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By Vladimir Posted in Bobby Jindal | State Politics — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

RedStaters eager for a little good news might appreciate a couple of stories out of Baton Rouge, where the State Legislature is in its first Regular Session of the Jindal administration.

Tuition plan easily clears House

Following more than three hours of intense debate, the House of Representatives gave a 60-42 approval Tuesday to Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed $10 million private school tuition grant program for New Orleans public school students.

[snip]

The grants, paid from the state general fund, would be equivalent to 90 percent of a public school district's combined state and local spending on an individual student in the previous school year. For Orleans Parish, that would mean about a $6,300 grant at the start of the program, paid directly to participating private schools by the state.

That would cover as much as 1,500 students the first year, though it is not clear whether there will be that many spaces in private schools, a point on which some opponents seized during debate. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to make available at least 500 classroom spots.

Shhhh! Whatever you do, don't call them "vouchers".

Jindal agrees to eliminate Stelly plan's tax increases

The deal emerged after several days of backroom negotiations and appears to defuse a politically tenuous situation for Jindal, who did not initially embrace a tax cut even though the state treasury is brimming with record revenue.

Although the agreement still needs ratification from the Legislature, Jindal's support makes approval of a tax cut likely before the session adjourns June 23.

"This is obviously very good news," Jindal said at a morning news conference to announce his support, surrounded by leaders from the House and Senate. "A lot of work went into getting us to this day."

[snip]

The 2002 constitutional amendment... eliminated the state's "temporary" sales tax on food and residential utilities in exchange for an increase in income tax rates for all but the lowest income earners.

Since voters approved the swap in 2002, repealing the income-tax increase has become a cause celebre on conservative talk radio and a staple of many political campaigns.