Louisiana has lost nearly $1 billion in sales tax since Katrina

AP ^ | October 28, 2005 | AP

[caryatid]

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana's budget deficit got an official number Friday, nearly $971 million lost in state tax income that the governor and lawmakers will have to slash from state spending in the remaining eight months of the budget year.

Economists warned the budget problems could worsen as they get more concrete details of the lost sales, income, gambling and business taxes from the back-to-back blows of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

[boomop1]

Look in some politician's pocket.

[CajunConservative]

I've been doing my part to increase sales tax revenues.

[Prime Choice]

They take in a BILLION dollars in sales taxes every 30 days? Well, what the hell do they need a federal bailout for??

[AD from SpringBay]

At my house when there's month left over at the end of the money we cut back. I guess we can expect to see the size and scope of Louisiana's government start to shrink.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Thank you!! It's been a long day at work, and I really needed the laugh!!!

[YouPosting2Me]

Sue the 'looter guy'... (or market him).

[staytrue]

What about all the money they did not have to spend on medicaid, welfare, etc.

[RedBeaconNY]

...take it out of all the money that the gov't has raked in from ridiculous gas prices.

[frogjerk]

When you are big, fat and obese like Louisiana a crash diet is needed to get you back into shape. Expect the tax and spend DIMS to die off in great numbers...

[No Longer Free State]

That's because they can't charge sales tax on the aid they're begging from the rest of the country while spending their own cash on softball fields & such.

[Altair333]

This means Louisiana is going to have to raise their demand from Congress to $250,971,000,000. Upfront, naturally, and with full discretion to spend in the hands of state officials.

[ElkGroveDan]

Louisiana's budget deficit got an official number Friday, nearly $971 million lost in state tax income that the governor and lawmakers will have to slash from state spending in the remaining eight months of the budget year.

Good Lord!!! Government cut spending??? This really is a disaster. Whatever will they do???

[Sacajaweau]

So what....There's no damn people there to take care of. The kids are getting schooled elsewhere. Folks are living on Loveboats. We're paying their way. What's the problem. The "pretend" Police Force wages?

[Disambiguator]

Louisiana has lost nearly $1 billion in sales tax since Katrina

And the downside is???

[caryatid]

I guess we can expect to see the size and scope of Louisiana's government start to shrink.

Did you forget your /sarcasm tag? LOL

[IamConservative]

As I see it, they are still $259B ahead once you factor in the $260B from the federal gubmint.

[YouPosting2Me]

Go bankrupt and let Texas buy the state.

[AmericanChef]

Cut spending? It'll never happen. First thing they'll say they have to cut is something "for the chi'dren" and the Ignorant Masses will rally for more gubmint spending. Sheesh.

[kipita]

Economists warned the budget problems could worsen as they get more concrete details of the lost sales, income, gambling and business taxes from the back-to-back blows of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Gambling in Louisiana? I thought Gov. Edwards outlawed gambling? I thought it was the sportsmans paradise due to huntin?