The final act of this year’s special session trilogy is less than a week away, with the administration and many legislators scrambling to find some extra cash for programs like TOPS, which is facing a 30 percent cut. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the Department of Health is one place the state should look if it wants to plug the budget gaps.
The Metairie Republican says LDH has 110 million dollars in funded vacant positions, which are jobs that have money allocated, but are not currently filled. The Representative says it would take roughly 90 million dollars to fund the remainder of TOPS. Henry says the legislature could also consider taking away state workers’ pay raises to fill part of the budget gap.
The session starts Monday
US Senator John Kennedy’s call on a Lafayette radio station for Governor John Bel Edwards’ resignation came as a bit of a surprise. Kennedy is widely reported to be preparing a run for Governor next year, and this could be the first of many salvos between the two parties. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Josh Stockley says calling for a resignation is usually reserved for major violations, not budget disputes.
Cut 14, 12 seconds, happened
Kennedy call for Edwards to step down, saying his lack of leadership has resulted in the ongoing budget crisis. Stockley says Kennedy bills himself as a bipartisan problem solver, but this attack was pure partisan politics.
Cut 16, 11 seconds, responsible budget