Comments for Voucher says ‘no time for politics,’ plays politics at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 8 out of 8 comments http://www.theind.com Fri, 24 May 2013 15:00:19 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27203 Even the Blanco Administration kept the Severance Tax Exemptions. You have any more bullshit you would like to spew? - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:41:07 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27202 Did you notice there is still nearly $647 million in the Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund). The 2011/2012 budget shows a (12.5%) decrease in Severance Tax revenue due to lower oil & gas production volumes. I also find it interesting that the 2013 Budget shows an increase in, guess what, Severance Tax revenue to the tune of 2.8%. Definition of Severance taxes are incurred when non-renewable natural resources are extracted (or severed) within a taxing jurisdiction. Resources that typically incur severance taxes when extracted are oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, and timber. The exemptions you speak of only apply to qualified wells. To my knowledge, only oil & gas companies extract (or sever) oil & gas, so how is it that they are exempt if revenue is still coming in. Also, below is an excerpt from a letter from the State Legislative Auditor to the State Legislature with regards to a performance audit on the Severance Tax Exemption Program. You'll note that Bobby Jindal was not the governor in 1994! 'Dear Senator Hines and Representative Salter: This report gives the results of our performance audit of the oil and natural gas severance tax exemptions created by Act 2 of the 1994 Regular Legislative Session' - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:34:34 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27201 Sorry, I hit add comment by accident: Revenue Summary - Fiscal Year 2009/2010 As the U.S. economy entered into a recession late 2007, economic activity also slowed down in Louisiana, and with it tax revenue collection. During FY2009/10 Taxes, Licenses and Fees collections fell by 20% and State General Fund revenue shrank by about 23.6%. Just Google Louisiana State Budget 2012 and the whole thing will pop right up for your reading pleasure, unless you would rather continue to remain blissfully ignorant! - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:50:56 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27200 As for you, Gregory, I pulled up the actual Louisiana State Budget, rather than wholeheartedly trusting the media spin delivered by both conservatives and liberals, which so many people on both sides seem to believe is the real truth. Screw what the media says and read the actual documents! Do yourself a favor and at least read the summaries! They may help to clarify your confusion about where the money went and what currently exists. Bobby Jindal was sworn in to office in January 2008. A budget surplus still existed until budget year 2009/2010 because of a significant decrease in revenue due to the recession to the tune of over (20%) for Tax, Licenses, and Fees revenue, (23.6%) for State General Fund Revenue, and (1.4%) for Statutory Dedications. Below are excerpts from the 2011/2012 Budget, which shows comparative data for the last three budgets: Revenue Summary - Fiscal Year 2010/2011 The May 18, 2011 REC meeting adopted a forecast for fiscal year FY2010/11 that projected an amount for Taxes, Licenses and Fees of $9,528.2 million; this was a reduction of about $85 million compared to the official forecast of March 2011. Matched up with the actual TLF collection for FY2009/10, the forecasted amount represents an increase of about $609 million, or 6.8%. - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:44:41 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27199 Actually, Michael, I don't dislike Walter. I disagree with him often, but I don't dislike him, so don't speak as if you know me. - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:16:40 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27198 Yep Mike, U're right--Governor "BJ" is an excellent "BS'er". I'm still confused how "BJ" "lost" the $700 million surplus left over from the Blanco administration. Or how an individual supposedly "so educated" and "so smart" can run the state for 4+ years and not find revenue to maintain the universities, hospitals, and schools all the while allowing oil and gas production to remain exempt FM state severance taxes. We are the only state in the union providing such an exemption. "BJ" is simply pathetic. Greg - GREGORY FOREMAN Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:19:29 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27197 Dudley, what you really don't like about Walter is, he tells the truth. And Jindalista's don't like to hear the truth about their T-Boy!! He (Jindal) is a highly educated Bull$h!**r - Michael A. Moss Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:57:32 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/11249-voucher-says-no-time-for-politics-plays-politics#comment-27195 .....and if he stayed in Florida, you would say Jindal has no concern for Louisianians. Blah! Blah! Blah! Is there anything about Jindal you like, or any decisions he has made which you agree with? He's not my favorite governor, but geez, Walter, you are relentless in your disdain for him. - Dudley E. LaBauve, III Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:33:04 +0100