23 February 2007

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- Prefiled bills though February

Welcome to the impending 2007 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Pre-filing of bills has been happening for about a month, so let’s see what good, bad, and ugly legislation has been proposed. As always, any bills that are similar to ones listed will be acknowledged, but not separately analyzed.

THE GOOD: HB 15 by Rep. A. G. Crowe would provide a tax credit for homeowners whose primary residence is damaged as a consequence of a named tropical storm or hurricane. HB 23 by Rep. Pete Schenider would return certain individual income tax rates and brackets to those in effect prior to the Stelly Plan and reinstates the excess federal itemized deduction (similar bills: HB 16, 17, 30, 35, 36, 38, 39, 45; SB 4, SB 10, SB 11, SB 13). HB 25 by Crowe would mandate more information be provided to women contemplating abortions.

THE BAD: SB 1 by Sen. Joe McPherson would lock Louisiana more firmly than ever into its existing failing indigent health care system. SB 14 by Pres. Don Hines would emasculate the oversight authority of the State Bond Commission.