A Baton Rouge lawmaker has shelved her proposal to add a new 5-cent state tax on plastic bags, like those used at grocery stores.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge lawmaker has shelved her proposal to add a new 5-cent state tax on plastic bags, like those used at grocery stores.
Rep. Regina Barrow, a Democrat, told the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday that she wouldn't pursue the tax this session, because she knew it couldn't gain passage.
Barrow says she'll continue to explore the idea for future sessions.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says municipalities have enacted bans or taxes on plastic bags, but nothing has been done statewide except in Hawaii, where all counties have banned the bags at checkouts because of environmental concerns.