Legislators vow to fight Stelly postponement

Forty-seven members of the House have signed a pledge to fight the postponement of the Stelly tax repeal that is moving through the Senate. Baton Rouge Reps. Steve Carter, Franklin Foil, Hunter Greene, Erich Ponti and Clif Richardson signed the letter, along with fellow Republicans Rep. Eddie Lambert of Gonzales, Rep. J. Rogers Pope of Denham Springs and Rep. Mert Smiley of Port Vincent. The letter warns that postponing the tax repeal until 2012 would be a $118 million per year state income tax increase on middle-income residents. While backers of postponing the Stelly tax repeal say the money could be used to stave off cuts to higher education, the letter notes that state spending for higher education has increased by $400 million over four years, and the number of employees has gone up by 12%, while enrollment has dropped by 4%. “It’s time to take a stand for the people of Louisiana. As members of the Louisiana House of Representatives, we have an obligation to the citizens we serve to stand for responsible and accountable government,” the letter says.