(The Center Square) — The Caddo Commission introduced a resolution that, if passed, will oppose House Bill 480 currently in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Many Caddo-Bossier officials have expressed their opposition to the bill.
Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, filed HB 480 in April concerning the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission and its use of pilot programs.
President Stormy Gage-Watts proposed Resolution 28 on Thursday’s Caddo Commission agenda. It opposes the legislation, stating it limits the port’s authority in economic and industrial development entities and impairs its ability to attract certain businesses to Caddo and Bossier parishes.
According to the Caddo Commission, the port currently has the authority to perform these functions, but the proposed law would limit it.
In Tuesday’s House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works meeting, McCormick spoke about the bill.
In a pre-session survey, he asked his constituents if they supported or opposed legislation allowing the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission to administer a program in which businesses associated with the port pay less property taxes than other businesses.
According to McCormick, 83% voted no to businesses associated with the port paying less taxes.
“This bill does not take away their ability to do that. It just makes it go to the governing authority and get their approval,” McCormick said. “Like they say they already do, but it makes it law.”
Rep. Bryan Fontenot, R-Thibodaux, said Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler, the Bossier Parish Police Jury, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, the Caddo Parish Commission, Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. and the Caddo Parish School Board all oppose the bill.
Now that McCormick has added an amendment removing the Louisiana Economic Development, Fontenot wondered if some of this opposition would change and suggested he ask for support on the bill with the current amendment added.
“Nobody has reached out with any opposition to me, so I’m not aware of that. I know the Caddo Commission has not voted on that. My commissioner told me this morning that they have forwarded a resolution that is supposed to be voted on Thursday,” McCormick said during the committee meeting.
According to records identified by Fontenot, the Caddo Commission’s statement in hand was signed by Gage-Watts expressing her strong opposition to HB480.
McCormick agreed to defer to May 12 to revisit the amended bill with the local government in the Caddo-Bossier area with the amendment.
There were seven people present at the committee meeting to speak in opposition to HB 480.
