Sen. Ryan Gatti: ‘I Think We Have To Do the Half A Penny’ [VIDEO]

State Senator Ryan Gatti talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about the current special legislative session and the chances of a compromise agreement on a new, temporary sales tax to end the latest budget standoff.

Gatti tells KEEL listeners that he will once again back the proposed half penny sales tax for seven years, a decision based on what he calls, "a shortfall. It's not going to be a billion, it's going to be between $640 and $650 million." Gatti explains his support of the tax: "I think we have to do the half a penny. I've talked to the medical school. I've talked to the DOTD. I've done my due diligence and talked to the secretaries and DHH."

And the results of this year's third special session? Says Gatti, "I think there are two very big possibilities. The first one is that everything falls apart. The other thing that could happen is that we'll be somewhere between a fourth of a penny and a fifth of a penny."