Business of Politics

Forward or Backward?

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Bills in the current legislative session and the recent resignation of Paul Pastorek bring our state to a crucial fork in the road to a better education system.

Most of the buzz surrounding the current legislative session has revolved around the projected $1.6 billion shortfall in the state budget. Though the fiscal issues capture the headlines, there is actually an abundance of legislative instruments that have been filed on the education front — some good bills that maintain the forward progression of public education reform, and some bad instruments that would turn back the clock and further protect the status quo.

Tax Suspend

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

From economic development to business taxes — an overview of the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature.  By Jeremy Alford

Lawmakers have a new deadline: no later than 6 p.m. June 23.

The challenges are nothing short of historic — principally, addressing a record $1.6 billion budget shortfall for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

What does this mean for business and industry? Well, that depends on the Legislature, doesn’t it?

Louisiana’s $7 Billion Money Pit

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tax exemptions passed by a simple majority legislative vote can stay on the books forever. That needs to change. By Edward Ashworth

When Gov. Jindal recently released his executive budget for next year, it began the process to determine how the state will spend $8.3 billion it will raise from the taxes we all pay and from other sources. There is, however, another $7 billion the state spends, about which little is known.  That is the state’s hidden budget; and it needs some sunshine.

The Fellow Behind the Tree

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

If you live in Shreveport, you pay almost double the property tax of those in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. By Elliott Stonecipher

As Louisiana marches to next spring’s rendezvous with the “Grim Reaper of Unsustainable Government Spending,” those who argue for higher taxes rather than reduced governmental size and spending are increasingly making their case. Such activity is centered among Democrats in the Legislature, including Senate President Joel Chaisson. What continues to be a particular thorn in the sides of Democrats is the effective legislative rescission two years ago of the Stelly (income) Tax increase. 

Conflicts Worth Watching

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Louisiana’s assessors are taking on Big Oil while the state treasurer faces off against Team Jindal. Why? Money, of course.

The time between elections is normally quiet, punctuated largely by the fellowship of Thanksgiving, the merriment of Christmas and renewal through New Year’s. But that feel-good vibe has been body-slammed by the economy.

The wheels of state government are coming unhinged at the thought of not having enough money to support the current $27 billion budget. Next year, Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Legislature will have to knock a couple of billions off that figure to keep the budget in balance.