LWC Director Tim Barfield released the following statement today after an amendment to accept federal, temporary UI stimulus funds was put onto a bill in the House without any discussion or debate:
“Late this afternoon on the House floor an amendment was offered by Rep. Honey to HB 841, which the House passed, that effectively amends on Rep. Sam Jones bill to change state law relating to unemployment insurance in a way that is clearly intended to draw down federal stimulus UI benefits that will result in a tax increase on Louisiana businesses.
“It is deeply disappointing that a measure to significantly raise taxes on our Louisiana businesses passed through the House without any discussion. The people of Louisiana deserve better. Sneaking on an amendment that so dramatically affects all of the businesses in our state, even after a resolution with the same goal as this amendment was defeated in committee, flies in the face of the open, honest government our people deserve.
“This amendment would have the effect of changing our current law in a way to use temporary federal stimulus money while resulting in a long term tax increase on Louisiana businesses who will long after be taxed along new experience ratings that are used to calculate their individual tax rates.
“This is plainly bad policy that is wrong for Louisiana businesses and those employees who depend on them for a living. The Governor will veto this measure in any form that it would ever come to his desk and we are asking legislators to join us in working against this measure in addition to speaking out against the covert tactics that were used to quietly put this into a bill in the House today. The people of Louisiana deserve an open, honest debate on this issue, not sneaky tactics.”
Rep. John Labruzzo said, “I am stunned that an amendment to raise taxes on Louisiana businesses was so quietly put through the House today by the committee chairman. This is absolutely unacceptable to skip the committee process. We need a debate on this issue and we need to make our case very clear that raising taxes on our businesses is absolutely the worst thing we could do during a time of national economic crisis.”
Rep. Jim Morris said, “An amendment that bypasses our committee process in order to raise taxes on Louisiana businesses is no way to do business. This tax increase on our businesses in order to use temporary federal stimulus funds is one of the worst things we could do for our state's growing economy, and at the very least the people of our state deserve to hear a debate on this matter."
Rep. Cameron Henry said, “I am very disappointed by the way this amendment was snuck onto legislation on the House floor today. If I would have know this amendment was to accept UI stimulus funds and change the law to raise taxes on Louisiana businesses, I would have been an outspoken critic against it.”
LABI Director Jim Patterson, “This amendment was attached to a bill that was on the local and consent calendar meant for non-controversial measures. Putting such an obviously controversial amendment onto this bill without a full explanation of what was contained in the amendment is clearly an abuse of legislative procedure.”
Back in the early nineties when I watched C-Span I saw on more than one occasion a senator entering the chamber and asking an aid "how do I vote on this bill?" I guess their excuse is that - with committee assignments, meeting with constituents, etc. they cannot keep up with each and every bill or amendment they need to vote on. I imagine the legislators in the Louisiana House will be paying closer attention in the future after this occurrence. Written by kpf
on 5/19/2009
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It is a sad state of affairs when our elected representatives are voting on and passing bills which they know nothing about. When the officials are not reading the bills to know what laws and rules are being passed they are not doing their jobs. Why should the be allowed to receive a check for not performing their duties. The ones that are crying foul have no excuses and should not feel as they were duped. They just did not perform their responsibility. No wonder the State is in a MESS. Written by James
on 5/19/2009
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