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Started By
Message
New MS River Bridge for loop - Legislature acts
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:33 pm
While still a long shot in an election cycle, I am shocked this thing got out of Committee. May go down and listen to the debate on this in the session. Sure to be a shite show.
Meanwhile, start saving your pennies.
quote:
House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Karen St. Germain, D-Pierre Part, sponsor of the bill, said the measure would raise about $7 billion over 10 years, when it is set to expire. One of the projects included in the legislation is construction of a new bridge over the Mississippi River in the Baton Rouge area.
Meanwhile, start saving your pennies.
quote:
Despite massive hurdles, a House committee Tuesday approved a $675 million per year state sales tax hike for roads and bridges. Moments later, the same panel approved a plan -- House Bill 777 -- that would increase Louisiana’s gasoline tax by 10 cents per gallon, which would raise another $300 million annually. That means the two proposals would boost taxes by nearly $1 billion per year if they win final approval.
6
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:35 pm to jbgleason
I am as anti-tax as it gets, but I have no problem with this (although, I'd have upped the gas tax more and either eliminated or reduced the sales tax hike).
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:37 pm to jbgleason
I think the legislative leaders have taken the pulse and are counting votes for a veto override. They are acting pretty confident. We can only hope.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:38 pm to udtiger
quote:Yeah, I agree...I mean, I'm not expert on government but I have no problem with a dedicated tax to fixing our infrastructure. It seems kinda like what government should do as one of it's primary functions.
I am as anti-tax as it gets, but I have no problem with this
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:39 pm to jbgleason
quote:
loop
Yadayadayadayadayadayadayadayadauadayada
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:42 pm to The Sad Banana
Not to go Poli Board on this, I posted it here because of the OT interest in a loop, but I actually AGREE with something that the much-hated Jindal said. Please hold the torches and pitchforks for one minute. He stated he wouldn't agree to a tax hike without a corresponding cut elsewhere in the budget. Given the massive bloat in the Louisiana pork barrel, I can agree with him on this. Doesn't mean it will happen but damn I would like to see our legislators man up and make some needed cuts. But no way his intent of using this to get them to do that will happen.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:45 pm to jbgleason
Won't happen just because the legislature raises taxes for roads doesn't mean that the money goes to construction of roads and bridges.
There is already a $12 billion backlog. Because they raid the transportation trust fund.
There is already a $12 billion backlog. Because they raid the transportation trust fund.
quote:
Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Robert Adley, R-Benton, sponsor of a series of road-related bills, couched his proposals as a first step toward easing the state’s $12 billion backlog of road and bridge needs.
Adley said that, of $717 million in the Transportation Trust Fund, only $27 million found its way to state highways.
quote:
A bid to boost state aid for roads and bridges hit a wall Monday in the Louisiana Senate Finance Committee.
One of the proposals, Senate Bill 221, would accelerate the movement of money from Louisiana’s general revenue fund to one for state transportation only.
The other — Senate Bill 123 — would end the annual shift of state dollars from transportation to State Police.
Both were delayed indefinitely, and perhaps for good, by the powerful committee amid problems on how to resolve a $1.6 billion shortfall to keep state spending at current levels.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:47 pm to jbgleason
quote:
sales tax hike
quote:BJ is still governor, right? Not going to happen.
increase Louisiana’s gasoline tax
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:49 pm to Mac
Is this $7 billion all for the bridge? I know building a bridge and loop will be expensive but is $7 billion really in the range? That seems way too high. The gas tax seems awfully high, too. I don't mind a gas tax increase but geez, 10 cents a gallon? I guess we can take solace in the fact that our gas prices are usually lower than many other places around the country.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:52 pm to The Sad Banana
quote:
Yeah, I agree...I mean, I'm not expert on government but I have no problem with a dedicated tax to fixing our infrastructure. It seems kinda like what government should do as one of it's primary functions.
The problem with our dedicated tax to transportation is that the legislature has been allowing that dedicated fund to be used to fund everything but road improvements. Half the budget goes to maintain DOTD and pay its employees and retirement costs. Another big chunk goes to the state police. Less than 5% actually is used to build or maintain any roads.
This post was edited on 5/5/15 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:52 pm to TigerintheNO
See, that's what I don't understand. Is that saying there are $12B in that fund that can be allocated?
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:53 pm to jbgleason
Id prefer it to be dedicated from gas taxes alone. This needs to be a dedicated amendment based action.. This needs to happen though because we simply cannot grow without the proper road infrastructure and it has become apparent that our legislative and executive level cannot properly put our monies into the proper functions
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:59 pm to BigB0882
quote:
Is this $7 billion all for the bridge? I know building a bridge and loop will be expensive but is $7 billion really in the range?
No.. it appears to be for multiple projects.. one of which is the bridge.
For comparison, the John James Audubon Bridge in St. Francisville cost a little under half a billion.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 1:02 pm to kingbob
quote:
less than 5% actually is used to build or maintain any roads.
Well the state gets much of its money for roadwork from federal funds. So I'm not sure why that matters.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 1:03 pm to The Sad Banana
No, $12 billion worth of project that we don't have money for, according to the article in the Advocate. Something like 23 cents of the 24 cents gas tax goes to things other than road construction.
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