The special legislative session must end next Wednesday and lawmakers are still are at odds over the best way to address the 940 million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com (lapolitics.com) says there has been repeated delays on many tax votes, but there should be some movement hopefully Thursday afternoon…:
Cut 1 (10) “fiscal year”
Alford says if the House is unable to send over any additional revenue, then Governor Edwards will be left to make more cuts. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, says House Bill 122 on budget cuts will pass out of his committee Thursday. He says once that happens, more decisions can be made on the state’s deficit…:
CUT 13 (07) “them in place”
The full House is expected to take up tax bills Thursday when they convene at 1pm.

Parents with children that have developmental disabilities went before the Senate Finance Committee urging lawmakers to increase taxes to help fund programs that help them take care of their kids. Ashley McReynolds is the mother of 9-year-old Cooper who has a serious genetic disorder that makes him feel like he’s starving to death. She says without state assistance they would not be able to raise Cooper at home…:
cut 12 (10) “together”
The testimony made many members of the committee extremely emotional.

The student body presidents of 19 Louisiana colleges wrote a letter to every state legislator today urging them to stop any further cuts to higher education. It says students of Louisiana are challenging their Senate and House of Representatives to provide real, long-term budget solutions to ensure the future of higher education. The letter calls on legislators to prevent higher education from having to absorb even the best case scenario cut, recommended by Edwards’ office, of about $75 million.