House panel recommends ways state can cut down on spending
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Louisiana lawmakers made initial suggestions Wednesday on ways to curtail the growth of state government in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $30 billion proposed spending plan.
“In the budget process, you know there’s never enough money,” said state Rep. Eddie Lambert, R-Prairieville. “We can only fund what we can actually afford.”
The recommendations by House budget panels included cutting:
- Higher education by $31 million.
- The state Department of Education by $48 million.
- Special schools and commissions by $270,145.
- The state Department of Health and Hospitals by $29 million to $66 million.
- The state Department of Social Services by $1.5 million to $10 million.
A number of lawmakers involved in the state budget process have expressed concern the governor’s spending plan relies on too many one-time dollars for expenses that will have to be paid year after year.
There also is a sentiment at the State Capitol that revenue is on the decline after several years of record tax collections following the hurricanes.
The education subcommittee refused to vote on a specific list of suggested cuts, insisting on just sending the appropriations committee a dollar amount of recommended budget reductions.
Reps. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, and Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, pushed to recommend eliminating a $10 million scholarship program that would send low income children in the New Orleans area to private schools.
The program squeaked out of the House Committee on Education on Wednesday with the Jindal administration’s backing.
The budget subcommittee agreed to recommend cutting the program from the proposed budget after voting twice on the issue.
Across the hall in another meeting room at the State Capitol, a different subcommittee made recommendations on funding for health care and social services.
“No jobs were cut. These were enhancements that were added to the various departments,” Rep. Tom McVea, R-St. Francisville, said of the subcommittee’s suggestions on how to trim the budget.
The panel recommended reducing funding for a computer system, major repairs and the hiring of national experts on mental health.
The panel recommended adding:
- $2.2 million in state general fund dollars for dental screenings for children.
- $1.5 million for colon cancer screenings for the uninsured and people with low incomes.
- $500,000 for incentive pay at Villa Feliciana.
