As part of Governor John Bel Edwards plan to fix the state budget, he’s proposing roughly $160 million dollars in cuts. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Former state lawmaker Troy Hebert outlined 15 suggestions to resolve the state’s budget issues in a letter to lawmakers…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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As part of Governor John Bel Edwards plan to fix the state budget, he’s proposing roughly $160 million dollars in cuts. Republican Representative Cameron Henry of Metairie says with a $957 million dollar deficit you have to look at more ways to manage spending…:

CUT 3 (06)  “to do there”

Henry says GOP lawmakers will look at every way to cut before anyone agrees to raise taxes. He says Louisiana can not continue spending more money than it makes…”

CUT 4 (09)  “concerned”

Edwards spoke with reporters following his opening remarks to lawmakers Sunday and said he’s leaving everything on the table…:

CUT 5 (07)  “as well”

Edwards says it’s impossible to operate on nothing…:

CUT 6 (13) “to happen”

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The Edwards Administration began detailing today its tax proposals that will be debated during the special session. Governor Edwards recommends a combination of budget cuts and revenue raising measures as a way to solve a $957 million deficit. State Department of Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson spoke to the House Ways and Means Committee about a proposed 1-cent state sales tax increase.

CUT 7 (09) “FY-17”

The tax increase, which would take effect by April 1, would generate an estimated $200 million for this fiscal year.

The current state sales tax is 4%. Robinson says even with the proposed one-cent sales tax increase, the amount of taxes Louisiana citizens pay, is below average when compared to other states….

CUT 8 (08) “in general”

The Edwards administration is also proposing changes to income taxes, plus seeking legislative support for higher alcohol and cigarette taxes as part of their revenue raising package. Robinson says the additional penny on the state sales tax would be temporary, until the deficit is resolved.

CUT 9 (10)  “phasing out”

Robinson said the so-called “clean penny tax” would not apply to areas of exemption including groceries, residential utilities, prescription medications and gas.

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A published report says Nicholls State is considering closing its doors for 12 days because of a lack of state funds. But Nicholls president, Doctor Bruce Murphy, says closing the campus for several days is the last option they would ever take. University of Louisiana System president, Doctor Dan Reneau, encouraged the Senate education committee to do what they can to keep college campuses open…

cut 10 (08)  “three weeks”

Lawmakers have until March ninth to come up with a funding solution that would spare higher education from deep budget cuts. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel is upset to see a headline that Nicholls plans to close, when that’s not the case…

Cut 11 (12) “down schools”

Reneau says depending on the size of the cut in state funding, mid-year closures could occur as some universities. But Appel warns higher ed leaders that these kinds of threats could become a “self fulfilling prophecy”…

cut 12 (10) “their problem”

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Former state lawmaker Troy Hebert recommends putting GPS devices on state vehicles and requiring state employees, including college professors, to be on a time clock while at work. Hebert provided other suggestions on how to control government spending in a letter to lawmakers. 

cut 13 (05)  “needed services”

Hebert says it is not fair to taxpayers for state workers to be paid for more work than they actually do. He believes using time clocks would resolve this issues.

cut 14 (07)  “day’s pay”

Hebert recently served as commissioner of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. At ATC, Hebert says he cut the number of employees in half, reduced the budget and increased services. Hebert says when he used GPS and time clocks at ATC, he made troubling discoveries about the employees.

cut 15 (06)  “an hour early”

Hebert’s other suggestions include tying pay to performance, monitoring civil service actions and settlements, stopping across-the-board cuts, and changing state supervisor-to-worker ratios.

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The budget crisis in Louisiana has called into question the future of the TOPS scholarship program. Halen Doughty reports…

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A state health director says Louisiana residents use caution when it comes to the Zika Virus, but they should not be alarmed. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards urges lawmakers to work with his administration on solving this fiscal year’s 940-million dollar budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana’s budget problems have raised concerns about the future of the state’s taxpayer funded college scholarship known as TOPS. The highly popular program has run into money issues, as the state may not have enough money to fully pay a recipients scholarship. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says the legislature will look at options to control TOPS spending during the regular legislative session….

cut 4  (07)  “on TOPS”

According to Governor John Bel Edwards, TOPS is only funded at 25% for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, unless the legislature acts to change that, which means fewer scholarships would be awarded next year. Morrish says he believes limiting the amount a TOPS recipient receives might be their best course of action.

Cut 5  (05)  “number is”

Morrish has proposed bill to cap TOPS in the past, and he plans to propose bills on the TOPS issue in the upcoming regular session.

Morrish says if the legislature elects to make dramatic changes to TOPS, they will likely not take effect immediately, because it would be unfair to students who are already counting on the program.

Cut 6 (10)  “in high school” 

LOSFA has announced they will pay 80% of tuition, and universities will have to absorb the remaining 20%. No students will be billed for the current semester.

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Louisiana’s two largest public school teacher unions, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Educators, announced they are teaming up in an effort to prevent cuts to public school funding. LAE President Debbie Meaux believes they can achieve powerful results by working together…

CUT 7 (06)  “of Louisiana”

Meaux says the unions also want to make sure that the accountability and evaluation systems are in place for both students and teachers in Louisiana. Meaux says the unions are afraid the legislature won’t go along with the governor’s plan to increase taxes and public schools could lose funding.

Cut 8  (06)  “is possible”

The governor’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st does not call for a reduction of state funding for public schools and Meaux says the LFT and LAE would like for that to remain the case….

Cut 9 (05)  “our children”

The special legislative session began Sunday and must end by March 9^th. Lawmakers will attempt to resolve a 940-million dollar deficit this fiscal year.

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The Zika virus may be cause for caution but not alarm. That’s according to state health director, Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals. Welch says The Zika virus is transmitted by a certain kind of mosquito that is not active in Louisiana at this time and he says the mosquito borne disease is not harmful to most who get it….

Cut 10 (07) “they’re sick”

The Zika virus is not new. It has been around since the late 1970s in South America and has since moved into the Caribbean. Two Louisiana residents who recently traveled to the Caribbean, were recently diagnosed with the Zika virus, after complaining about a minor illness. Welch says when people are infected, the illness usually does not last very long.

cut 11 (05) “five days”

People travelling to the Caribbean, where the disease is prevalent, should also take extra precautions. Welch says that while the virus is not cause for alarm among most people, pregnant women should take extra precautions.

cut 12 (07) “defects happen”

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Governor John Bel Edwards tells lawmakers that the state can’t cut its way out of its fiscal problems. That’s how a three and a half week long special session got underway last night as Edwards told House and Senate members that some tax increases will be needed to address a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year…

Cut 13 (10)  “so massive”

Many republican lawmakers have already expressed reservations about raising taxes. Edwards says he doesn’t want partisan politics to get in the way of doing what’s right for the state

Cut 14 (12)   (applause building)

Republican West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth is optimistic the GOP legislature can work with the Democratic Edwards administration on a solution to fixing the state’s budget problems

Cut 15 (10) “I believe” 

Walsworth believes there’s some departments in state government that is overspending. The special session must conclude by March 9th and republican Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson wants to use this time to look at ways to reduce spending…

Cut 16  (08)  “uninformed“

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A big second half helped LSU pick up a quality win at home to help boost its NCAA tournament resume. The Tigers outscored Texas A&M by nine points in the second half to beat the Aggies 76-71. Coach Johnny JOnes says his team executed well in the final 20 minutes of this game…

Cut 17 (17) “game today”

The victory improves LSU’s overall record to 16-9, 9-3 in the SEC and tied with Kentucky for first place in the league standings. We are about a month away from NCAA Tournament selection Sunday and Coach Johnny Jones says wins like this can help LSU’s at-large bid, but they need to keep piling up victories.

Cut 18 (11) “about that”

LSU is considered to be on the bubble when it comes to getting in the NCAA Tournament. Jones doesn’t want his team focusing on the tournament projections, instead the team should remain concentrated on getting as many wins as possible…

Cut 19 (14) “for us”