With a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall in Louisiana’s general fund, the state could be facing drastic cuts in higher education and health services. But will federal stimulus money provide much-needed relief? Explore what’s in store in the upcoming regular session in the April edition of LPB’s award-winning public affairs show Louisiana Public Square. LPB President Beth Courtney and LSU Media Law Professor Craig Freeman are your hosts.
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Session opens: Monday, April 27, 2009
Governor’s address at 1:00 PM
Watch more online: Legislative Coverage Site
- View full program.
View the program:
iPod 56:53, 180.1MB
Click below for the archive of the LIVE CHAT from 2PM on Thursday, April 23.
Backgrounder:
When the Louisiana Legislature convenes on Monday, April 27th it will be facing quite a different picture than it did a year ago when oil was over $100 a barrel and the state was projecting state revenues of $9.7 billion. Due to lower oil prices and declining sales and corporate income tax collections, the state is facing a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall. Since 2009 is an odd-numbered year, the focus of this session will primarily be fiscal with most of the attention going to Governor Jindal’s proposed $26.7 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2010. Proposed Cuts The two areas facing the largest cuts in the Governor’s proposed budget are Healthcare and Higher Education.
- ULL Political Science Dept. Chair and political commentator, Pearson Cross
- Angèle Davis, Commissioner of Administration
- Sen. Eric LaFleur (D), Ville Platte, Member of Finance and Joint Budget Committees
- Rep. James W. “Jim” Tucker (R), Terrytown, Speaker of the House
- Kirby Goidel, Director of the LSU Public Policy Research lab
- Jas Sullivan, LSU Political Science Assistant Professor
Filed under: Economy, Legislation, Legislature, Uncategorized
