Budget-cutting trigger bill stalls

A bill on the Senate floor Wednesday took aim at budget deficits and state funding as a $600 million deficit and an expected second special session to raise taxes looms on the legislative horizon.
Sen. Bret Allain’s SB 201 would make it easier for the governor to cut funds from certain constitutionally dedicated areas, which are automatically funded and aren’t at risk for cuts when facing budget deficit.
Allain, R-Franklin, noted that even though the state confronted a $2 billion deficit this year, the “triggers”-- criteria the deficit must meet to allow the governor to cut dedicated funds – were still not met.
“The triggers were so unrealistic, they were not intended to be met. We would have to be in such a severe recession for the triggers to be met, we would never see those funds.”
Allain insisted the state should not continue to cut higher education and health care, and instead look to funds dedicated by law or constitution, which were at the heart of a debate over whether that state should have raised taxes in the special session.
But Sen. Jim Fannin, R-Jonesboro, said the bill was far-reaching in what it allows to be cut, and many of those funds are dedicated for a reason.
“I don’t think we should be picking on higher education and health care, but these funds do not belong to us to be able to take and use for those purposes.”
The bill failed on a vote of 19-17, but will be reconsidered.