Louisiana

Lawmakers want legislative experts to review Gov. Bobby Jindal's $3 billion state tax swap before considering the 11 bills that would enable the changes.

Eliminating Louisiana's income tax will require raising the sales tax rate to 6.25% from the current 4%.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said there is no need for a statewide vote on his plan to raise the state sales tax and eliminate the income tax.

Louisiana State Bond Commission wants more options before deciding on $100 million of bonds to bolster reserves for state-owned Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon sees no need for the state's insurer of last resort to sell $100 million of assessment bonds.

Louisiana Bond Commission to pick underwriters and bond counsel for $173 million refunding of highway revenue bonds.

Gov. Bobby Jindal proposed a $3.6 billion plan to raise the Louisiana sales tax to pay for elimination of the state income tax.

Louisiana will issue $84 million of highway revenue bonds in the first of three planned negotiated sales, two months after canceling a single $249.2 million sale.

Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to lower the income tax rate and raise the sales tax gives lawmakers a chance at effective tax reform.

Louisiana Treasurer John N. Kennedy said Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed 2014 budget is "a fond illusion" and structurally flawed.

Louisiana is rapidly running out of general obligation bond proceeds to finance state capital projects and can't issue enough additional debt to pay for projects already on the books.

Tulane University in New Orleans will continue its post-hurricane renewal effort with a negotiated sale of $98.6 million of revenue bonds.

Louisiana State Bond Commission set up an executive committee to find a way to replenish a capital outlay account without busted the cap on state tax debt.

Louisiana Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. gave preliminary approval to proposal to refunding $823.1 million of bonds supported by the state's portion of the 1998 settlement with cigarette companies.

Historically low interest rates last year helped boost bond sales across the Southeast to $63 billion, an increase of 33% over 2011. The surge in debt was propelled by refundings.

Conservative lawmakers have filed a package of bills designed to put more controls over the writing of Louisiana's annual operating budget.

Two of Louisiana's Republican state representatives have filed suit in state district court contending that Gov. Bobby Jindal's operating budget for fiscal 2013 is unconstitutional.

Moody's Investors Service placed tobacco settlement revenue bonds of issuers in 17 states and two territories under review with direction uncertain because of legal settlement announced in December. The action affects $20.5 billion of debt.

Louisiana has delayed the single-tranche sale of up to $350 million of highway improvement revenue bonds, shifting to a plan for phased issues over three years.

Louisiana will upgrade more than 1,000 miles of state rural roads in 63 parishes with next week’s sale of $249.2 million of highway improvement bonds.