Last House tax proposal dies

The House’s last tax proposal to bring in revenue to balance the next fiscal year’s budget failed 46-55 Sunday night in spite of an emotional plea by its sponsor.
House Bill 38, authored by Rep. Malinda White, D-Bogalusa, would have netted $88 million from reducing deductions on the state income filings.
That leaves just two tax bills outstanding, which would bring in nearly $81 million.
The most lawmakers can hope for at this point is roughly $300 million – half of what Gov. John Bel Edwards said was required to balance the budget for the fiscal year beginning in 10 days. The difference has to be made up in reductions in already slashed spending budgets, including TOPS and safety-net hospitals.
HB38 was the alternative to an earlier bill by Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston, that cut itemized deductions to personal income taxes, but which failed in committee. White’s bill survived the House Ways and Means Committee, but its fate on the floor appeared pre-determined.