DeVillier against raising new taxes

The numbers vary from $700 million to nearly $800 million on the state’s current year budget shortfall.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, is talking about taxes to help fill the budget hole.
Rep. Phillip DeVillier, of Eunice and a Republican, told Eunice Kiwanis Club members Thursday, “I don’t see us needing to raise taxes. I see us needing to look at spending and see where the waste is.”
DeVillier said he is one of 29 lawmakers who took office Jan. 11 as the state faces one of its worst-ever budget crisis.
And, the next year is projected to start with a $1.9 billion deficit.
“I knew exactly what things were going to take place over a year ago,” he said.
The budget numbers have varied, he said. The current deficit may drop to $400 million, which means the state’s Rainy Day Fund and BP settlement money could fix the problem, he said.
“But that does not fix the structural problems we have with our budget,” he said.
DeVillier is not alone in calling for a focus on spending before raising taxes.
On Friday, The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana released a report and proposals that is said would help control the state budget. PAR recommended the governor and legislators submit strong and specific assurances for budget cuts, controls and cost containments prior to approving tax increases.
DeVillier said the governor is pushing for new taxes.
“He is wanting to cut spending to LSUE and a lot of these universities, which I don’t think that is where we need to be cutting spending,” DeVillier said.
DeVillier wants to purge the budget of waste. As an example, he said $1.6 million is paid by Medicaid to transport people by ambulance from their residence to a doctor’s office; and $2 million is paid to people who are in jail and not eligible for Medicaid payments.
“This is an opportunity to get things right and I’m really excited about it,” he said.
The overall budget of $26.7 billion, but only $2.9 billion is discretionary and is largely in health care, $1.7 billion, and higher education, $577 million.
DeVillier said the state needs to reduce the amount of money that is dedicated to broaden the areas that can be cut.
Among other DeVillier comments:
— The state should make certain it collects taxes from Internet sales, he said.
— The state’s money problems escalated when the Stelly Plan was dropped. The plan’s main provision dropped sales taxes, but imposed modest income tax rate increases.
— A gasoline tax increase would be a fair way to raise money to repair infrastructure.
— There is a need to take care aging schools.
— The Legislature needs to look at recent pay raises to state executives.