Dinelle Hardin, Ronald Greene’s sister, expresses her opposition to a pay raise for Louisiana State Police troopers at the meeting of the Louisiana State Police Commission at its May 11, 2023 meeting.
On May 9, 2023, the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee advanced a tax measure to raise $22 million to fund a pay raise for Louisiana State Police troopers. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Paul Hollis (R-Covington). If passed, the bill proposes an approximate six-fold increase on the taxes imposed on vaping and e-cigarettes. The bill advanced out of Committee by a 14-0 vote despite experts in the industry who testified that, even at present, 70 – 80 percent of the market for these products is going untaxed.
Let’s take just a few minutes to take a look at some highlights from these opponents’ arguments against the bill:
Opponents to HB-635 testify to the failure to collect taxes on “70 – 80 percent” of the existing vape and e-cigarette market and to the fact that, upon passage of the proposed bill, the market would, “without a doubt increase the illicit trade that’s already a huge problem in this particular category.”
Even though it was a given to pass the Louisiana State Police Commission at its meeting of May 11, 2023, that didn’t stop Felicia Cooper and Dinelle Hardin, sister of Ronald Greene, from expressing their sentiments against the proposal. Let’s take a look:
Felicia Cooper states her reasons for opposing the increase in LSP Trooper pay at the 5/11/23 LSPC meeting.
Dinelle Hardin, sister of Ronald Greene, states her reasons for opposing the increase in LSP Trooper pay at the 5/11/23 LSPC meeting.
LSPC, led by member Jared Caruso-Riecke, who spearheaded the pay increase initiative, discuss the proposed LSP pay raise initiative at the 5/11/23 LSPC meeting.
In a separate matter, the LSPC discussed an initiative to provide whistleblower protection entailing reporting LSP Trooper wrongdoing and, upon its passage, Hardin openly inquires, “Is there any way you can now reinstate Carl Cavalier?”
We’ll update this feature as it makes its way through the remainder of the legislative process to include whatever tomorrow’s vote by the full House turns out to be.