Late Sunday night, lawmakers approved a budget deal but House and Senate leaders shared concerns about the cuts needed as the state faces an estimated $600 million shortfall in the coming year.
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Some Republicans, particularly in the House, are saying they don’t intend to boost taxes further.
On Thursday, Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Baton Rouge, asked Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, to promise not to amend a piece tax legislation that current doesn’t raise any revenue – and therefore isn’t considered a tax increase.
Edwards supports the bill as part of his legislative package and is expected to sign the “Raise the Age” provision into law next week.
That didn’t persuade enough GOP committee members or Abramson. Gaps in next year’s budget remain for the TOPS college tuition program, college campuses, K-12 education, the safety-net hospitals that care for the poor and uninsured, and prison programs. Edwards is pushing for additional revenue to close the full $600 million hole.
Health Secretary Rebekah Gee said Wednesday next year’s budget already assumes $184 million in Medicaid expansion savings – and that’s all the savings available.
The Ways and Means Committee could take them up at another meeting. “We have left no stone unturned”.
Many Republican lawmakers in the House are resistant to tax measures, after the Legislature raised more than $1.2 billion for next year’s budget with tax hikes passed in a special session called by Edwards earlier this year.
The documents being circulated came from Bruce Greenstein, a former Louisiana health secretary who opposed Medicaid expansion when he worked for then-Gov.
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Richard Carbo, a spokesman for Edwards, said that when Scott visits, he should meet students and families who are “paying the price” for the failed policies of previous governor Bobby Jindal that resulted in a budget deficit.
