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>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS

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PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR

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EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC

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BROADCASTING.

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**

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>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO

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"LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE," I'M

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BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE

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LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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>>> AND I'M ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT,

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PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA.

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IN 2002, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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FROM LAKE CHARLES PUSHED THROUGH

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LEGISLATION THAT ELIMINATED THE

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STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD AND

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UTILITIES, WHILE MAKING UP LOST

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REVENUE THROUGH INCREASED INCOME

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TAX RATES ON HIGH WAGE EARNERS.

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THE SO-CALLED STELLY PLAN WAS

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APPROVED BY THE STATE'S VOTERS.

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AFTER SIX YEARS UNDER GOVERNORS

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BLANCO AND JINDAL, LAWMAKERS HAD

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REPEALED ALL BUT THE SALES TAX

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EXEMPTIONS.

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>> THIS SESSION GOVERNOR JINDAL

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IS PROPOSING A TAX SWAP OF A

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DIFFERENT KIND OF DIFFERENCE IN

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REVENUE WOULD BE REPLACED

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THROUGH A BROADENING AND

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INCREASE OF STATE SALES TAX.

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WHAT COULD THESE CHANGES MEAN

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FOR LOUISIANA'S FAMILIES,

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BUSINESSES AND MUNICIPALITIES?

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>> TONIGHT WE EXPLORE THESE

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ISSUES AND MORE ON "TAX REFORM

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2013."

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BUT FIRST, SOME BASICS.

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>> IF GOVERNOR JINDAL'S

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LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PASSES, COME

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JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR STATE

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INCOME TAX RETURNS WILL BE A

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THING OF THE PAST, AND STATE

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SALES TAXES WILL EXPAND AND

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INCREASE.

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>> BASICALLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR

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IS PROPOSING IS A TAX SWAP.

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>> BARRY ERWIN HEADS THE COUNCIL

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FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA.

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>> WE WOULD GET RID OF OUR

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CORPORATE AND PERSON INCOME

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TAXES AND REPLACE THAT REVENUE

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WITH AN EXPANSION IN A VARIETY

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OF WAYS OF CONSUMPTION TAXES.

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>> THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WOULD

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REPLACE THE LOST REVENUE BY

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INCREASING THE STATE SALES TAX

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FROM 4% TO 5.88%.

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BROADENING THE TAX TO COVER 37

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NEW CATEGORIES OF SERVICES AND

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REFORM ARE AND ELIMINATING OVER

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200 TAX EXEMPTIONS, INCLUDING

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THE MOVIE TAX CREDIT AND SOME

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OIL AND GAS DEDUCTIONS.

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THE CIGARETTE TAX WOULD JUMP

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FROM 34 CENTS TO $1.41 PER PACK.

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LOW WAGE EARNERS AND STATE

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RETIREES WHO DON'T MAY INCOME

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TAXES ON RETIREMENT INCOME WHO

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WOULD RECEIVE REBATES.

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>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S