Louisiana House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer Sounds Off on Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy on Legislative requirements for rolling back tax exemptions.

Louisiana House of Representatives Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer

 

On June 1, 2015, Louisiana Treasurer John Neely Kennedy stated his belief that Louisiana’s tax exemptions and credits can only be rolled back or partially rescinded via a 2/3 vote of the Louisiana Legislature.  Eleven days later, Louisiana House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer lambasted Kennedy’s assertion and stated that he could defeat a lawsuit by Kennedy, LABI, the LOGA, or any other entity “without even breaking a sweat.”

See Kennedy Sound Off on what he asserts is required to roll back or partially rescind tax exemptions and credits and Speer’s stern chastisement of Kennedy on the following video clip:


Kennedy states his assessment of what’s required to
partially rescind state tax exemptions or credits on 6/1/15,
and House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer on 6/12/15
rebukes Kennedy at a forum sponsored by
Leaders with Vision.

Bill Bryan, Assistant Louisiana Attorney General, was offered an opportunity to weigh in on the matter, but he declined.

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2 thoughts on “Louisiana House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer Sounds Off on Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy on Legislative requirements for rolling back tax exemptions.”

  1. My own thought for what it’s worth: Speer is dramatically overplaying his hand and running a bluff in an attempt to scare off potential litigation.

    Attorney and prominent fellow blogger C. B. Forgotston (a/k/a “DB, what’s his name?” by Sen. Dan Martiny: https://youtu.be/VxpNGRWScwU), expresses my sentiments perfectly on the matter, and he also provides direct links to the voting records of all legislators on this haphazard (and that’s being kind) barrage of tax increases, which, in my humble opinion, stands an “excellent” chance of being adjudged unconstitutional: http://forgotston.com/2015/06/13/final-lege-tax-voting-record/.

    Thanks, “D. B., or what’s his name?” for your diligence in keeping voters informed of what’s going on at the Capitol!!

  2. Upon further review, I wish to change my take: I KNOW Speer is overplaying his hand!! Article VII, Section 2 of Louisiana’s Constitution is quite brief, so let’s take a look: http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=206547. §2. Power to Tax; Limitation
    Section 2. The levy of a new tax, an increase in an existing tax, or a REPEAL OF AN EXISTING TAX EXEMPTION SHALL require the enactment of a law by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. [EMPHASIS MINE]

    As Kennedy says, “seems pretty clear to me…….and they didn’t make an exception for a partial exemption.” Personally, I think the proverbial “last laugh” is going to be on all those folk in the room laughing at Kennedy if someone opts to litigate those measures that failed to obtain a 2/3 vote!

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