Making moves: Republicans in Congress, reaching a deal on a tax reform bill that reconciles the House and Senate versions, are set to deliver generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Middle- and low-income families would receive smaller tax cuts, though the GOP and President Donald Trump have billed the tax package as a boon for the middle class. A measure in the agreement reached Wednesday by House and Senate Republican leaders would also undo a major part of the Affordable Care Act health law. Tax cuts for businesses would be permanent, while cuts for individuals would expire after a decade. Read the full story.
Starting back up: The Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry approved the first set of ITEP property tax exemptions for manufacturing companies under the new rules created by Gov. John Bel Edwards. At a meeting this week, the board voted to approve nine applications by six companies that will collectively exempt $13 million in the first of five years. Officials anticipate 36 new permanent jobs and 1,570 construction jobs from the projects. One of the companies, WestRock, was awarded a $2.5 million exemption in Jackson Parish but created zero jobs. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the ITEP exemptions have a positive return on investment and that the WestRock project created a “corporate commitment” to continued investment.
A cultural Christmas: A shrinking number of Americans care whether they are greeted with “Merry Christmas” or less-religious greetings like “happy holidays,” according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. And Americans say religious aspects of Christmas are declining in public life—even as relatively few are bothered by this trend. A shrinking majority believe that the biblical account of the birth of Jesus depicts real events, while more and more are treating Christmas as a cultural holiday. Currently, 55% of U.S. adults say they celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, down from 59% in 2013, Pew says. Around half plan to attend religious services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year. Check out the full report from Pew.
