Dear Louisiana House of Representatives,

6/28/09 9:05 PM

I just wanted to say thank you. Not for helping find a way to reduce cuts to higher education and health care, but for something much more important — your resolution honoring rapper Hurricane Chris. On Wednesday, the Shreveport native and Godson of Rep. Barbara Norton even performed his hit “Halle Berry (She’s Fine)” on your floor, a spot typically reserved for the democratic process. The video of Chris’ rap is bouncing around the Internet like a beach ball at an LSU football game, and plenty of ridicule is being thrown your way. But don’t worry, it’s not like you had anything better to do during those 10 minutes. I mean, we’re only in the middle of a financial downturn, and critical funding decisions were in your hands. And... 4 comments

2009 Legislative Session: Adjourned Sine Die ...

6/25/09 11:45 PM

Latin for "without day," the words "sine die" ended the drama-filled, topsy-turvy 2009 legislative session earlier this evening. Lawmakers managed to compromise on the budget — the session's most talked about issue — and reduced higher education cuts by more than 50 percent. Using dollars from the rainy day fund and other accounts, the Legislature ended up finding $114 million for higher education,  bringing the expected cuts of $219 million down to $105 million. It's still a lot of money, though, and tough budget times are ahead. The Louisiana Board of Regents is responsible for doling out the cuts to each of the state's four college systems. We won't know where LSU stands until a couple of days from now, so stay tuned....

Taking the day off ...

6/19/09 1:52 PM

With only about a week left in the session, lawmakers are spending their Friday outside of the Capitol today. Meetings will convene late afternoon on Father's Day, and there's a lot left to discuss before 6 p.m. Thursday. Plenty of budget and funding measures are on the menu this week, and LSU is busy finalizing their budget cut plans. Stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, House Speaker Tucker's house bill, which aims to form a commission to examine the funding, structure and efficiency of higher education in Louisiana, passed unanimously in the Senate. House Bill 794 now heads back to the House for final approval. Throughout this budget crisis, many have called for the examination of the many institutions and systems that make up the state's public colleges and universities. Tucker's...

In jeopardy ...

6/17/09 11:38 PM

Only seven days are left in the session, and some grim budget realities are drawing near. According to the University’s budget reduction plan for the 2009-10 fiscal year, LSU Press, the LSU Museum of Art, the Hilltop Arboretum, the Southern Review literary journal and many other auxiliary institutions may be in jeopardy. Chancellor Michael Martin’s take on the budget dilemma is simple — cut funding to the things that don’t directly affect students, faculty or staff in order to protect the “academic core” during a budget crisis. It sucks, but it’s hard to argue with the philosophy when the University is facing a $45 million budget reduction. By not funding LSU Press and other auxiliary departments, the University will save about $4...

Extreme Makeover: Senate Edition ...

6/17/09 11:36 PM

Today, the state Senate nipped and tucked House Bill 689 so much, it's unrecognizable. Well, sort of. The new and improved HB 689 looks a heck of a lot like Senate Bill 335. In fact, they have the same features. SB 335, which is expected to fail in the House, would delay a planned income tax break in order to generate funds for higher education. Public colleges and universities are expected to take a big cut in funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1. HB 689, OK'd today by the Senate, is now identical to SB 335 and is headed to a committee for final passage. House Speaker Jim Tucker says SB 335 is unconstitutional because appropriation bills must come from the House. It looks like the Senate has amended HB 689 to fit that rule....

Stripping it down ...

6/15/09 9:10 PM

Using his line-item veto power, Gov. Jindal announced today his plans to strip $278 million from the budget bill. That $278 million lies in legislation he doesn't think will gain full legislative approval, including the much talked (and blogged) about SB 335. The bill aims to delay a planned income tax break in order to use the funds for the state's public colleges and universities, which were originally set to endure a blistering $219 million cut, or 15 percent. Jindal vowed to reduce higher education cuts to below 10 percent, using other legislative measures. And there's still about $120 million left in the budget bill that Jindal is willing to use. The money would come from a planned tax amnesty program and an expired insurance fund. The governor received the budget bill Sunday...

Well said ...

6/12/09 12:14 PM

Featured in the Business Report's Daily Report this morning, an excerpt from John Maginnis' column in LaPolitics Weekly describes the surprising events at the Capitol yesterday in an easy to understand and insightful way. Check it out ...   "With a deft maneuver, the House and the governor got the budget they wanted by accepting the Senate's version of the $27.8 billion spending bill. Senators, fully expecting a drawn-out conference committee to work out a compromise bill, realized too late they had made a strategic error in crafting their version of the budget that would add more money for higher education and healthcare. The House now has the upper hand because the extra money the Senate added was "below the line," that is, contingent on passage of two separate...

On its way to Jindal ...

6/12/09 11:51 AM

Big news from the Legislature (sorry I'm just posting this now, we were having problems with the Web yesterday!): The Louisiana House voted 69-25 yesterday in favor of agreeing with changes the state Senate made to the operating budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Thats means HB 1 — the state's $28.7 billion budget — now heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal for final approval. Many lawmakers wanted to keep debate going on the bill, prompting a lengthy discussion. With two weeks left in the session, many felt the decision to concur with Senate changes was rushed. Several funding measures for higher education and agriculture that the Senate added to HB 1 are pending separate legislative approval and may throw the budget out of balance. If the House had voted not to agree...

And the budget saga continues ...

6/9/09 6:09 PM

Chancellor Michael Martin informed faculty and staff yesterday that there will be no merit raises next fiscal year. Why? You guessed it ... budget cuts. While the Legislature doesn't officially finish chopping and/or mending the 2009-10 state operating budget until June 25, the LSU System is expected to take a $102 million cut, and administrators are looking for ways to tighten belts and save jobs. “We are now at the point that the math is so simple, it’s depressing,” Martin told me yesterday. The math is simple because about 80 percent of the System’s budget is in people — employee salaries, etc. With a cut that large, layoffs are almost guaranteed. “It is a very daunting task [but] I am willing to stand and defend the ‘no merit...

Chancellor talks layoffs ...

6/5/09 12:45 PM

Although its been well documented that the LSU System will have to cut about 1,900 jobs if budget cuts go as planned, Chancellor Michael Martin is making sure people hear it again.

Martin told WAFB Channel 9 today that unless "drastic" changes are made to the state's plan for higher education funding, massive layoffs will result.

The LSU System is expected to take a $102 million funding reduction for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

While the possible job cuts were announced in February, Martin said they are looking more "realistic" as the Legislature enters its final weeks of session.

LSU A&M in Baton Rouge will have to cut about 500 jobs if the projected cuts remain unchanged.