Legislative recap ...

5/29/09 6:02 PM

We're now about halfway through the 2009 legislative session, so here's a recap of some recent happenings at the Capitol concerning LSU's budget: -- Gov. Bobby Jindal said earlier this week he supports using the state's rainy day fund to help ease the $219 million funding cut expected for higher education next year, but details about how much of the fund he can use are still unknown. -- Jindal said he will veto SB 335 - which would generate about $118 million to higher education - because it delays an important tax break for Louisiana residents. -- The Senate Education Committee voted down SB 85, a measure designed to put a cap on TOPS scholarships at a level that would cover tuition at every other public university besides LSU A&M and UNO....

To delay or not to delay ...

5/25/09 2:22 PM

Martin and Lombardi urge tax break postponement ... Chancellor Michael Martin and LSU System President John Lombardi have both recently stated their desire for the Legislature to delay a tax break in order to lessen the $219 million in expected cuts to higher education funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Senate Bill 335, sponsored by Sen. Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, and Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan,  would postpone for three years a planned increase in the amount of federal excess itemized deductions a filer can claim on his or her income state tax returns. Under the bill, the deduction amount would remain at its current level through the end of 2011, and the $118 million generated would be used to lessen the planned cuts for higher...

Jindal says he will veto bill ...

5/22/09 4:17 PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal said he will veto the revised Senate Bill 335 - which would restore more than half the expected $219 million in cuts for higher education funding next fiscal year - because it would mean putting tax breaks for many Louisiana residents on hold. Yesterday, the Senate approved Sen. Lydia Jackson's proposal to postpone a planned state income tax break for three years. Under the bill, the $118 million generated would be used to lessen the fiscal blow to higher education instead of going into taxpayers' pockets. Jindal said while he wants to work with the Legislature to help ease the hefty reduction in higher education state funding, he said he doesn't want to delay tax relief. The bill retains the deduction rate for federal itemized personal deductions at 65 percent...

Senator attempts to ease cuts to higer education ...

5/21/09 5:34 PM

Lawmakers are looking at different ways to help ease the proposed $219 million spending cut expected for higher education next fiscal year.

Today, Sen. Lydia Jackon, D-Shreveport, presented a plan to postpone a 2009 charitable deductions tax break could reduce the spending cuts expected for higher education by $118 million.

The Senate's tax committee approved Jackson's bill, which will go to the Senate floor next.

So far, no relief in sight

5/20/09 2:53 PM

No solution has been reached for the University’s budget woes, according to a broadcast e-mail sent to students, faculty and staff earlier today. House Bill 1 – the state’s $27 billion budget proposal – is currently being debated in the Senate Finance Committee after passing in the House last week. The University’s budget is expected to be discussed on Monday. Chancellor Michael Martin is scheduled to appear on the Jim Engster radio show on WRKF 89.3 on Monday between 9 to 10 a.m. to discuss the budget situation. The Senate Education Committee will hear Senate Bill 85 on Thursday, which proposes putting a cap on TOPS scholarships at a level that would cover tuition at every other state public college except LSU and the University of New Orleans. The...

House passes budget proposal

5/14/09 7:34 PM

The Louisiana House of Representatives today passed House Bill 1, the state’s $27 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget uses large cuts to higher education and health care funds — as I’m sure everyone has heard about by now — to help balance the budget. Representatives shared emotionally-charged testimony about the possible cuts and offered several amendments that were turned down. Rep. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, authored an amendment to use $59 million from the state’s mega fund to cushion the nearly $220 million in proposed cuts for higher education. The amendment was voted down, along with Rep. Franklin J. Foil’s plan to use $$16 million of the same fund for only LSU. Peterson said many...

Introduction

5/14/09 7:32 PM