Louisiana Launches Expanded Medicaid Program

Healthy-Louisiana
June 1st began an historic time in Louisiana history. Enrollment under our state’s newly expanded Medicaid program has begun, and thanks to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ efforts – and the efforts of other elected officials – more than 375,000 people will have access to life-saving preventive care. This is a step in the right direction for our state. In addition to allowing people to access necessary care that they couldn’t before, Medicaid expansion will improve our economy by improving the health of our workforce. The program is also estimated to save Louisiana $184 million, which would be a tremendous help to our struggling state budget.

McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Dedicates Mural

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On May 25, the McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie held a dedication of the mural that was painted onto Kirk’s U-Needa-Butcher. The mural was painted onto the building in October of 2015 by artist Adrian Fulton through the Downtown Lafayette’s “Creativity Everywhere” grant.  The mural, entitled “The Local Legends Wall”, depicts the faces of nine community leaders from the McComb-Veazey neighborhood.

The dedication was a celebration of the lives of local community legends, including civil rights icon Helma Constantine, community activist Joe Dennis, the Rev. Anthony Bourges, middle school founder Paul Breaux, Dolly Mae Broussard, Syrie Funeral Home founder Carol Syrie, former Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Association president Doremus Dorsey, educator W.D. Smith, and Rita Thibodeaux.

Read the full story from The Advertiser here.

Senator Boudreaux Hosts Workshop for Childcare Professionals

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Senator Gerald Boudreaux hosted a workshop on May 10, 2016, to discuss the process and support staff in place that will assist daycare centers that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Ms. Christine Duay, Director of Early Childhood for the Lafayette Parish School System, along with Ms. Paula Granger, Child Care Resource & Referral Agency, were the subject matter exports at the workshop. They explained the reasons for the implementation of the new system and emphasized that accountability (Act 3) and an education path was needed to prepare children from birth to five years old. Senator Boudreaux commended Christine and Paula on an excellent presentation and the resources that are available to the community. Ms. Denise Lavergne, TLC Creative Blessings Daycare, offered to take what she’s learned from the workshop and bring it back to other day care owners in St. Landry Parish.

Kick Butts Day 2016

GBouThanksI am proud to stand among these students as they rallied in front of the capitol in conjunction with ‘Kick Butts Day” on March 16, 2016. This event promotes awareness for a tobacco-free lifestyle amongst kids, their peers and policymakers. It’s truly a blessing to see such confidence in children at such a young age. Read the full article on The Daily Advertiser here.

Update: State Tax Changes

State tax changes in effect today, Friday, April 1st 2016

BATON ROUGE- Numerous changes to Louisiana’s tax laws, passed this year during a special session of the Louisiana Legislature, went into effect on today, Friday, April 1st 2016.

Taxes affected by the changes include the state sales tax. Acts 25 and 26 of the 2016 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature remove or restrict certain exemptions from the 4 percent state sales tax, make certain new transactions taxable, and add a penny of sales tax to certain taxable transactions.

Beginning April 1:

  •  A new one-cent sales and use tax takes effect, increasing the state sales tax from four cents to five cents; the extra penny remains in effect until June 30, 2018, in most cases, but expires on July 1, 2016, for manufacturing equipment and machinery.
  • Most current exemptions and exclusions on the 4 percent state sales tax are eliminated; all exclusions will be restored by July 1, 2018.
  • An automobile rental tax, which had expired, is reinstated on gross proceeds at the combined rate of 2.5 percent (state) and 0.5 percent (local).
  • A hotel tax, with revenue flowing to local governments, is expanded to include short-term rentals at residential locations such as houses, apartments and condominiums.
  • Sales made in Louisiana by dealers outside the state (such as over the Internet) are subject to the collection and remittance of sales and use tax.
  • The excise tax on cigarettes increases to $1.08.
  • The excise tax on alcoholic beverages increases to:
    •  Liquor – $0.80 per liter
    •  Sparkling wine – $0.55 per liter
    •  Still wines with 14-24 percent alcoholic volume – $0.35 per liter
    •  Still wines with more than 24 percent alcoholic volume – $0.55 per liter
    •  Malt beverages – $12.50 per barrel
    •  Low alcoholic content beverages – $12.50 per barrel
  • A discount for accurately reporting and remitting excise taxes on certain tobacco products is reduced from 6 percent to 5 percent.
  • A discount for accurately reporting and remitting excises taxes on alcoholic beverages and beer is reduced from 2 percent to 1.5 percent for low-content beverages; and from 3.3 percent to 2.5 percent for high-content beverages.
  • Membership fees or dues paid to a nonprofit, civic organization which provides access to clubs or the privilege of having access to amusement, entertainment, athletic, or recreational facilities are subject to state sales tax.

For more information on these changes, read:

*   Revenue Information Bulletin 16-008: Notification of Changes in Tobacco Tax Laws Effective April 1, 2016; View Here.

*   Revenue Information Bulletin 16-009:Notification of Changes in the Alcohol Tax Laws Effective April 1, 2016; View Here.

*   Revenue Information Bulletin 16-012: State Sales Tax Exemptions and Exclusions Applicable to La. R.S. 47:302, 321 and 331; View Here.

*   Revenue Information Bulletin 16-013: Imposition of a New One-Cent Sales and Use Tax; View Here.

*   Revenue Information Bulletin 16-014: Taxability of Dues Paid to Nonprofit, Civic Organizations Which Entitle the Member to Receive Access to Clubs or the Privilege of Having Access to or the Use of Amusement, Entertainment, Athletic, or Recreational Facilities; View Here

*   Acts 25 and 26 ­ Taxable Rate of Transactions for Exemptions and Exclusions; View Here

District Offices – Locations & Hours

Volunteer with the campaign today!

Are you still interested in volunteering with the campaign? We still need all the help we can get! Sign up to walk door to door, make calls, or just give us your support whenever you can. Click here to sign up!

Here he is volunteering for Games of Acadian!

Pictured is Gerald volunteering for Games of Acadian!

VOLUNTEER_BTTN

Meet and Greet with Gerald Boudreaux

 

Please join us on Wednesday, August 26th for a Meet and Greet with Gerald Boudreaux, State Senate District 24 Candidate at The Varsity Grille in Opelousas from 6:00pm-7:30pm. 

Food and Drinks will be provided.

Donations are accepted.

704 Creswell Lane Opelousas, LA

Gerald Boudreaux Political Rally Video

Political Rally this Wednesday

Dear Friends and Family Members:

Please join me for my political rally this Wednesday, July 29th from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Carencro Community Center located at 5115 N. University Ave.

Music provided by Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys with a special guest appearance by Geno Delafose. 

Food and Drinks will be provided.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Donation of $25 to attend. Please make checks payable to: Gerald Boudreaux Campaign Fund
P.O. Box 91245 Lafayette, La 70509

Anyone interested in pre-purchasing tickets for the event can contact:

Or pick them up from:

  • Kreole Ala Restaurant: 4016 Moss Street
  • Country Cuisine
  • Laura’s II