Governor John Bel Edwards presented a proposed spending plan to lawmakers today that reduces state funding for TOPS by 80-percent and slashes another 656-million dollars from the state health department’s budget. Edwards says the cuts are necessary, because the state is set lose about a billion dollars of revenue in July….
cut 3 (12) “….TOPS”
Edwards is considering a February special session so lawmakers can pass a tax reform plan to address the fiscal cliff. But Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says before raising taxes, the state should consider lowering state expenditures…
cut 6 (10) “…our expenses”
It’s unclear if a February special session will happen.

A study finds the military has an economic impact in Louisiana totalling over seven billion dollars. The Trump Administration has made it know they want to build up the nation’s military. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says that would be huge for Louisiana….
cut 12 (13) “…we can”
Pierson says there’s 77-thousand military related jobs in the state.

LSU crawfish researcher Doctor Greg Lutz is hopeful last year’s deep freeze in south Louisiana will not have a huge impact on this year’s mudbug harvest…..
cut 15 (11) “…not right now”
Lutz says to help improve the crawfish supply for the days leading up to Mardi Gras a long stretch of sunny, mild days is needed to warm up the ponds.