The governor’s office will propose a 304-million dollar budget deficit reduction plan to legislators this week. Jeff Palermo spoke with two republican lawmakers about the state’s budget troubles…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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New Orleans officials propose a plan to reduce crime in the French Quarter, but will it work? Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The Edwards administration will unveil a proposal on Friday on how to close a 304-million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Lawmakers are split on whether or not to tap into the state’s rainy day fund to close the gap. Lake Charles Representative Mark Abraham sits on the Appropriations Committee and says he’s still not sure if that’s the way to go.
Cut 3 (12) “rainy day fund”
Some legislators are even debating whether or not another special session next month will be necessary. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris proposed a plan to cut the budget without a special session. Abraham says the governor could make the cuts needed to avoid another session, but without the session, they might be more devastating.
cut 4 (08) “those cuts”
Oil City Representative Jim Morris is not in favor of using the rainy day fund to ease some of the cuts to state agencies. He says you can’t spend money you don’t have, which many in the legislature constantly want to do.
Cut 5 (09) “that’s going to work”
While there isn’t much of an appetite at the Capitol to raise more taxes, one option would be to broaden the base of the clean penny that was added to the sales tax last year. Morris says that might work, but he doesn’t want to put a bigger burden on taxpayers.
Cut 6 (12) “to consider it”
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New Orleans officials have announced a plan to reduce crime in the French Quarter, but some are skeptical the $40 million proposal will be effective. Crime analyst and New Orleans native Jeff Asher is particularly uncertain of the new regulation that will require bars on Bourbon Street to close their doors at 3 a.m. He says last year, only 20-percent of shootings in that area occurred between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.
CUT 7 (11) “of crime”
One proposal would establish a new mobile booking unit for NOPD to use during big events. Asher says improving response time would be one way to reduce crime. But he says this mobile unit would only be effective in one part of town on some occasions.
Cut 8 (12) “citywide problem”
Another part of the plan is to put up over 200 cameras in the Quarter and other neighborhoods, as well as setting up a 24-hour command center to monitor them. Asher says the cameras could be effective, but it all comes down to law enforcement’s ability to respond in a timely manner.
Cut 9 (11) “about it”
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The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a 28-year-old Covington man is dead, after he lit his home on fire while in a drunken fight with his father. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says the man’s father, twin brother and step mother, went out drinking and when they returned home, things got physical.
Cut 10 (10) “the home”
Thompson says alcohol is believed to have played a factor in this fire and toxicology samples have been taken. He says Kellum’s father, 55-year-old Jamie Kellum, was critically injured with burns to 85-percent of his body.
cut 11 (10) “his body”
Thompson says during the verbal confrontation between Jamie and Brandon Kellum, his step mother and twin brother went outside. But he says Michael Kellum rushed back in the house when he heard a physical fight breaking out.
cut 12 (11) “into flames”
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Former Angola Warden Burl Cain has responded to claims in a state legislative auditor’s report that said he may have illegally used public funds for personal reasons. One of the accusations is that prison workers performed work on his private home, while getting paid by the state. Cain says it’s not his job for them to fill out their time sheets properly…
Cut 13 (09) “after your work day“
The audit finds state employees worked for Cain, while they were still on the clock. But Cain says, at times, prison employees volunteered to help out at his home, but not while they were working..:
cut 14 (10) “took leave”
Cain’s comments were made during a live interview on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge. The state audit also says taxpayers picked up the tab for more than $27,000 in appliances and flat screen TVs at Cain’s residence on prison grounds. Cain says what the report doesn’t point out is how much of his personal money he spent on the public house…:
Cut 15 (09) “out of my pocket”