Sales tax 'cleanup' bill to be delayed by Louisiana Senate

(AP) — Senators said Monday they will stall efforts to clean up sales taxes unintentionally charged on items like school lunches and Girl Scout cookies, until lawmakers in the House agree to more taxes for next year's budget than they've supported so far.

In the current tax session, Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed to remove those sales taxes imposed on things like tickets to school athletic events, donations to food banks, firefighting equipment purchases and prosthetic devices.

The House agreed to reverse those unintended sales tax hikes last week, passing that measure along with bills to raise $220 million-plus to fill budget gaps in the financial year that begins July 1.

Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said the majority-Democrat Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee shouldn't move legislation exempting any groups from taxes "before we identify the money to pay for the things we need."

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee also is sitting on another bill while awaiting action from the House, the state's multibillion-dollar construction budget for the financial year that begins July 1.