Changes

In a special legislative session on Memorial Day 2018, Republican Majority Leader Harris obtained House passage of his legislation to keep one-third of a one-cent [[sales tax]] scheduled for expiration. The one-third part of the tax is projected to raise $369 million annually, less than the $648 million of additional revenue sought by Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. A supermajority was required for passage of a tax, 76-26, as it developed with passage on the second attempt. Harris said that his bill would reduce government spending by 1.3 percent next year because it would still require some cuts, "but not catastrophic" ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/05/28/breaking-house-passes-sales-tax-second-try/649217002/|title=Breaking: House passes sales tax on second try|date=May 28, 2018|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=May 29, 2018}}</ref> Then the state Senate added other tax increases to Harris' House bill, and the House declined to go along with the Senate.

In a special legislative session on Memorial Day 2018, Republican Majority Leader Harris obtained House passage of his legislation to keep one-third of a one-cent [[sales tax]] scheduled for expiration. The one-third part of the tax is projected to raise $369 million annually, less than the $648 million of additional revenue sought by Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. A supermajority was required for passage of a tax, 76-26, as it developed with passage on the second attempt. Harris said that his bill would reduce government spending by 1.3 percent next year because it would still require some cuts, "but not catastrophic" ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/05/28/breaking-house-passes-sales-tax-second-try/649217002/|title=Breaking: House passes sales tax on second try|date=May 28, 2018|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=May 29, 2018}}</ref> Then the state Senate added other tax increases to Harris' House bill, and the House declined to go along with the Senate.

Harris' leadership against Edwards' tax proposals drew the fire of an irate long-term Rapides Parish [[Sheriff]] William Earl Hilton, a Democrat born October 12, 1945, who was reelected with 75 percent of the vote in the 2015 nonpartisan blanket primary against three Republican challengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns (Rapides Parish)|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref> Hilton referred to the possibility that ten thousand state prisoners could be released if the cuts required by the recently-approved state should become a reality. Hilton placed responsibility on Harris: "Lance has got it in his craw that this is what we're gonna do, and it's my way or no way. It's my way or the highway." Harris called Hilton's outburst more of "the worst political scare tactics I've seen."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/06/08/fed-up-rapides-sheriff-says-hell-return-state-inmates-if-cuts-come/685005002/|title='Fed up': Rapides sheriff says he'll return state inmates if cuts come|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=June 8, 2018|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref>   

Harris' leadership against Edwards' tax proposals drew the fire of an irate long-term Rapides Parish [[Sheriff]] William Earl Hilton, a Democrat born October 12, 1945, who was reelected with 75 percent of the vote in the 2015 nonpartisan blanket primary against three Republican challengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns (Rapides Parish)|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref> Hilton referred to the possibility that ten thousand state prisoners could be released if the cuts required by the recently approved state should become a reality. Hilton placed responsibility on Harris: "Lance has got it in his craw that this is what we're gonna do, and it's my way or no way. It's my way or the highway." Harris called Hilton's outburst more of "the worst political scare tactics I've seen."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/06/08/fed-up-rapides-sheriff-says-hell-return-state-inmates-if-cuts-come/685005002/|title='Fed up': Rapides sheriff says he'll return state inmates if cuts come|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=June 8, 2018|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref>   

Ultimately, Harris lost out in his bid to restrain the 2018 state budget and keep tax increases at a minimum. Republican House Speaker [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia, who earlier had joined Harris and House Appropriations Committee chairman John Cameron Henry in holding the line on tax increases, suddenly reversed himself and joined with the Edwards administration to approve keeping .45 percent of a temporary one-cent state sales tax.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', June 26, 2018.</ref>

Ultimately, Harris lost out in his bid to restrain the 2018 state budget and keep tax increases at a minimum. Republican House Speaker [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia, who earlier had joined Harris and House Appropriations Committee chairman John Cameron Henry in holding the line on tax increases, suddenly reversed himself and joined with the Edwards administration to approve keeping .45 percent of a temporary one-cent state sales tax.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', June 26, 2018.</ref>