Emotional testimony is taking place in the Senate Finance Committee this morning as those with developmental disabilities plead with lawmakers not to cut funding to programs that pay for services that help them daily. This man says it’s a life or death matter….
cut 3 (08) “…would survive”
Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says the House-proposed budget would cut services from 45-thousand developmentally disabled individuals. LaFleur says the Senate Finance Committee also intends to pass its own version of the budget later this week.

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it remains to be seen if the full Senate approves a budget for next fiscal year…
cut 8 (12) “…the budget”
Governor Edwards is urging legislative leaders to end the regular sesssion early, so they can deal with the approaching fiscal cliff in a special session.

LaToya Cantrell’s inauguration as the next of mayor of New Orleans is underway. Political Analyst Clancy DuBos says the former city council woman’s leadership style is more of a mystery than her predecessor Mitch Landrieu…
Cut 4 (10) “for Landrieu”
Once Cantrell is sworn in, Louisiana’s three largest cities will be led by black female Democrats.

A study from Office Team has found men take three minutes a day longer to get dressed for work than women…
cut 12 (11) “….not prepared”
That’s Office Team President Brandi Britton, who says the study revealed that the old gendered stereotype that women take longer to get ready than men might be dead wrong.