Vermilion Parish Legislators against raising taxes

BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers know their work is far from over. Although the regular session ended Monday, the second special session started just 30 minutes after that.
The 17-day special session will go until midnight on Thursday, June 23.
“To say it will be intense is very much an understatement,” said Sen. Jonathan Perry. “We will have served 19 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch in the 2004-year history of the legislative branch.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards is focused on filling the state’s $600 million budget gap which could mean raising taxes.
“We’re not growing government, but we have to responsibly find a way to fund our critical priorities,” Edwards said.
Vermilion Parish Sate Representatives Bob Hensgens and Blake Miguez are not in favor of raising taxes. Sen. Jonathan Perry is also against raising taxes.
“We have raised more than enough taxes on both individuals and business,” said Rep. Hensgens. “There comes a point everyone just ups and moves. I’m afraid we have already passed that point. Special session could have been avoided. There were revenue raising measures that did not involve raising taxes during the regular session that the administration held up just to justify the special session. The state has raised $2 billion in revenue in the last two years while cutting $300 million. It’s time we break the pencil point and start using the eraser!”
“With the economic downturn in the Acadiana area, hardworking families in my district, who are already struggling to survive, cannot afford to pay more taxes,” said Miguez.
Sen. Perry added, “The Governor has openly stated he will be asking the legislature to raise taxes. I am not in his camp.”
Political analyst Jim Engster said it’s either that (raise taxes) or make cuts. Right now, the Department of Health and Hospitals and the TOPS program are in danger of getting slashed.
Engster said the Senate will most likely cooperate with tax increases, but the House is a different story.
“The governor has to get 70 votes in the House, that’s going to be tough for these tax measures,” Engster said. “But the House has to consider that these cuts have constituencies, particularly TOPS, and cuts to TOPS may not sit well with the electorate.”
Engster also said House members will have to consider the timing, since the next election is three years away.