It goes back to 1953 when President Dwight Eisenhower offered Louisiana 50% of the tax revenues generated by its oil and gas production. But, a state official by the name of Leander Perez didn't think that was good enough and demanded all of it. When it was over, our state got nothing. And so it has remained. Now, more than half a century later, efforts are once again under way to change that. And, for the first time in years, it looks like it might have a chance of working. Oil and gas rigs in Louisiana generate $5 billion a year. While states like Texas get to keep 50% of their onshore revenues and 100% of their offshore revenues, Louisiana gets next to nothing. But now, that may finally change. Republican congressman Bobby Jindal is proposing a bill that would guarantee coastal states 75% of the revenues that come from oil and gas rigs located within one to 12 miles of the coast. And, a 50% share for anything beyond that. If approved, the new agreement would generate $600 million for Louisiana in the first year alone. By the year 2010, that figure will grow to $1 billion and eventually, $2 billion. Jindal says its money Louisiana has long-deserved and needs now more than ever. Jindal says his proposed measure has a better than ever chance of passage because in the wake of Katrina and Rita, even non-coastal states now recognize the importance of Louisiana and other energy-producing states being able to safeguard the oil rigs, platforms and pipelines that provide their states with oil and gas. PIN/KLFY