like to see Chas Roemer run for a U.S. Senate seat in 2014?
