Bill Aims To Return Future Surpluses
by Jan Moller - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana taxpayers would be in line to receive a share of future budget surpluses under a constitutional amendment that cleared its first legislative hurdle on Monday.

Senate Bill 207 by Sen. Michael Walsworth, R-West Monroe, would give legislators the option of returning surplus dollars to income-tax payers through either a refund, rebate or refundable credit.

The bill comes after two consecutive years of record budget surpluses brought on by sky-high energy prices and a robust post-hurricane reconstruction economy that has produced a tight job market and rising incomes. Lawmakers have distributed about $2 billion to roads, ports, flood protection, debt repayment and other priorities.

"I'm sure you've heard from people back home, like I have, 'How come you can't give a little bit of that back to us?' " Walsworth said.