“I just don’t believe that’s a prudent thing to do,” said state Rep. Joel Robideaux, commenting on proposals to phase out income tax on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Author Archives: Tyler Bridges
Tyler Bridges covers Louisiana politics and public policy for The Lens. He returned to New Orleans in 2012 after spending the previous year as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, where he studied digital journalism. Prior to that, he spent 13 years as a reporter for the Miami Herald, where he was twice a member of Pulitzer Prize-winning teams while covering state government, the city of Miami and national politics. He also was a foreign correspondent based in South America. Before the Herald, he covered politics for seven years at The Times-Picayune. He is the author of The Rise of David Duke (1994) and Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards (2001). He can be reached at (504) 810-6222.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Once called governor’s ‘lap dog,’ House speaker yanks on his leash
Kleckley says the House may still pass a revamp of the tax system. He notes that four legislators have put forward competing measures: “All of them may be incorporated into the governor’s plan, or pieces of them can be used.” But until the revenue estimates stabilize, Kleckley says the Jindal plan doesn’t even have the support to survive a committee vote.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jindal approval rating sinks to new low, further jeopardizing his tax plan
A year ago Jindal was on a “second honeymoon. He was flying as high as a kite,” said state Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-Algiers.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Fiscal Hawk goes Jindal one better on tax exemptions: Cancel all of them
State Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard is filing a bill to repeal all tax exemptions not embedded in the state constitution.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
CBS seeks tax credit for broadcasting ‘The Talk’ live from French Quarter during Super Bowl
CBS irked some locals by defiling Andrew Jackson’s statue with the logo of its show “The Talk” during Super Bowl week. Now it has stirred controversy by seeking a film industry tax break for those broadcasts from the French Quarter. Bottom line: the broadcaster is probably entitled to the tax break.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
If everyone wins, as Jindal claims, his tax plan math is bogus
Economists say there must be winners and losers if the plan is revenue-neutral. Will businesses pay more?
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jindal’s tax-swap outline to legislators leaves many questions unanswered
The governor’s broad-brush explanation lacked details to determine who would pay more.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Live blog: Jindal administration unveils tax plan to legislative committees
This is the first time the plan will have been outlined in public.
Posted inEnvironment
State officials criticize $60 million BP donation deal, warn of precedent
Louisiana’s treasurer and legislative auditor say a BP donation to two nonprofit groups was an improper arrangement because the state ultimately controlled how the money was spent — so the state Legislature should have had a say in the deal. However, an attorney general’s opinion from 2010 said the terms were proper.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Bridge tolls: The Lens is credited with exposing disenfranchisement of voters
The Lens’ report made provisional ballots a central issue after voters renewed the toll by a slim margin.