Posted on 02/12/2016 6:02:27 AM PST by Ebenezer
Gov. John Bel Edwards laid out an absolute worst case scenario Thursday night (Feb. 11) for Louisiana if state lawmakers refuse to go along with the package of tax increases he has proposed.
In a rare statewide televised address, Edwards told viewers that the state would be forced to take extreme action -- such as throwing people with off of kidney dialysis and shutting down hospice services -- if new taxes didn't go into place over the next few months.
"The health care services that are in jeopardy literally mean the difference between life and death," Edwards said during a live address carried on several television stations.
The governor didn't stop at health care services, but also detailed catastrophic cuts to higher education. He said new revenue was needed to prevent universities from running out of money before the semester ends. LSU, the state's wealthiest higher education institution, would only be able to pay its bills through April 30, unless some tax increases went into place.
The governor went so far as to say that LSU football was also in jeopardy. He said the state would no longer be able to afford one of its most popular programs with middle class residents -- the TOPS college scholarship -- without tax hikes.
"Student athletes across the state would be ineligible to play next semester," Edwards said. "I don't say this to scare you. But I am going to be honest with you."
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Pelican State ping
“Kennedy and Louisiana House Republicans have been saying the governor needs to scrutinize state contracts with consultants “
I know virtually nothing about LA politicas but that sentence gave me pause.
The “consulting” business is,in most cases,nothing but big boondoggle.
A great job for all the lazy brothers-in-law.
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LSU can’t afford to pay its football players? It is the most profitable program in state government. Democrats really don’t understand economics, do they?
This is what happens when you elect a Democrat, Louisiana. They hold the state hostage for spending increases.
Indeed, it is one of their standard tactics.
Gee...somehow under Jindall urine was filtered and LSU fielded a fair to middlin team.
Maybe if you quit hiring consultants and stop paying for services for illegals you get by?
For Edwards to even play a you-will-lose-your-favorite-college-football-team card is the worst demagoguery.
Rather than the donkey, Chicken Little should be the symbol of the Democratic Party. Edwards in Louisiana made the case for it.
Son of a gun, we gonna have big fun on the bayou.
congratulations to all the freeloaders in Louisiana. they hit the big time with this one.
LOLOL! ANOTHER Edwards,,,yeah, we all thought that would be a good idea! Look-this native can face the truth. Louisiana is a backward,mostly uneducated state and New Orleans is its sphincter. A tax and spend Democrat had to be elected when you have a state that ATTRACTS and ENCOURAGES the lowest class, the poorest, and the dregs of society to come here, party here, and expect someone else to pay for it because they always have. There is NO such thing as a progressive, successful welfare society. There cannot be. Everytime I see a “Louisiana Paradise” commercial I laugh. The entire state could turn into a welfare camp and these politicians would STILL support and fund FOOTBALL!! That’s the level of intelligence here, and the gullible, desperate to stay deluded public will LET all politicians do whatever they like as long as they can drink, fish, gamble and watch their mindless football. Everything but that is disposable! Close educational facilities...but OMG...don’t stop playing football! And we wonder why the whole country laughs at us???
Illegals? How ‘bout the damn able-bodied paid to sit on their asses all day/night?!
Wasn’t it Maine that recently put in an able-bodied requirement to their ‘charity’ and saw a YUGE decrease (IE: freeloaders went buh-bye)?
Nope, no reduction in the # of govt employees, no re-working of contracts/etc., no cuts to the mid-night basketball....just hospitals and such.
Monkey see, monkey do (Bozo w/ the WWII memorial)?
Nothing of matter /s
I’ll repeat a story I recently told here. I lived in the Baton Rouge area in the ‘80s when that other Edwards crook was gov.
Whenever there was a chance of severe weather in the morning, 80% of state employees were told to stay home (with pay, of course). Then when budget time came around, miraculously 80% of state employees were suddenly declared essential and doom was just around the corner if they missed even 5 minutes of performing their “public service.”
The solution was always the same: raise taxes.
I guess that is the ultimate scare tactic in Louisiana - not that Grandma might lose her dialysis but that LSU football players would lose their scholarships. It’s not really a problem - LSU football players can easily get by on all the under-the-table booster gifts.
Oh of course the able bodied.
Yes Maine did do that...I sort of like LePage...he appointed himself education Commissioner because he couldn’t get the man he wanted past the process...left the dumbles sputtering...
I hope LA can tell this guy to pound sand.
Ping
Time to impeach Edwards !
In the case of the LSU football players, I would take the word “scholarships” with a HUGE grain of salt.
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