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Louisiana House to debate revising Edwards tax break changes

Gov. John Bel Edwards tied tax breaks from the Industrial Tax Exemption Program to job creation and retention and gave local government a say in whether exemptions are issued.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this June 18, 2018 file photo, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at the opening of a special legislative session in Baton Rouge, La. Edwards officially kicked off his re-election bid Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, with an online video that not only touts his performance, but also warns he'll be a target of multimillion-dollar attack campaigns. Edwards is seeking a second term as the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. He faces two Republican challengers on the Oct. 12 ballot: U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, a long-time GOP donor. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A bid to rework changes Gov. John Bel Edwards made to a lucrative Louisiana property tax break program for manufacturers has narrowly advanced to the full House for debate.

The Democratic governor tied tax breaks from the Industrial Tax Exemption Program to job creation and retention and gave local government a say in whether exemptions are issued. Parish councils, police juries, sheriffs and school boards help determine the tax breaks since they lose the property tax revenue.

Business groups have called the local approval process too complicated and disorganized.

Legislation by Republican Rep. Rick Edmonds would lessen local input. A three-person board would review tax break applications, including the sheriff, school board president and head of the local governing authority.

The House commerce committee voted 8-7 to advance the proposal.