re: Short quick fix for LA budget deficit

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The government has already taxed anything and everything

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Except natural gas on horizontal wells for the first 2 years. We should be taxing that imo.

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Except natural gas on horizontal wells for the first 2 years. We should be taxing that imo.

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Or you could legalize it and collect tens of millions of tax dollars.

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Why is everything viewed as a potential tax source these days? How about we NOT tax every goddamn thing on the planet. How about we get the government down to the size that it's supposed to be at? You know, where it provides for infrastructure, common defense, and not much else.

The government is like Ashley Graham...bigger and fatter is never the correct answer, not matter how many people want it to be.

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Here's an idea...

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Investigate and prosecute fraud.

yep more taxes always solves budget problems.

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WeeWee

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Vitter, that you?

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Why is everything viewed as a potential tax source these days? How about we NOT tax every goddamn thing on the planet.

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Because the natural gas is Louisiana's resource and is a tax break.

Even Texas taxes it as 3.5%, with a large % if not all going to universities.

It isn't attracting new business, the natural gas itself is. It's stupid

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How about we get the government down to the size that it's supposed to be at? You know, where it provides for infrastructure, common defense, and not much else. 

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Why not both? It isn't either/or. Cut the bloat, get rid of meaningless severances that hurt the state, build from there

Your idealism, while correct imo, isn't realistic today, nor does it provide any short term relief

The state constitution restricts cuts and requires a balanced budget

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Since oil / gas prices are unusually low right now, implement (by a public vote) a 20 cent per gallon tax that automatically stops in 1 year. In BR, that would bump gas from 1.38 to 1.58 gallon. The kicker is that it goes away in 365 days!

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Should the excise tax be bumped up a cent or two? Probably, it's been stationary for well over 10 years. Bumping it up 20 cents a gallon is insane.

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Legalize all drugs and prostitution

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Been saying it for a while - address recreational cannabis through the upcoming general session using Colorado law as a guide. Add millions to the state coffers via sales and revenue from added tourism.

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Should the excise tax be bumped up a cent or two? Probably, it's been stationary for well over 10 years. Bumping it up 20 cents a gallon is insane.

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Yea, but bumping it up to the national average should be looked at as a SHORT TERM option, among others, until we can change the Constitution (which won't happen).

The US average is 47.99c/gallon (all taxes combined). Louisiana is close to the lowest at 38.41.

Long term revenue sources with better returns to the tax payer need to be sought after, while also cutting an enormous amount of spending. Can't do that until the Constitution is amended.

And judging by this board and the state and national population, I see little hope of the 2 parties putting their dicks away and doing their actual jobs.