re: Louisiana TOPS Funding Uncertainties

It's a political football. John Bell is trying to force a special session after the regular session where he can use TOPS as a threat to get more tax money to pay for cost of living adjustments for retirees, medicaid expansion, ect. The republicans are trying to show that revenue forcasts have changed, that the state actually has enough money to save TOPS in the general session (at least for the fall), and then see if the projections bare out. If they don't, then they could call a midyear session in September and possibly cut TOPS for the Spring semester.

TOPS is nothing but a bargaining chip at this point.