Budget constraints confound legislators

Legislators facing a $1.6 billion budget shortfall and a governor who is steadfast against increasing anything resembling a tax hike, are likely placed in turf-protection mode.
Sen. Eric Lafleur, District 28, which includes Eunice, explained some of the budgetary problems legislators face as the session heads toward its June 11 ending date.
The session opened April 13.
Gov. Bobby Jindal has touted scaling back a tax break on business inventories to raise money.
“That’s a killer for smaller businesses,” Lafleur said “It is a tax they haven’t had to pay.”
Lafleur added, “I think there are only three states in the country that charge it.”
A $211 million budget cut hangs over higher education.
“You are talking about a minimum the way the governor has proposed calling on higher education to cut $211 million ... that’s on top of the cuts we’ve imposed on them for the last five or six years. Higher education has not been a priority for the administration.”
Lafleur said the state has effectively raised taxes on students and parents with higher tuition rates and fees.
“In a state where we rank in the bottom three or four in the country of the population with college degrees, it just seems like we are certainly not going to increase our level of college graduates if we don’t provide funding,” he said.
Rep. Mickey Guillory, District 41, which includes Eunice, said “We have a $26 billion budget, but we don’t have any money.”
Guillory pledged to everything he can to protect Louisiana State University Eunice from budget cuts.
“This early in the session it is too early to tell anything,” he said. “Everyone is looking out for their own districts. I wish I could give you some definitive answers.”
Both legislators have filed bills for the session.
Lafleur’s bill include:
SB 238 to help artisan milk producers sell raw milk and other products legally.
SB 46 to allow the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to have up to three of its nine board members to participate in meetings using electronic devices.
SB 22 to change public self-insurance fund requirements.
SB 239 to change audit requirements for quasi-public agencies regarding compensation reporting.
SB 240 to sell a tract of Section 16 land.
Guillory’s bill is HB 641 to allow Louisiana State Police to move the location of computers that monitor gaming.