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Monday, Apr 8, 2013 9:17 PM UTC

Bobby Jindal kills controversial tax plan

Since announcing the plan, Jindal's approval ratings in Louisiana have dropped

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Topics: Bobby Jindal, Income Tax, Louisiana, Republicans, 2016 Elections,

Bobby Jindal kills controversial tax plan (Credit: AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal scrapped a plan to replace income and corporate taxes with a new sales tax, following public outcry and a precipitous drop in his approval ratings.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Jindal announced that he will pull his plan in a speech opening this year’s legislative session, telling state lawmakers that he will not ”pout” or “take his ball and go home.” From the Times-Picayune:

The speech is a major concession that Jindal’s proposal, a complicated plan contained in a total of 11 bills, is unpopular both within and outside the Legislature. The proposal has come under increasingly heavy fire in recent weeks as business groups and advocates for the poor have assailed its effects and think tanks have questioned whether the math in the proposal adds up.

Jindal acknowledges the strong opposition to the proposal in his prepared remarks.

“I realize that some of you think I haven’t been listening. But you’ll be surprised to learn I have been,” he said in the speech, according to the prepared remarks. “And here is what I’ve heard from you and from the people of Louisiana — yes, we do want to get rid of the income tax, but governor you’re moving too fast and we aren’t sure that your plan is the best way to do it.”

Between October and March Jindal’s approval ratings have dropped from 51 percent to 38 percent, according to polling by Southern Media & Opinion Research.

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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