WRKF News

The Trump Administration is placing a tariff — or tax — on imported steel and aluminum in an effort to bolster U.S. manufacturing.

The price of imported steel will go up by 25 percent, which means construction costs will go up, too. 

Credit rating agencies are taking notice of the ongoing political gridlock in Louisiana’s legislature, and it could lead to higher borrowing rates for the state. 

The state legislature couldn't figure out a way to solve the budget shortfall for next fiscal year. That leaves Louisiana’s universities — and students on TOPS scholarships — wondering how to pay for school. An answer isn't likely to come before June.

Legislators are moving on from a failed special session to focus on the regular session that starts Monday.

Robert Travis Scott is President of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, a non-partisan public policy group. Despite the collapse of the special session, Scott says there's still progress to be made over the next few months. 

Lawmakers ended the special session early, failing to raise any revenue to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, clearly frustrated, says the session failed because of a lack of leadership in the House. 

A bill to raise state sales tax failed on the House floor for the second time Sunday night, putting even more doubt on the future of a rocky special session. 

After the House failed to pass a major tax bill Wednesday night, the future of the special session appeared shaky. But there was some progress in getting negotiations going again Thursday. 

Louisiana’s House of Representatives is still sharply divided over how to fix the fiscal cliff. The House was finally set to vote on tax and budget bills Wednesday, but when members took to the floor hours behind schedule, it still wasn’t clear if they were any closer to a compromise. 

The Louisiana House worked behind the scenes Tuesday on tax negotiations. And key to those negotiations is the Legislative Black Caucus, led by Representative Joe Bouie (D-New Orleans).

"The strength of the Black Caucus regarding tax reform is the fact that you usually need 70 votes," he said.