In recent editorials, the Times-Picayune has praised U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) for his work to ensure key provisions benefiting Louisiana were included in the tax cut bill President Trump signed into law just before Christmas.
On coastal restoration funding:
“The state is a decade into its 50-year coastal restoration master plan, and there are encouraging successes. The big concern, of course, is the growing price tag. … The state so far has one stream of revenue that is ongoing — the revenues from the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. … Louisiana has been waiting more than a decade for the full force of GOMESA to kick in. We’re at that moment now, but the projections are dramatically smaller than the state was expecting. … To help offset those losses, Sen. Bill Cassidy and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise pushed for nearly $300 million for coastal restoration for Gulf Coast states in 2020 and 2021 in the tax bill that passed in December. … The added money from Congress for 2020 and 2021 is a big win. … The royalty payments won’t be enough to cover the full cost of the master plan, but they are a vital piece. Thanks to Rep. Scalise and Sen. Cassidy the work to rebuild land can continue.”
“Imagine the New Orleans streetscape without the historic tax credits that have helped salvage massive, decaying buildings across the city. … [I]t would have been a serious blow if Congress had gone through with its plan to do away with the credits entirely[.] … Thanks to the hard work of Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and the rest of the state’s congressional delegation that didn’t happen. Sen. Cassidy crafted an amendment to keep the main tax credit in place, and Sen. John Kennedy helped persuade senators that the credits help drive economic development. Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Jefferson worked to keep Sen. Cassidy’s amendment in the tax legislation’s final version, and Rep. Cedric Richmond and other Louisiana House members lobbied for the credit. … Sen. Cassidy and his Louisiana colleagues in Congress deserve credit for making sure that other historic architectural treasures can be saved.”
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