“We only have 3 opportunities before us to possibly fund the vital services that we need in all of our communities,” Bogalusa Rep. Malinda White reminded her colleagues.
Her HB 38 was one of those opportunities, and the full House took it up Sunday evening. The bill would reduce the amount of federal excess itemized deductions allowed on state returns.
It came to the floor weighted down with a complicated amendment Governor John Bel Edwards described as “awful.”
“I don’t believe that the credit rating agencies would be pleased at all,” he said of the scheme which some Senate members had taken to calling “the son of SAVE” – a reference to 2015’s budget gimmick for a phantom credit to fund higher education.
Sunday, White, a Republican, offered another amendment, simplifying the bill.
“It returns your estimated itemized deduction to 100%, except it excludes two items: your state income taxes, and your state and local sales and use tax,” she explained.
“Rep. White, there are no questions on the amendment,” Speaker Taylor Barras immediately announced. “Is there any objection to adoption of the amendment? Without objection, the amendment is adopted. “
White then urged final passage.
“I ask that you join together, administration all the way to us, that we can resolve the issues of this state, and consider this for some long-term fixes.”
And the vote?
“46 yeas and 55 nays, and the bill fails to pass.”
Eight Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the bill, and i asked Covington Rep. John Schroder -- who voted against it – why the majority said no.
“I think the House – at least the majority – probably had their belly full,” Schroder said. “I guess the bottom line for me is, I don’t know what we have in the pot already. Nobody can tell me that because nobody knows.”
And that line of thinking means the two remaining bills – up for consideration in House Ways and Means committee today – face very long odds, indeed.