2019 LA Governor's race: on Tax Reform


Ralph Abraham: Taxes kill jobs and sales tax killed Louisiana's economy

Q: Over the last four years, the state has gone from a multi billion dollar budget deficit to a multi million dollar surplus. Part of the reason was an increase in sales tax. Is it time to cut the burden on Louisiana taxpayers?

Rep. ABRAHAM: This governor helped create the deficit. He voted for the majority of Governor Jindal's budgets. And we have the highest sales tax in the nation. We have lost jobs more than any other state in the nation. And it's due to taxes, taxes, taxes. I happen to have an op ed in my pocket. That was written by Gov. Edwards. And Governor, you said that raising the sales tax will kill the Louisiana economy. Congratulations, Governor, you killed it. It is because our taxes are too high.

Gov. EDWARDS: That's an absurd statement. The economy is the biggest it's ever been in our state. Personal income is the highest it's ever been. And unemployment is the lowest in 11 years. That's why we're running a surplus, because the economy is performing better.

Source: Bayou Buzz Transcript of 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate Sep 23, 2019

Ralph Abraham: Tax code is outdated and it's leaking billions

On an upcoming renewal of tax exemptions, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo took the opportunity to go after Abraham. "I don't have any issues with extending tax exemptions after I've been able to look at what they're for," he said. "As long as we're not extending tax exemptions for multi-millionaires like my opponent, then I'm okay with that."

Abraham said the tax code is a problem. "We've got to get rid of this tax code," he said. "It's overrated and it's outdated and it's leaking billions."

Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race Nov 20, 2014

  • The above quotations are from 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Mar 21, 2020