House breaks stalemate, advances sales tax bill

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – The Latest on Louisiana’s special session on taxes (all times local):
  
4:25 p.m.
  
On a second try, the Louisiana House agreed to a more than $360 million sales tax proposal aimed at helping bridge budget gaps.
  
Lawmakers voted 76-26 for the tax bill, sponsored by House GOP leader Lance Harris. It required 70 votes.
  
Monday’s vote broke through a House logjam on taxes that cratered a February special session. Bill support came from Republicans and Democrats, sending the measure to the Senate.
  
Harris’ bill would renew one-third of an expiring 1 percent sales tax and eliminate or lessen some sales tax breaks – until 2023.
  
The bill raises less money than Gov. John Bel Edwards wants. But his administration and lawmakers who want a higher sales tax rate urged passage, to continue negotiations as the June 4 session deadline edges closer.
  
The new budget year begins July 1.
  
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2:15 p.m.
  
Louisiana lawmakers are meeting Memorial Day in their special session, trying to reach a tax deal to fill a budget gap.
  
The financial year begins July 1, with more than $1 billion in temporary taxes expiring. Gov. John Bel Edwards wants $648 million replaced, to avoid steep cuts to health, education and public safety programs.
  
The House, where most tax bills must start, will consider taxes Monday afternoon. A sales tax bill failed Friday.
  
Lawmakers are questioning whether they can strike a tax compromise and craft next year’s budget before the session ends June 4.
  
Edwards vetoed a $28.5 billion budget he said cut too deeply, expecting lawmakers to write a larger spending plan during the special session. But Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry hasn’t yet introduced a budget bill.