At the polls: As forecasted prior to Saturday’s runoff elections, about one in five of Louisiana’s eligible voters showed up at the polls. The secretary of state’s office says official voter turnout statewide was just under 21% of Louisiana’s 2.9 million voters. That’s a little better than the 18% to 20% estimate, but well below the 36% of voters who turned out for the Oct. 22 primary, when five statewide offices were on the ballot. Saturday’s ballot had runoffs for state education board seats, legislative posts and local jobs. In three parishes—Concordia, West Carroll and Jefferson Davis—the only item on the ballot was a statewide constitutional amendment to prohibit local and state governments from imposing a new real estate transfer tax. The amendment passed.
The next round: A cut for workers is set to expire at the end of the year, bringing taxes up nearly $1,000 for the average worker. Many had hoped the deficit ‘super committee’ would find an answer, but now it’s up to lawmakers, reports the Los Angeles Times. The current payroll tax holiday for workers expires Dec. 31, and unemployment benefits run out for some 2 million Americans shortly after that. Economists warn that a tax increase on Jan. 1 combined with an end to the jobless benefits could cut the economy’s already weak growth almost in half. President Barack Obama is in New Hampshire today to begin a year-end push to extend the payroll tax cuts. Read the full story here.
