Posted on 11/08/2005 10:28:57 PM PST by caryatid
BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco's plan to trim more than $500 million from the state budget through cuts and spending freezes got a chilly reception Monday from legislators, some of whom questioned whether certain programs were being unfairly targeted.
But Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc said more cuts might be forthcoming as legislators try to close a $959 million deficit in the state general fund caused by a slowdown in tax collections since hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The cuts could end up going much deeper, as the official deficit projections don't include money that state agencies generate on their own through fees and penalties.
"The $960 (million) is just a beginning," LeBlanc told the House Appropriations Committee, which is reviewing the governor's budget recommendations. "We have a long way to go."
Of particular concern to lawmakers was the administration's plan to eliminate $11 million in financing for urban and rural development funds, which critics deride as "slush funds" but which remain a popular way for legislators to bring projects home to their districts.
Rep. Willie Hunter, D-Monroe, asked why some budget programs were spared while the urban and rural funds were frozen.
"It appears that . . . more devastation is occurring based upon the proposed plan of action," Hunter said.
...
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
* Gov. MeMaw Ping *
Blanco budget plan leaves legislators cold - Critics says her trims are unfairly selective
That's cause she doesn't know what in the heck she is doing.
Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT!!!!
MeMaw is tranked.
LA voters need to trim Blanco from their representation.
I wonder if Louisiana would do better if they started off their trimming in the Governor's paycheck...
Next election's in '08. I await that day with a sense of anticipation that words cannot describe.
Me too. Jindal would be in his element right now because he's a genius at efficiency.
SW La. lawmakers agree with agenda put forth by governor (11/7)
By JEREMY HARPER
AMERICAN PRESS
BATON ROUGE — Southwest Louisiana legislators of both political parties praised Gov. Kathleen Blanco's hurricane recovery agenda outlined Sunday at a joint meeting of the Legislature.
Blanco's proposals to boost ailing businesses and her warnings of deep cuts to come in the state budget evoked positive reactions from area Democrats and Republicans alike.
"I clearly got the sense that people were encouraged by her vision and her suggestions and the agenda that she set forth for us to consider," said Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles. "There was a real sense of, 'Let's work together, let's move this great state forward' — and we can do just that."
Rep. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, said he was most pleased with the business incentives in the agenda, including tax breaks for business utilities and manufacturing machinery purchased in disaster areas. Johns said he believes businesses, not government, will drive the state's recovery.
"The agenda is right on target. However, I think we need to be mindful of the specific legislation," Johns said.
There were more hints of skepticism, as some Republican lawmakers wondered how Blanco and her legislative allies would follow through with the proposals.
"The agenda is very bold. It's far-reaching, and there's a lot of latitude," said Rep. Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles.
"It can be a very aggressive agenda. The question is, how deep will (Blanco) let legislators go?"
Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Moss Bluff, said he sees the governor's agenda as a good start and the session as an opportunity to enact major reforms within state government.
"It's an opportunity to rethink the way we do business, the way we operate," Geymann said. "I'm hoping we can be creative to help businesses, in particular small businesses, get back on their feet."
Sen. Jerry Theunissen, R-Jennings, said Blanco's proposals have a familiar tone about them, because many of them mirror proposals made by Republican legislators last session.
"I thought it was upbeat. I thought it was a conservative agenda," Theunissen said. "It's our agenda. She adopted our agenda, so I'm very upbeat about this. Last year I had the tax reduction on natural gas electricity. She's adopting it now. She was totally against it last year, so I'm pleased about that."
In her half-hour speech, Blanco always mentioned Hurricane Rita with Katrina, and singled out Southwest Louisiana several times, even suggesting that the area needs a federally funded levee system to protect it from storm surges.
Rep. Mickey Frith, D-Abbeville, whose district includes Cameron Parish, said he was pleased with the balance of the speech.
Raising awareness about Southwest Louisiana will be key, he said, because many legislators are unaware of Rita's impact.
"I think they need to be reminded because I truly don't think they're aware of the severity of the damage that the citizens in the Southwest region, Cameron Parish in particular, have incurred," Frith said.
Blanco pleaded with legislators to cooperate in the budget-cutting process, telling lawmakers, "I am cutting some of your favorite programs. Some of you will consider these cuts too painful and you will try to avoid them. Let me warn you — this is just the beginning."
Rep. Elcie Guillory, D-Lake Charles, said the budget cuts, while necessary, should be enacted with care so they affect as few people as possible.
"This will probably be one of the toughest decision-making sessions since I've been here," Guillory said. "I hope the agenda that she has isn't going to impact too many people."
Rep. Dan "Blade" Morrish, R-Jennings, said Blanco appeared serious about tackling the hurricane-induced budget crisis.
"Obviously she's going to scrap the budget," Morrish. "It's going to be tough, but it's going to be tough on everyone."
We'll see what we shall see!
Good start. Excellent beginning.
That's correct. I just posted an article about what my local representatives said.
Is SWLA pretty solidly Republican now? It has been quite a while since I followed SWLA politics ... but, with the exception of Guillory, D-Lake Charles, everyone you have mentioned is a Republican until you get as far east as Abbeville.
It's getting pretty much solid republican here. Willie Mount is a dem but she's pretty conservative fiscally. She's the one who set up the rainy day fund for Lake Charles with the gambling proceeds back when she was the mayor. She is capable of leading and getting people to work together. She would not have been a Blanko or Landrieu. She's actually smart. Elcie Guillory is a typical Louisiana Black Caucus Democrat.
Do you know anything about Donald Cazayoux(D) from New Roads?
I have no clue who he is.
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