Good morning and greetings from the LA GOP –

The House and Senate convened at 10am.  You can find a full list of committees meeting today here.

CALLING ON 55 FIGHTERS: House Bill 689 by Rep. Karen Carter Peterson now includes by amendment the income tax increases in Senate Bill 335 by Lydia Jackson and we’re calling on the 55 members of the House who pledged to defeat SB 335 to unite again to defeat this tax hike.  The $118 million in new taxes result from a delay in promised tax relief and will cause individuals to pay more this year and in subsequent years than they were supposed to pay.

Listed below are the 55 members who signed on to oppose this tax increase in its original form.  If your representative is on this list, please call them today at 225-342-6945 and ask them to reject House Bill 689 in the full House and strip the tax increase amendment from the conference report.  If you’re representative is not on this list, ask them why.

James Armes                            Lowell C. Hazel                     Erich Ponti

Bobby Badon                            Cameron Henry                     J. Rogers Pope

Taylor Barras                            Frank Hoffman                      Steve Pugh

Richard Burford                         Frank Howard                       Dee Richard

Henry Burns                              Kay Katz                                Clif Richardson

Tim Burns                                 Chuck Kleckley                      Joel Robideaux

Thomas Carmody                     John LaBruzzo                       John Schroder

Steve Carter                             Nancy Landry                         Scott Simon

Simone Champagne                 Hunter Greene                       Mert Smiley

Billy Chandler                            Eddie Lambert                       Jane Smith

Patrick Connick                         H. Bernard LeBas                  Kirk Talbot

Page Cortez                              Anthony Ligi                           Ricky Templet

Greg Cromer                             Sam Little                               Major Thibaut

Michael Danahay                      Joe Lopinto                            Wayne Waddell

Noble Ellington                          Nickie Monica                        Mack “Bodie” White

Franklin Foil                              Jim Morris                               Thomas Willmott

Brett Geymann                          Rickey Nowlin                         Ernest Wooton

Johnny Guinn                            J. Kevin Pearson

Joe Harrison                              Jonathan Perry

Stories we’re following…

LSU rallies to topple Texas in 11th in Game 1 of CWS finals

“LSU short-circuited Texas’ power surge Monday night. Freshman Mikie Mahtook singled in the winning run in the top of the 11th inning after DJ LeMahieu tied the game in the ninth, and LSU survived Texas’ five home runs to beat the Longhorns 7-6 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals.” – Associated Press

Jindal, Perry put seafood, barbecue on line

“A tray of fresh Louisiana seafood is on the line as LSU takes on the Texas for the national title in the best-of-three College World Series. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday bet Texas Gov. Rick Perry the Tigers would take the championship. If the Longhorns lose, Perry put a tray of Texas barbecue on the line.” – Associated Press

ACORN inquiries

“After a request by Gov. Bobby Jindal, state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said Monday that his office has made inquiries into alleged embezzlement 10 years ago related to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, based in New Orleans. ACORN last year began dealing with an internal dispute and a lawsuit involving accusations that the brother of the nonprofit group’s founder made nearly $1 million in faulty credit card charges in 1999 and 2000 while working for an organization that kept ACORN’s books.” – Times-Picayune

House backs use of ‘rainy day’ fund

“The Louisiana House backed a limited use of the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund Monday to help stave off some budget cuts, as the House and Senate edged closer to a final compromise on state spending. The time for a final deal was growing tight. The legislative session must end Thursday, and the new budget year begins on July 1. The House vote to use $86 million from the fund came after House Speaker Jim Tucker and Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin-amid pressure from the Senate-reversed their staunch opposition to tapping it.” – Associated Press

Bill would re-open reform talk

“Senate Bill 261, offered by state Sens. Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, and Francis Thompson, D-Delhi. The bill would create a Commission on Streamlining State Government to figure out what we should do about declining revenues. The bill deserves to become law and to start a debate that Louisiana must begin – and soon. The first item worth noting is the Legislative Fiscal Office’s estimate of the bill’s fiscal impact: zero. So, the price is right.” – Lafayette Advertiser

Delinquent La. taxpayers may get two-month amnesty

“Delinquent taxpayers would have a two-month amnesty period to settle their overdue state tax bills with all the penalties and half the interest costs waived, under a bill backed by both the House and Senate. House Bill 720 is headed back to the House, which is expected to send it to a legislative compromise committee so lawmakers can decide how they want to spend the estimated $150 million or more that could be brought in during the amnesty period.” – Associated Press

Melancon’s Seat Prime Pickup Opportunity

“Judging by all the noise out of the National Republican Congressional Committee over the news that Melancon is considering the race, there is little doubt that the Bayou State’s 3rd district is about to rocket to the upper echelon of GOP targets.” – Roll Call

Confidence in Stimulus Plan Ebbs, Poll Finds

“Barely half of Americans are now confident that President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus measure will boost the economy, and the rapid rise in optimism about the state of the nation that followed the 2008 election has abated, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Overall, 52 percent now say the stimulus package has succeeded or will succeed in restoring the economy, compared with 59 percent two months ago. The falloff in confidence has been sharpest in the hard-hit Midwest, where fewer than half now see the government spending as succeeding. In April, six in 10 Midwesterners said the federal program had worked or would do so.” – Washington Post

Cao expedites non-profit status for New Orleans Economic Development Council

“Little-Wood said: ‘To have an affirmative response this quickly, is a huge deal. We were seeking 501c3 status approval for economic development purposes. That particular designation is typically pretty difficult to obtain. For us to acquire it this quickly, was pretty significant. Congressman Cao responded very quickly. His office has been incredibly helpful, and I was kept informed as they continued to press on the issue. I was very impressed with the Congressman Cao’s expediency, efficiency, and professionalism.’” – Louisiana Weekly