Louisiana
Quin Hillyer: Reform Louisiana taxes, but proceed with caution
If Louisianans are tired of finishing near the bottom of every rating of civic health, they should buy into major reforms.
In proposals within the last week, state Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson and the Pelican Institute think tank make good sense when pushing for a flatter, simpler, more growth-oriented tax system in Louisiana. Still, a little caution is in order.
On personal income taxes, Nelson proposes a flat rate of 3.8% on all income over $12,500. Pelican, in a paper to be released Monday, will propose a 3.5% rate. Nelson estimates the state would lose $500 million a year in revenue as a result of the reduced rates in his plan, but would make up for it largely by eliminating numerous targeted tax breaks and extending the sales tax to previously untaxed services. Pelican’s plan, on paper, would reduce revenues even more.
Both assume, though — Pelican more abundantly — that another large portion of the revenue loss on paper would be recouped through far more dynamic economic growth.
Quin Hillyer
Pelican’s “fiscal reform” plan is comprehensive, calling for flattening not just personal income tax rates but also corporate income tax rates, along with eliminating the corporate franchise tax and the inventory tax. Noting that state spending has grown at twice the inflation rate for nearly a decade, Pelican also proposes an expenditure limit that would block state spending from rising faster each year than the inflation rate plus population growth.
Much more boldly, Pelican says both corporate and personal income taxes in Louisiana should be phased out, slowly but entirely. The think tank lays out an arithmetically cogent process for doing so.
To which, some observations are in order.
First, Pelican is right in noting that the dizzying complexity of Louisiana’s tax system, along with its imposition of outmoded, inefficient franchise and inventory taxes, “hampers entrepreneurship and family prosperity.” Louisiana increasingly is an outlier with its multi-tiered, multi-exemption system that causes compliance problems while retarding growth. For example, writes Pelican, “There are 99 exemptions, deductions, and credits for personal income taxes.” This system disfavors those with lower incomes who can’t afford accountants to take advantage of all these specialized provisions.
Second, both Nelson and Pelican rightly point out that a simpler system with lower rates will spur economic growth. Other states repeatedly prove it. It is a travesty that, as almost every other Sun Belt state boasts growing populations and economies, Louisiana is losing people and ranks near the bottom on almost every economic index. By comparison, as Pelican CEO Daniel Erspamer wrote in these pages on Sept. 27, “states with a flat or zero tax rate comprise 13 of the top 15 states in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the country’s best economies.”
Now, though, consider caveats.
First, as both Nelson and Pelican note — but as neither has fully detailed in their new plans — systemic spending reform also is necessary. While the dynamic “growth” effects of flatter taxes surely will replenish some of the “lost” revenue from lower rates, and while the elimination of special-interest exemptions will make up most of the rest, spending reform remains necessary to avoid so-called “fiscal cliffs.”
To that end, the Legislature should significantly tighten its system of mid-year “supplemental appropriations” in which it redirects several hundred million dollars each year from deliberately overstuffed original accounts into legislator’s pet projects, with less de facto oversight than in the regular budget process. Lawmakers should rein in the waste from this supplemental hocus pocus.
The second caveat is an eggs-in-one-basket warning. Pelican goes too far, even if its numbers technically balance, when it recommends a steady but eventually complete phaseout of both corporate and personal income taxes along with elimination of the franchise and inventory taxes. Those taxes together account for 38% of all state revenues plus a chunk of local revenues. This would leave the sales tax, already 27% of state revenues, to shoulder a much larger load for state government. This is unwise.
Every economist knows sales taxes are by their nature regressive, meaning they take a higher percentage of the income of low-wage workers than of wealthier people. Basic fairness suffers if there’s too large a reliance on sales taxes.
Second, while the revenue from almost every tax rises and falls with the strength of the economy, sales tax receipts are particularly — and quickly — susceptible to sharp drops during recessions. For revenue stability to protect crucial government services, it makes far more sense to have several major revenue sources. That’s why it may make sense eventually to phase out either the corporate income tax or the personal income tax — but not both.
With those caveats, Pelican and Nelson are pushing in the right direction. To jump-start Louisiana’s economy, lawmakers should pursue these reformers’ central recommendations enthusiastically.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Marcavia Shavers posts 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead ULM Warhawks women’s basketball past Louisiana 79-63 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
ULM (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) took control early, outscoring Louisiana 17-7 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-21 by halftime. The Warhawks never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in the second quarter.
Shavers anchored the inside for ULM, finishing 9-of-15 from the field with 13 rebounds. Jazmine Jackson added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers, while J’Mani Ingram scored 16 points and dished out six assists.
ULM shot 46.9% from the field and held a 42-27 advantage on the boards. The Warhawks also converted Louisiana turnovers into 29 points and scored 26 second-chance points.
Louisiana (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) was led by Mikaylah Manley with 18 points and Imani Daniel with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amijah Price chipped in 12 points.
After struggling early, Louisiana shot better in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
ULM advances in the Sun Belt tournament, while Louisiana closes its season with the loss.
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BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.
Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.
According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.
A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.
“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.
Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.
Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.
“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.
Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing
07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing
6-8-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing
3-6-7-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing
0-8-3-2-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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