Tagged: state legislature

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WRKF
9:13 am
Thu April 25, 2013

State Legislature Shelves Medicaid Expansion

Originally published on Thu April 25, 2013 9:37 am

The legislature technically decided Wednesday to put off accepting federal funding for health care expansion, which would include more low-income individuals under Medicaid.  A series of bills were voluntarily deferred, both in the House and Senate, to be taken up next week. A bill by Rep. Barbara Norton was involuntarily deferred - that’s typically a death sentence for a bill. 

The representatives that voted to shelve Norton’s bill did so because they’re unsure of what will happen if they accept the money - despite that the Legislative Fiscal Office testifying that the program would initially save the state money.

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WRKF
9:50 am
Wed April 24, 2013

On Tobacco Taxes, Medicaid, State Lawmakers Clutch Purse Strings

Originally published on Thu April 25, 2013 9:46 am

Polls show that the people of Louisiana and the legislature are at odds. Tuesday a constitutional amendment to raise the cigarette tax failed in committee – though recent polls by the American Cancer Society show 73 percent of Louisianians would approve of a tobacco tax increase.

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WRKF
1:25 pm
Tue April 23, 2013

Report: La. Could Save With Medicaid Expansion

Originally published on Thu April 25, 2013 9:47 am

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates Louisiana could save up to $554.9 million over five years and between $185.2 million to almost $511 million over 10 years by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

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WRKF
9:02 am
Tue April 23, 2013

Budget Restructuring Flies Through Committee; Tobacco Bills Up in Smoke

Originally published on Thu April 25, 2013 9:48 am

House committees took up two big ticket items Monday: budget reform and tobacco taxes.  Bills that would makeover the process of building the state’s budget passed favorably in the House Appropriations committee. A packed Ways and Means committee did not vote on tobacco taxes; representatives deferred their bills.

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WRKF
4:21 pm
Mon April 22, 2013

Democrats Win One in Tiger Stadium

Originally published on Fri April 26, 2013 9:03 am

Democratic lawmakers claimed a small victory Sunday. But it wasn’t on the House floor, but at the first annual Truce for the Troops Bowl.


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WRKF
12:44 pm
Mon April 22, 2013

State Tobacco Tax Hike Proposals Shelved

Originally published on Thu April 25, 2013 9:49 am

All four bills seeking to increase taxes on tobacco products in the state have been voluntarily tabled amid legislative opposition to raising taxes.

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WRKF
9:24 am
Mon April 22, 2013

Women's Health Funding At Risk In Legislature

Louisiana House Speaker Chuck Kleckley last week called on the legislature to restore funding to the state program that provides breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underserved women, and Sen. Karen Carter Peterson chaired a committee focused on funding for women’s services.

Women testified about holes in funding for domestic violence shelters, pregnancy care, cancer screenings, and sexual health. Peterson called Governor Jindal’s budget proposal for next year irresponsible. According to Beth Meeks, from the Louisiana Coalition on Domestic Violence, the governor’s slashing of women’s services just doesn’t make fiscal sense.

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WRKF
12:51 pm
Thu April 18, 2013

La. Legislature Picky On Spending

Originally published on Thu April 18, 2013 9:13 pm

State lawmakers are being more sensitive to how they spend money.

A bill containing minor change to the state’s Enterprise Zone program failed to pass in the House Thursday.

The Enterprise Zone is an incentive program that works to encourage businesses to expand in rural parts of the state. The bill would have changed the definition of a “multifamily residential housing”, making bigger apartment complexes eligible for a tax credit. 

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