[StBernard] BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for May 3, 2007

[Westley Annis]

BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for May 3, 2007

BATON ROUGE - One day into the legislative session, and Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco is already making progress on her agenda to strengthen Louisiana's future. House committees today approved the following bills in the Governor's package, sending them to the full House of Representatives for further consideration:

House Bill 4 - Supplemental Pay for Law Enforcement and Firefighters

*	Sponsored by Representative John Alario, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee. 
*	This legislation increases state supplemental pay for firefighters and certain law enforcement officers from $300 per month to $425 per month. 
*	Louisiana must be able to recruit and retain the best-qualified people to deliver services to our citizens and protect our communities. 
*	Approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 102-0. 

House Bill 372 - Investment Tax Credit Alternative to Enterprise Zone Sales Tax Rebate 

*	Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Townsend, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee. 
*	Louisiana is now in a position to strengthen our future by providing a refundable investment tax credit option equal to 1.5 percent of qualified expenditures. 
*	This bill entitles a business that has executed an enterprise zone contract a choice of either the sales and use tax rebate or the new refundable investment tax credit.
*	Approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 98-0. 

House Bill 633 - General Motors Plant Sales Tax Exemption

*	Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Townsend, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee. 
*	Gov. Blanco continues the most aggressive economic development agenda in Louisiana's recent history with a $540,000 proposal in sales tax exclusions to help General Motors expand its facility in Shreveport. 
*	This proposal accelerates the manufacturing machinery and equipment exclusion for motor vehicle manufacturers. 
*	Approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 102-0 . 

House Bill 240 - Truck and Trailer Exemption

*	Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Townsend, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee. 
*	This bill clarifies the sales and use tax exemption for certain trucks and trailers used in interstate commerce. 
*	Louisiana's ports are the gateway to the world and our trucking industry facilitates the movement of many products in interstate 
	commerce. This bill keeps our trucking companies competitive with neighboring states. 
*	Approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 94-0.


Click here <http://www.gov.state.la.us/>  for more information on Gov. Blanco's legislative agenda, including photo galleries, speeches, and testimony from the session.

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