Category: Legislative

House Bill 833 Amended. Horsemen’s Funds Remain Intact

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LTBA Contact:
Roger Heitzmann
(504) 947-4676
roger@louisianabred.com

May 3, 2018

LTBA Legislative Update:  House Bill 833

House Bill 833 Amended. Horsemen’s Funds Remain Intact

House Bill 833 was presented to the Louisiana House Appropriations Committee Tuesday, May 1. The bill was amended so that any horsemens funds that may have been affected by this bill are safe. Many thanks to all who contacted members of the House Appropriations  Committee. Your involvement has made all the difference! This has been a real work of cooperation between members of the LTBA, LQHBA, and LaHBPA, proving that when we join forces we all benefit.

 

 

For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.

LTBA LEGISLATIVE ALERT! House Bill 833

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LTBA Contact:
Roger Heitzmann
(504) 947-4676
roger@louisianabred.com
 

April 27, 2018

LTBA LEGISLATIVE ALERT!  House Bill 833

This Bill ELIMINATES 50% of the Video Draw Poker Purse Supplement Fund which will reduce Louisiana Bred Purses and Breeders Awards paid

House Bill 833 by Representative Jay Morris is scheduled for Tuesday morning (May 1st @ 9:30 AM) in the House Committee on Appropriations

Please contact members of the House Committee on Appropriations (see list below) and ask them to support our Horse Breeding & Racing Industry by voting NO on House Bill 833.

Thank you,
Louisiana Thorougbred Breeders Association

 
Louisiana House of Representative
Appropriations

Representative Office Address Office Phone District
Henry, Cameron
Chairman		 1539 Metairie Road
Suite A
Metairie, LA 70005		 504-838-5433 82
Foil, Franklin
Vice Chair		 412 N. 4th St Suite 220
Baton Rouge, LA 70802		 225-342-6777 70
Abraham, Mark
Member		 130 Jamestown Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605		 337-475-3016 36
Amedee, Beryl
Member		 302 School Street
Houma, LA 70360		 985-858-2967 51
Armes, James
Member		 2255 University Pkwy
Leesville, LA 71446		 337-238-7004 30
Bacala, Tony
Member		 15482 Airline Hwy.  Suite A
Prairieville, LA 70769		 225-677-8020 59
Bagley, Larry
Member		 671 Hwy. 171  Suite E
Stonewall, LA 71078		 318-925-9588 7
Berthelot, John
Member		 1024 S. Purpera
Gonzales, LA 70737		 225-647-5646 88
Billiot, Robert
Member		 #10 Westbank Expressway
Westwego, LA 70094		 504-436-8929 83
Carter, Gary
Member		 3520 General DeGaulle  Suite 3071
New Orleans, LA 70114		 504-361-6600 102
Chaney, Charles
Member		 P.O. Box 8
Rayville, LA 71269		 318-728-5875 19
Edmonds, Rick
Member		 3931 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd.   Suite 200
Baton Rouge, LA 70816		 225-295-9240 66
Falconer, Reid
Member		 4990 Highway 22  Sutie E
Mandeville, LA 70471		 985-792-5185 89
Harris, Lance
Member		 P.O. Box 13555
Alexandria, LA 71315		 318-767-6095 25
Hensgens, Bob
Member		 407 Charity Street
Abbeville, LA 70510		 337-893-5035 47
Hodges, Valarie
Member		 35055 LA Hwy 16  Suite 2A
Denham Springs, LA 70706		 225-791-2199 64
Leger, Walt III
Member		 935 Gravier St.  Sutie 2155
New Orleans, LA 70112		 504-556-9970 91
McFarland, Jack
Member		 P.O. Box 143
Jonesboro, LA 71251		 318-259-4275 13
Miguez, Blake
Member		 410 North Broadway St.
Erath, LA 70533		 337-937-8827 49
Miller, Dustin
Member		 1115 S. Union St.
Opelousas, LA 70570		 337-943-2900 40
Pylant, Steve E.
Member		 805 Jackson St.  Suite A
Winnsboro, LA 71295		 318-435-7313 20
Richard, Jerome
Member		 907 Jackson St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301		 985-447-0999 55
Simon, Scott
Member		 P.O. Box 1297
Abita Springs, LA 70420		 985-893-6246 74
Smith, Patricia
Member		 251 Florida St.   Suite 300
Baton Rouge, LA 70801		 225-342-7106 67
Zeringue, Jerome
Member		 423 Goode St.
Houma, LA 70360		 985-876-8823 52
For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.

Louisiana purse subsidy bill withdrawn

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By Matt Hegarty

http://www.drf.com/news/

A Louisiana lawmaker on Monday withdrew a bill [HB 585] that would have diverted $36 million from purse subsidies to a popular scholarship program, in an acknowledgement that the legislation would not pass out of a committee.

Jay Morris, a Republican representing a northern district of the state, voluntarily pulled the bill from consideration after members of the House Appropriations Committee raised objections to the legislation, citing the impact it could have on the racing industry in the state.

“I knew it was a foregone conclusion that this will not make it out of committee,” Morris said after earlier citing the large number of phone calls that racing industry supporters had made to committee members over the weekend. Morris said that he may return with legislation that would call for a study of the potential impact of the bill.

The bill would have cut in half the amount of casino subsidies going to purses and breeders’ awards in the state, redirecting them to the state’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, which provides stipends for college education. Horsemen had said that the impact would “destroy” the racing industry in the state.

Committee members said that they supported legislation to shore up the TOPS program, but said that funding for the program should instead come from a source other than the racing industry. Rep. James Armes, who said that he had received 37 calls from horsemen over the weekend, said that he could not support a measure that would “penalize” people who had invested money in their horse operations based on the impact of the subsidies.

“If we take it from them they are going to go out of business, and we’re not going to have a race industry,” Armes said.

SB226 Deferred

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Senate Bill 226 which would have had devastating effects to the racing and breeding industry has been voluntarily deferred.

Many thanks to all who contacted members of the Senate Finance Committee. Your involvement has made all the difference! This has been a real work of cooperation between members of the LTBA, LQHBA, and LaHBPA, proving that when we join forces we all benefit.

A special note of appreciation to Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Mike Strain and former State Representative Arthur Morrell who spoke eloquently on the behalf of our industry.

 

HB585 Deferred. SB226 to be Heard Today.

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House Bill 585 which would have had devastating effects to the racing and breeding industry has been voluntarily deferred. Many thanks to all who contacted members of the House Appropriations Committee. Your involvement has made all the difference!

SB 226 is also being heard today. We will update as information is received.

NEW!!! LTBA LEGISLATIVE ALERT! Senate Bill 226

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This Bill ELIMINATES the Video Draw Poker Purse Supplement Fund which will reduce Louisiana Bred Purses and Breeders Awards paid

Senate Bill 226 by Senator Sharon Hewitt is scheduled for Monday morning (May 15th @ 10:00 AM) in the Senate Finance Committee

Please contact members of the Senate Finance Committee (see list below) and ask them to support our Horse Breeding & Racing Industry by voting NO on Senate Bill 226.
Thank you,
Louisiana Thorougbred Breeders Association 

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Senator Eric LaFleur (Chairman)
P. O. Box 617
Ville Platte, LA 70586		 (337) 363-5019
(877) 396-4600
lafleure@legis.la.gov
Senator R.L. “Bret” Allain, II (Vice-Chairman)
600 Main Street
Franklin, LA 70538		 (337) 828-9107
(985) 850-2738
allainb@legis.la.gov
Senator Conrad Appel
721 Papworth Avenue
Suite 102A
Metairie, LA 70005		 (504) 838-5550
appelc@legis.la.gov
Senator Regina Barrow
4811 Harding Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70811		 (225) 359-9400
(225) 359-9332
barrowr@legis.la.gov
Senator Wesley Bishop
7240 Crowder Blvd.
Suite 402
New Orleans, LA 70127		 (504) 242-4198
bishopw@legis.la.gov
Senator Jack Donahue
P.O. Box 896
Mandeville, LA 70470		 (985) 727-7949
donahuej@legis.la.gov
Senator James R. “Jim” Fannin
320 6th Street
Jonesboro, LA 71251		 (318) 259-6620
(800) 259-8694
fanninj@legis.la.gov
Senator Sharon Hewitt
2055 2nd Street
Suite A
Slidell, LA 70458

100 Port Boulevard
Suite 20
Chalmette, LA 70043

 (985) 646-6490 Slidell
(504) 278-6530Chalmette
hewitts@legis.la.gov
Senator Ronnie Johns
1011 Lakeshore Drive
Suite 515
Lake Charles, LA 70602		 (337) 491-2016
johnsr@legis.la.gov
Senator Gregory Tarver
1024 Pierre Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71103		 (318) 227-1499
tarverg@legis.la.gov
Senator Mack “Bodi” White
808 O’Neal Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70816		 (225) 272-1324
whitem@legis.la.gov
Senator Norbèrt N. “Norby” Chabert (Interim Member)
P.O. Box 2417
Houma, LA 70361		 (985) 858-2927
chabertn@legis.la.gov
Senator Dan “Blade” Morrish (Interim Member)
119 W. Nezpique Street
Jennings, LA 70546-5356		 (337) 824-3979
(888) 824-3979
morrishd@legis.la.gov
Senator Francis Thompson (Interim Member)
Box 68
Delhi, LA 71232		 (318) 878-9408
(800) 259-9408
thompsof@legis.la.gov
Senator Mike Walsworth (Interim Member)
101 N 2nd Street
Suite 208
West Monroe, LA 71291		 (318) 340-6453
(866) 518-8573
walsworthm@legis.la.gov

Louisiana bill would cut subsidies to horseracing purses

louisianathoroughbred
By Matt Hegarty
http://www.drf.com/news/louisiana-bill-would-cut-subsidies-horseracing-purses

A Louisiana legislator has introduced a bill that would redirect approximately $36 million in casino subsidies flowing to horseracing purses and breeders’ awards to a popular scholarship program, leading to concerns among the state’s horsemen and breeders.

If passed, the bill, which has been scheduled for a hearing Monday morning by the House Appropriations Committee, would halve the annual amount of subsidies for horsemen and breeders. The money would be redirected to the state’s General Assembly, though the bill states that it should ultimately be used to shore up the state’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, which has distributed awards beyond its budget for the past several years.

Horsemen’s groups have alerted their members to contact legislators on the Appropriations Committee and register their opposition prior to the hearing, said Ed Fenasci, the executive director of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, based on concerns that the racing industry would be “destroyed” by the bill.

“Obviously, I have no problem with the [scholarship] program, but this will kill horseracing in Louisiana,” Fenasci said. He cited a recent economic study commissioned by state horsemen that contended that the racing industry generates $73 million in direct and indirect taxes to the state’s general fund.

“You’re going to have to find a way to replace all that economic activity after you destroy our industry,” Fenasci said.

The bill is sponsored by Jay Morris, a Republican representing the 14th district in Louisiana, which is located in the rural northern part of the state.

The bill does not target any of the revenue generated by the casinos for their corporate owners, and would apply only to the four racetracks that operate casinos in the state. The casinos are all owned by large publicly traded companies. Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Inc.; Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs are owned by Boyd Gaming; and Louisiana Downs is owned by Caesar’s Entertainment.

A number of states have targeted racing subsidies for reductions over the past several years as states grapple with budget deficits created by the recent recession and as anti-tax and anti-government lawmakers have made inroads into state legislatures.

Technically, the bill would reduce the percentage of gross revenue from racetrack slot machines going to horsemen from 18 percent to 9 percent. It would also reduce the percentage from video poker machines going to horsemen from 20 percent to 10 percent.

 

IMMEDIATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION NEEDED! HB585. THIS LEGISLATION WILL KILL HORSE RACING IN LOUISIANA!

louisianathoroughbred
 May 11, 2017

ATTENTION LOUISIANA HORSEMEN 

House Bill 585 by Representative Jay Morris is assigned to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Monday May 15th at 9:00AM. This bill will reduce by half the Slot Purse Supplement Funds. It only takes funds from purses; it takes nothing from the Race Track’s revenue. It takes funds that are generated exclusively at Horse Race Industry Owned facilities. This would devastate our industry. Please contact members of the Appropriations Committee (listed below) and ask them to support the Horse Racing Industry by maintaining these dedicated Purse Funds. Our industry generates over 1 Billion Dollars a year in economic impact and more than 73 Million Dollars in taxes paid to Louisiana. YOUR CALLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Ask the committee members to please vote NO on House Bill 585.

Thank you,
Louisiana Thorougbred Breeders Association

THIS LEGISLATION WILL KILL HORSE RACING IN LOUISIANA! 

 

Louisiana House of Representative
Appropriations Committee

Abraham, Mark 
130 Jamestown Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 475-3016
abrahamm@legis.la.gov

Amedée, Beryl 
302 School St., Houma, LA 70360
(985) 858-2967
amedeeb@legis.la.gov

Armes, James K. 
2255 University Pkwy., Leesville, LA 71446
(337) 238-7004
armesj@legis.la.gov

Bacala, Tony
15482 Airline Hwy., Suite A, Prairieville, LA 70769
(225) 677-8020
bacalat@legis.la.gov

Bagley, Larry 
671 Hwy. 171, Suite E, Stonewall, LA 71078
(318) 925-9588
bagleyl@legis.la.gov

Barras, Taylor F. 
800 S. Lewis Street, Suite 206, 2nd Floor, New Iberia, LA 70560
(337) 373-4051
barrast@legis.la.gov

Berthelot, John A.
1024 S. Purpera, Gonzales, LA 70737
(225) 647-5646
berthelotj@legis.la.gov

Billiot, Robert E.
#10 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
(504) 436-8929
billiotr@legis.la.gov

Carter, Gary
3520 General DeGaulle, Suite 3071, New Orleans, LA 70114
(504) 361-6600
carterg@legis.la.gov

Chaney, Charles R.
P.O. Box 8, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5875
chaneyb@legis.la.gov

Edmonds, Rick
3931 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 200, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
(225) 295-9240
edmondsr@legis.la.gov

Foil, Franklin J.
412 N. 4th St., Suite 220, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-6777
foilf@legis.la.gov

Harris, Lance
P.O. Box 13555, Alexandria, LA 71315-3555
(318) 767-6095
harrisl@legis.la.gov

Henry, Cameron
1539 Metairie Road, Suite A, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 838-5433
henryc@legis.la.gov

Hensgens, Bob
407 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510
(337) 893-5035
hensgensb@legis.la.gov

Hodges, Valarie
35055 La. Hwy. 16, Suite 2A, Denham Springs, LA 70706
(225) 791-2199
hodgesv@legis.la.gov

Leger, Walt III
935 Gravier St., Suite 2150, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 556-9970
legerw@legis.la.gov

McFarland, Jack
P.O. Box 143, Jonesboro, LA 71251
(318) 259-4275
mcfarlandj@legis.la.gov

Miguez, Blake
410 N. Broadway St., Erath, LA 70533
(337) 937-8827
miguezb@legis.la.gov

Miller, Dustin
1115 S. Union St., Opelousas, LA 70570
(337) 943-2900
millerd@legis.la.gov

Pylant, Steve E.
805 Jackson St., Suite A, Winnsboro, LA 71295
(318) 435-7313
pylants@legis.la.gov

Richard, Jerome
907 Jackson Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 447-0999
richardj@legis.la.gov

Schroder, John M.
522 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, LA 70433
(985) 893-6262
schrodej@legis.la.gov

Simon, Scott M.
P.O. Box 1297, Abita Springs, LA 70420
(985) 893-6246
simons@legis.la.gov

Smith, Patricia Haynes
251 Florida Street, Suite 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
(225) 342-7106
smithp@legis.la.gov

Zeringue, Jerome
423 Goode St., Houma, LA 70360
(985) 876-8823
zeringuej@legis.la.gov
For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.

IMMEDIATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION NEEDED! HB585. THIS LEGISLATION WILL KILL HORSE RACING IN LOUISIANA!

louisianathoroughbred
May 11, 2017

ATTENTION LOUISIANA HORSEMEN 

House Bill 585 by Representative Jay Morris is assigned to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Monday May 15th at 9:00AM. This bill will reduce by half the Slot Purse Supplement Funds. It only takes funds from purses; it takes nothing from the Race Track’s revenue. It takes funds that are generated exclusively at Horse Race Industry Owned facilities. This would devastate our industry. Please contact members of the Appropriations Committee (listed below) and ask them to support the Horse Racing Industry by maintaining these dedicated Purse Funds. Our industry generates over 1 Billion Dollars a year in economic impact and more than 73 Million Dollars in taxes paid to Louisiana. YOUR CALLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Ask the committee members to please vote NO on House Bill 585.

Thank you,
Louisiana Thorougbred Breeders Association

THIS LEGISLATION WILL KILL HORSE RACING IN LOUISIANA! 

 

Louisiana House of Representative
Appropriations Committee

Abraham, Mark 
130 Jamestown Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 475-3016

Amedée, Beryl 
302 School St., Houma, LA 70360
(985) 858-2967

Armes, James K. 
2255 University Pkwy., Leesville, LA 71446
(337) 238-7004

Bacala, Tony
15482 Airline Hwy., Suite A, Prairieville, LA 70769
(225) 677-8020

Bagley, Larry 
671 Hwy. 171, Suite E, Stonewall, LA 71078
(318) 925-9588

Barras, Taylor F. 
800 S. Lewis Street, Suite 206, 2nd Floor, New Iberia, LA 70560
(337) 373-4051

Berthelot, John A.
1024 S. Purpera, Gonzales, LA 70737
(225) 647-5646

Billiot, Robert E.
#10 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
(504) 436-8929

Carter, Gary
3520 General DeGaulle, Suite 3071, New Orleans, LA 70114
(504) 361-6600

Chaney, Charles R.
P.O. Box 8, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5875

Edmonds, Rick
3931 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 200, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
(225) 295-9240

Foil, Franklin J.
412 N. 4th St., Suite 220, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-6777

Harris, Lance
P.O. Box 13555, Alexandria, LA 71315-3555
(318) 767-6095

Henry, Cameron
1539 Metairie Road, Suite A, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 838-5433

Hensgens, Bob
407 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510
(337) 893-5035

Hodges, Valarie
35055 La. Hwy. 16, Suite 2A, Denham Springs, LA 70706
(225) 791-2199

Leger, Walt III
935 Gravier St., Suite 2150, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 556-9970

McFarland, Jack
P.O. Box 143, Jonesboro, LA 71251
(318) 259-4275

Miguez, Blake
410 N. Broadway St., Erath, LA 70533
(337) 937-8827

Miller, Dustin
1115 S. Union St., Opelousas, LA 70570
(337) 943-2900

Pylant, Steve E.
805 Jackson St., Suite A, Winnsboro, LA 71295
(318) 435-7313

Richard, Jerome
907 Jackson Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 447-0999

H-2B Provision Stays in Congress-Approved Spending Bill

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An industry-supported provision that could allow additional foreign, seasonal H-2B visa workers made it through Congress as part of the government-funding bill signed by the Senate May 4.

As the House of Representatives approved the spending bill earlier this week, it now awaits an expected quick signature from President Donald Trump.

Currently only 66,000 H-2B seasonal work visas are allowed to be granted this year, but a provision in the spending bill, which funds the government through the fiscal year that ends in September, would give the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the authority to nearly double the H-2B cap when it’s determined there is an economic need.

National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Alex Waldrop said the NTRA will now work with the administration to get the H-2B provision implemented.

Horse racing is just one of many industries that relies on the H-2B visa program, joining businesses such as landscaping and seasonal resorts.

Congress in 2016 failed to renew the “returning worker exemption” that permits H-2B workers from the previous three years with clean records to enter the country again without counting against the 66,000 cap. That exemption had effectively raised the number of workers under H-2B from 66,000 to approximately 190,000.