Tax credits to low-income Louisiana parents for day-care costs were overwhelming approved Sunday by the House.
But not before some Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to “hitchhike”
multiple unrelated tax breaks to the legislation that is part of Gov.
Kathleen Blanco’s package of tax credits.
Eventually, the House sponsor of Senate Bill 361, Rep. Karen
Carter, D-New Orleans, had to say she opposed all “hitchhikers” after
several amendments were debated.
Little discussion was given to the popular bill that would
give parents a maximum of $1,500 a child for enrolling a child in a
day-care program getting the highest score of five stars under the new
rating system being adopted by the Department of Social Services.
The department considers the tax credits important to developing a strong day-care system in the state.
The legislation by Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, also
gives tax credits to the day-care centers, based on the star system,
and to the employees of the day-care facilities.
The credits would cost the state more than $7 million next
year in lost revenue and steadily increase to more than $25 million
annually beginning in 2011.
Because the bill was so popular — with 87 co-authors — House
Republican Leader Rep. Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, first tried to get $160
million in one-year property insurance premium tax credits to help
homeowners in southern Louisiana with exorbitantly more-expensive
insurance costs after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Carter said she and Duplessis have taken hitchhikers from Baton Rouge to New Orleans before, but not to this extent.
Full text available at the Advocate
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