Dem Gov John Bel Edwards’ Tax Hikes On Business Weaken Louisiana’s Economy

Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax hikes continue to push Louisiana further into decline, weakening its business climate and driving economic activity out of the state.

A new report shows that companies doing business in Louisiana over the last two years – under Edwards’ governorship – have experienced “the nation’s greatest annual increase in business taxes, with state and local business taxes rising at a 12.5% clip to an estimated $10.1 billion annually.” It’s no surprise that during the same period of time Louisiana was ranked 44th for business climate and dead last for where to find a job.

Edwards came to office claiming that he wouldn’t raise taxes. Not only did he fail to keep his word, but his historically high tax increases have made his state’s economy one of the worst in the nation. Louisiana deserves better.

The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report writes:

“Over a two-fiscal-year period—from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018—companies doing business in Louisiana saw the nation’s greatest annual increase in business taxes, with state and local business taxes rising at a 12.5% clip to an estimated $10.1 billion annually.

In a report released today, research conducted by Ernst & Young along with the Council On State Taxation and State Tax Research Institute found the rate at which Louisiana business tax collections grew was not only significantly higher than the 2% national average but was also well above the 4.9% growth rate of Florida, next-highest Southern state.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the state’s hefty business tax burden can be traced back to more than two dozen permanent state laws passed since 2016 that ultimately raise business tax collections by some $3 billion. A handful of temporary tax changes have also come and gone during the three-year period.

‘Louisiana’s complex tax structure has faced continuous change in recent years,’ says LABI Senior Vice President Camille Conaway in a prepared statement. ‘Income taxes, franchise taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes—no element of the Louisiana business tax code has been left untouched since 2015 in an effort to boost collections. And still, the tax code is arguably the most complicated it has ever been.’

LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack took it a step further, saying the additional $3 billion in state taxes over three years have contributed to Louisiana’s lagging unemployment rate, economy and workforce participation levels.

‘Our elected leaders should stop relying on increased government taxes, spending, mandates and lawsuits as the best way to provide improved economic opportunities for our people,’ he says. ‘The data clearly shows that approach is not working.’

Additionally, LABI released an updated version of its annual overview of the state business tax code, highlighting the fact Louisiana businesses pay a higher share of state and local taxes (49%) than the national average (44%).

The organization’s summary comes on the heels of its recent defense of the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which can be accessed here. In a speech to the Press Club of Baton Rouge earlier this month, Waguespack called for parishes to have the right to increase tax abatements as part of the approval process, but not lower them below state guidelines and regulations.”