VP Rotary Club hears update from Rep. LeBas

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

The following is a recap of the recent meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club.
June 30, Meeting
Rotarian Dan Poret invited State Representative Bernard LeBas to give an update on the recent legislative session during the June 30, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. LeBas noted the session was essentially a “money session,” as the state is currently $1.6 billion in the red. He said lawmakers had to find ways to “create money.” LeBas said that a .50 cent per pack increase in cigarette taxes, removing the state tax exemption on solar energy panels, reducing the inventory tax credit by 25 percent and increasing the cost of vehicle title fees were just a few ways legislators found funds to cover the short fall by “spreading out the pain.” LeBas added the state is trying to build up funding for improvements to the state’s highways.
LeBas stated the legislature will possibly pursue a veto session to try and override vetoes made by Governor Jindal. Among the vetoes the legislature is looking to overturn are a cost of living raise to state retirees that amounted to $30 a month; collection of a the state-wide four percent sales tax on online sales; setting a cap on how much the state spends on the Tops program; and reducing the tax credits to movies made in the state from $264 million down to $180 million dollars. LeBas noted that in order to have a veto session, the House of Representatives and the Senate each must approve the session.
In closing, LeBas urged all voters to educate themselves on all of the issues on the ballot for the upcoming election in order to make an informed vote.