re: Gov. John Bel Edwards wants big changes in how LA biz, individuals taxed

If you reall want to look at what got us into this mess aside from the cratering of the oil and gas market (huge impact), it was the scrapping of the Stelly Plan which actually reduced sales taxes, etc. but did make an increase in income taxes. Of course people don't like to pay income tax....but they don't mind getting raped on sales taxes so the legislature repealed it.

Look, if you want things like roads and road maintenance. Fire protection, police protection....flood protection and the maintenance thereof as well as education for the kids (not everyone can afford the 10K a year (minimum) it takes to send their kid to a Catholic or private school...then those things require money. I think the tax burden in Louisiana is kind of high especially on the sales tax end as well as the "fees" you pay. But taxes are a reality.

A lot of us bitch when things get tight and the legislature says they may have to raise taxes. We always say well, the state will have to do with less. Fair enough, but no one ever really says what they are willing to do without when it comes to services. We can bitch about the Medicaid expansion , but, we pay for the poor one way or the other when they get sick either through taxes or higher rates on our insurance.

We probably as a state need to do better at getting federal royalties on oil and gas from offshore leases that pass through Louisiana. Personally, I would hit the refiners wit a tax....they are not going to run off anywhere....it's been 30 years since a new refinery was built in the US. Also change the homestead exemption to tax the 2nd 75K....you could reduce or eliminate the state sales tax on things like .....food