Legislature Mainly Says No

Sine Die – the 60th Day of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session has come to a close.  Here’s what happened and didn’t happen before midnight last Thursday.

The Legislature DID finish on time for the first time in five years. Yet, there was a lot left undone that needed to be finished.

Highlights:
1)    one tax incentive (SB 6440), classified natural gas to be taxed as a transportation fuel, supporting a potential economic development project in the port);
2)    no new transportation package of revenue, investment and reform;
3)    no new taxes except closing (SB 6430) a tax incentive/loophole on R&D Sales & Use Tax and B&O tax credits that will expire December 31, 2014;
4)    no higher education tuition increase (2 years running);
5)    no workers’ compensation reform;
6)    no teacher cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) (6 years running);
7)    no teacher mandatory evaluation so maybe no federal waiver (loss of approximately $40 million in federal dollars);
8)    no supplemental capital budget for the first time since 1996.

Guest Blogger: Michael Transue
Government Affairs Lobbying & Advocacy Services