St. Tammany News

Less than a month after approving one of the most stringent ethics packages in the nation, Louisiana lawmakers return to the state Capitol today for another special session to debate tax eliminations, business retention and ways to doll out a $1.08 billion surplus.

The 12-item session is expected to last up to a week. It is the second such special session called by newly elected Gov. Bobby Jindal within a month. "This second session is another crucial part of our effort to make Louisiana become all it can be," Jindal said, after calling an ethics reform session in January. "We will be the greatest place in the world to raise a family and pursue opportunity, but we must stop exporting our greatest asset - our children, and instead give them the opportunities they need right here at home."

The session includes a wide range of topics from absolving tax on business utilities and manufacturing machinery, in particularly newspaper printing equipment, to amending new market tax credits for new development. According to Jindal, Louisiana is one of the only states in the country to tax business debt - with more than $40 billion taxed - which creates disincentives to invest, expand or create new jobs, particular for small start up companies.

"It is time for those that have left to pursue greener economic pastures to return home to find prosperity back here in Louisiana," Jindal said. "This can only happen if we make the reforms needed to improve our economy across the state."

Jindal is also asking legislators to approve a one-time financial shot in the arm to pump the state's $1.08 billion surplus into roads and infrastructure improvements, including a $20 million expansion to the Port of New Orleans and $300 million for coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects.

But the most controversial item is likely a bill granting tax deductions - up to 50 percent - to parents who enroll students in private schools or who home school their children. The bill raises the question of government's role in private education.

If approved, the deductions could start next summer and cap at $5,000 per student, costing the state roughly $20 million annually.

"We must focus on our most fundamental priority - to make Louisiana a place of opportunity for our children so they don't have to leave the state to find a job, make a great career and pursue their dreams," Jindal said. "We need to create more jobs, and not just any jobs, but jobs that will allow every Louisianan to not only work, but to succeed, to advance and to get ahead in life."

Newly elected state Sen. Jack Donahue of Mandeville is impressed with Jindal's methodology.

"The governor is doing it right," said Donahue, CEO of DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc. "He wanted to first clean up ethics to get rid of this stereotype that you can't do business in Louisiana, and then start dissecting ways to retain business. It makes sense. It's easy but nobody has done it yet."

Donahue said Louisiana ranks second in the nation for educating children then "shipping them off to work elsewhere because nothing is here."

"It's probably the most scary statistic in Louisiana," Donahue said. "And if we aren't going to change that there will be no more Louisiana."