State’s money troubles draw BIG attention

State budgeting led a list of concerns voiced by four legislative members of a regional delegation before the Bayou Industrial Group on Monday at the Bayou Country Club in Thibodaux.

Present for the noon luncheon with business and community leaders were state Reps. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, Joe Harrison, R-Labadieville, Jerome “Dee” Richard, NP-Thibodaux, and Lenar Whitney, R-Houma. Each legislator offered individual words then fielded questions from the assembly. At the heart of this session was the issue of how to pay for individual interests across the state.

Harrison led the budget charge by saying that Louisiana leadership has to-date shortchanged needed programs while offering entitlements with little accountability associated to how taxpayer money is appropriated.

“The thing we are lacking most … is good fiscal management,” Harrison said, noting that Louisiana has become fat with big government and layers of bureaucracy while deserving individuals and business are left wanting.

“When we are looking at a total budget, we are looking at the basis by which we got to this point,” the legislator added. “We have a breakdown of the budget that most concerns people.”

Harrison revealed that revenue from Louisiana’s general tax is down by 4 percent, personal income tax resources are down by 9 percent and state funds secured through corporate income tax is down by 65 percent overall.

Taxes collected on mineral extraction in the state are down 33 percent during the past fiscal year. Harrison said that business has carried the load based on taxes passed by state lawmakers.

While the four politicians noted a low tax preference, they admitted that the public has been stuck with footing a bill it can no longer afford.

“Legislators of this immediate area, by way of committee appointments, carry a lot of power,” Richard said. “If we don’t change things nothing is going to happen.”

Harrison voiced concern about being $18 billion in the red and questioned Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plans for state pensions. In 2008, the state pension plan had a debt of $10 billion and nothing has been paid toward addressing that situation according to the legislator.

“The total state budget, recommended in executive budget, of $25.5 billion is a $61 billion decrease for the fiscal year 2011-2012, but the state of Louisiana through the governor’s office has cut $325 million in department and statewide reductions,” Dove said. “We still have an $894 million deficit and there are a lot of things cut. There are states in a lot worse shape in Louisiana, but we would like to see no increase in the state budget.”

A lack of tort reform leaves Louisiana with the highest insurance costs in the nation, according to Harrison. Oil field mediation and education also need to be addressed according to the spouse of a teacher, but funding changes is in question.

“We need to redirect gaming money and put it back into education, and take it away from the 27 other divisions in the state that are taking it.”

As a freshman legislator Whitney said she intends to learn from Harrison and other members of the regional delegation. “We have some great experience on the panel,” she said. “Being on the Ways and Means Committee and Joint Legislative Committee Capital Outlay we may be able to reduce some of the business taxes and be fiscally responsible. We are going to try to reform and find out responsibilities.”

“It is [public] input that makes government work in the right way,” Harrison said. “We have enough money but it is not being managed well.”