Now that the proposed inventory tax repeal has shot out of the Senate Finance Committee like a rocket, thanks to a 9-1 vote on Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee can move forward with its part of the legislative plan to balance the budget. That means creating new revenue.
Two consecutive days of meetings kick off Monday with a hearing on the cigarette tax increase in HB 119 by Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa. It would hike the price of smokes to $1.54 per pack, up from 36 cents, and generate $240 million for the state next fiscal year. HB 402 by Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, which limits the credit residents get for paying income taxes in other states, could pony up $20.8 million in year one.
Also on the Monday agenda is a bill to eliminate the three-year carryback of the net operating loss deduction, which could raise $1.2 million in the first year, and another to limit the Enterprise Zone Program, which would have no immediate fiscal impact. HB 366 by Rep. Bryan Adams, R-Gretna, contains Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to convert some refundable tax credits to nonrefundable and is likely to be amended if put into action. As for changes to the solar credit program, HB 779 by Rep. Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge, appears on the Monday agenda as one of the favored compromises of some legislative leaders. However, Rep. Chris Broadwater, R-Hammond, has introduced HB 817, which solar advocates are rallying around, but it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
On Tuesday, it’s lights, camera, action: the movie credit rollback in HB 276 by Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, takes center stage. Day two will also host two debates over giving Louisiana the authority to collect Internet sales taxes. Before Ways and Means scrapped what was supposed to be its first agenda earlier this week, the committee had only scheduled HB 355 by Rep. Stephen Pugh, R-Ponchatoula. But now there are two Internet sales tax bills, with HB 555 by Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin, R-Jonesboro, being added for consideration.
— Long-timers on press row will certainly recognize the name of Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne’s new communications director for his gubernatorial campaign. Consultant George Kennedy has hired Marsanne Golsby, press secretary to former Gov. Mike Foster. Golsby has been working in public relations in recent years and handling corporate clients in the Baton Rouge area.
Aside from being a former reporter herself, Golsby is legendary for her loyalty and willingness to become part of the story as a way to take a hit for the team. In March 1999, Greenpeace activists were shadowing Foster’s every move and complaining about polluted waters along the Mississippi River. Protesters prepared and delivered a “toxic lunch” for Foster: a meal of pan-fried catfish harvested from an allegedly tainted bayou. As they waited to see if they could give the meal to the former governor, Golsby deflated the moment by chowing down on two mouthfuls of supposedly toxic fish while staring down the protesters.
They said it: ”It’s smoke. Mirrors require light.” —Rep. Julie Stokes, when another lawmaker suggested the executive budget proposal was smoke and mirrors.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
