Stelly plan working, but lawmakers want change

Stelly plan working, but lawmakers want change: "Stelly plan working, but lawmakers want change
April 8, 2005
By Mike Hasten

mhasten@gannett.com

BATON ROUGE -- The tax shift known as the Stelly plan is working as predicted, bringing in more income tax revenues while eliminating sales taxes on food and utilities, lawmakers learned Thursday.

But several legislators who opposed the plan want to revise it to give tax breaks to people who make enough money to itemize their deductions.

State fiscal analyst Greg Albrecht told members of the House and Senate committees handling tax matters that only 20 percent of the state's 1.3 million taxpayers could take advantage of that situation.

Sen. Robert Adley, D-Benton, said Louisiana taxpayers should be able to claim more itemized deductions because 'It's a tax on God, a tax on sick people and a tax that keeps people from financing homes.'

Itemizers are able to claim tax breaks on church and charitable contributions, health-care expenses and home mortgages."