By The American Press

The possibility of having to hold another special session to do what legislators knew had to be done — and could have been done at the current session — is nothing short of malfeasance. Legislation designed to achieve budget and tax reform was filed at the current fiscal session, but Republicans in the House turned a cold shoulder to every reform bill.

Inactivity and disagreements have led to a Washington, D.C., style stalemate between Democrats and Republicans in the House. Democrats refused to support a state construction-funding bill in an effort to stimulate some give-and-take. Republicans responded by threatening to hold up votes on long-overdue criminal justice reform measures.

Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, sponsor of one criminal justice measure, said, “I’m disappointed that D.C. politics is preventing bipartisan bills from passing. Hopefully, we can come together as a body and do our jobs.”

While the Senate is not involved in the standoff, it is working on a House budget that cuts vital services. If it restores some funding that was cut by the House, another major disagreement is in the offing.

Everyone involved seems to have concluded a special session is the only way out of a self-inflicted failed session that had ample opportunities to right the ship of state. Speaker of the House Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, says most measures designed to help avoid a $1.3 billion deficit next July 1 are either no longer available or unacceptable to taxpayers.

Unfortunately, there are no alternatives any better at a special session than those that exist now. Realizing that, Barras and others are talking about extending the 1 percent sales tax increase approved last year that is supposed to end June 30, 2018. It would raise over $880 million, which is much closer to the expected $1.3 billion fiscal cliff.

The thinking behind extending the sales tax increase beyond its promised end date is the belief that taxpayers haven’t been terribly upset about having the highest sales tax in the country. However, we believe that is faulty thinking.

Poor and low-income citizens are hurt the most by high sales taxes and the better solution is to increase income taxes paid by those more able to bear the burden. Unfortunately, Republicans refuse to touch the income tax for fear they might offend the constituents who contribute to their political campaigns.

Time may be short in the current session, but avenues for reform are still available at this late hour. What reluctant legislators need is the courage to make the hard choices. Another special session is totally unacceptable.