Changes

Carter has also been the town attorney for Greensburg and Montpelier, also in St. Helena Parish.<ref name=bio/>

Carter has also been the town attorney for Greensburg and Montpelier, also in St. Helena Parish.<ref name=bio/>

 

 

==Political life==

==Political life==

Carter was first elected to the legislature on August 17, 1996, when in a special election he defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Rhett Bergeron, 63 to 37 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 17, 1996.</ref> The seat had previously been held by the Democrat Buster J. Guzzardo, Sr., who resigned mid-way in the first year of his third term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2003, for his third term, Carter defeated the Republican R. J. Saia, 82 to 18 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 2003.</ref>

Carter was first elected to the legislature on August 17, 1996, when in a special election he defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Rhett Bergeron, 63 to 37 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 17, 1996.</ref> The seat had previously been held by the Democrat Buster J. Guzzardo, Sr., who resigned mid-way in the first year of his third term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2003, for his third term, Carter defeated the Republican R. J. Saia, 82 to 18 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 2003.</ref>

In his first legislative stint, Carter was vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the Rural Caucus, and floor leader for then Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]]. He co-authored the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as the TOPS program and named for the late [[New Orleans]] [[business]]man Patrick F. Taylor. Carter worked to increase pay of teachers and university professors and to fund the Florida Parishes Technical College. He penned the legislation which halted the construction of an industrial landfill in St. Helena Parish. He pushed for completion of the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite, the FAARM Arena in Clinton, and the Interstate 55 Welcome Center in Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.actionnews17.com/Politics/former-representative-robby-carter-announces-for-district-72-1131075|title=Former Representative Robby Carter announces for District 72|date=July 31, 2015|publisher=Action News 17|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

In his first legislative stint, Carter was vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the Rural Caucus, and floor leader for then Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]]. He co-authored the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as the TOPS program and named for the late [[New Orleans]] [[business]]man Patrick F. Taylor. Carter worked to increase pay of teachers and university professors and to fund the Florida Parishes Technical College. He penned the legislation which halted the construction of an industrial landfill in St. Helena Parish. He pushed for completion of the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite, the FAARM Arena in Clinton, and the Interstate 55 Welcome Center in Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.actionnews17.com/Politics/former-representative-robby-carter-announces-for-district-72-1131075|title=Former Representative Robby Carter announces for District 72|date=July 31, 2015|publisher=Action News 17|accessdate=April 3, 2016; no longer on-line}}</ref>

In March 2016, Carter joined a House bipartisan majority to enact a one-cent increase in the state [[sales tax]]. State representatives voted 76 to 28 for the tax hike, a part of the revenue-raising measures pushed by Governor Edwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/state-house-of-representatives-vote-to-increase-sales-tax/|title=State House of Representatives Vote to Increase Sales Tax|date=February 25, 2016|publisher=KEEL|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> A House and Senate conference committee subsequently trimmed the duration of the tax from five years to twenty-seven months, effective from April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. Even the sale of [[Bible]]s and religious publications and Girl Scouts cookies are now subject to the tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/15356825-127/see-the-list-examples-of-goods-services-that'll-now-be-taxed-in-louisiana|title=See the list: Examples of goods, services that'll now be taxed in Louisiana|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=April 1, 2016}}</ref>

In March 2016, Carter joined a House bipartisan majority to enact a one-cent increase in the state [[sales tax]]. State representatives voted 76 to 28 for the tax hike, a part of the revenue-raising measures pushed by Governor Edwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/state-house-of-representatives-vote-to-increase-sales-tax/|title=State House of Representatives Vote to Increase Sales Tax|date=February 25, 2016|publisher=KEEL|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> A House and Senate conference committee subsequently trimmed the duration of the tax from five years to twenty-seven months, effective from April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. Even the sale of [[Bible]]s and religious publications and Girl Scouts cookies are now subject to the tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/15356825-127/see-the-list-examples-of-goods-services-that'll-now-be-taxed-in-louisiana|title=See the list: Examples of goods, services that'll now be taxed in Louisiana|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=April 1, 2016}}</ref>