Jay Dardenne - On the Issues

(Click "voted" for refrences to the bills)

HIGHER TAXES

Voted for--and served as Senate floor leader for--The Stelly Plan income tax increase (House Bill 31 of 2002)
Voted to raise natural gas severance tax (McPherson amendment to HB 1887 of 1993)
Voted for higher sales taxes (House Bill 1887 of 1993)
Voted for higher sales taxes (House Bill 196 of 1996)
Voted for higher tobacco taxes (House Bill 117 of 2000)
Voted for higher income taxes (House Bill 299 of 2000)
Voted for higher income taxes (House Bill 295 of 2000)
Voted for car rental tax (House Bill 193 of 2000)
Voted for higher sales taxes on food and utilities (House Bill 36 of 2000 Special Session)
Voted for the Unitary Tax --a huge new business tax (House Bill 198 of 2000)
Voted for higher sales taxes on food and utilities (House Bill 169 of 2002)
Voted for higher income taxes (House Bill 171 of 2002)
Voted for higher income taxes (House bill 238 of 2002)
Voted for car rental tax (House Bill 166 of 2002)
Voted for higher cigarette taxes (House Bill 167 of 2002)
Voted for higher cigarette taxes (House Bill 157 of 2002)
Voted for higher fee on "other than used tires" (House Bill 846 of 2004)
Voted to allow higher fees on LSU students (House Bill 1062 of 2004)
Voted to allow higher fees on Medicare surveys (House Bill 1391 of 2004)
Voted to allow LA Tax Commission to impose fees (House Bill 1419 of 2004)
Voted to allow higher fees on shrimpers (House Bill 1711 of 2004)
Voted to allow fees on turtle farmers (Senate Bill 161 of 2004)

STATE SPENDING

Voted to double the size of the state budget during the past decade. (See House Bill 1 in each Regular Session)
Voted for a huge increase in the State Budget this year alone (House Bill 1 of 2006)

SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR LEGISLATORS

Voted to give taxpayer-funded lifetime healthcare benefits to term limited legislators (HB 1028 of 2006)
Voted to prohibit free sporting tickets for legislators while receiving free tickets for Tiger Stadium Suite
Raised campaign funds during legislative session because of loophole in state law

HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES

Voted for the ethanol mandate bill that will increase gas prices by an estimated 67 cents per gallon (HB 685 of 2006)

OPPOSED L.A.B.I.

Voted against the position of LABI, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, on a dozen major votes since 1999