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Message

TOPS funding will fall short in fall semester
Posted on 7/1/16 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 7/1/16 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:08 pm to Mr.Perfect
Not saying it's totally his fault, but I just want to punch his face.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:11 pm to Mr.Perfect
I can't wait for taxes to go up even more. Louisiana is in trouble.
This post was edited on 7/1/16 at 1:12 pm
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:13 pm to Mr.Perfect
These people think Louisiana residents are stupid. They are doing two things.....
1. Getting people used to the idea that they will have to pay for "some" of their tuition.
2. Getting people used to the idea that "uncertainty" about how much they will have to pay is now "normal."
Once they (state officials) have accomplished this, college students/parents better watch out!!! I predict a series of adjustments/cuts to TOPS along with yearly tuition increases that will end with a very small contribution from TOPS in the future. Much of this is smoke and mirrors. Have you noticed that as the "state budget crisis" has gotten worse, the size of the budget has increased? Again, they think we are stupid!!

1. Getting people used to the idea that they will have to pay for "some" of their tuition.
2. Getting people used to the idea that "uncertainty" about how much they will have to pay is now "normal."
Once they (state officials) have accomplished this, college students/parents better watch out!!! I predict a series of adjustments/cuts to TOPS along with yearly tuition increases that will end with a very small contribution from TOPS in the future. Much of this is smoke and mirrors. Have you noticed that as the "state budget crisis" has gotten worse, the size of the budget has increased? Again, they think we are stupid!!
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:17 pm to Irish LSU Fan
For a state as conservative as Louisiana is, I'm amazed a program like TOPS has been allowed to exist this long by its constituents.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:20 pm to jlovel7
Yeah because it's TOPS that has caused this budget disaster 
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:21 pm to BIWO
FWIW, I think TOPS is a wonderful program and I wish that more states had programs in place like it. I just find it slightly ironic is all.
This post was edited on 7/1/16 at 1:22 pm
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:23 pm to Irish LSU Fan
quote:
Again, they think we are stupid!!
I mean we did elect them
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:28 pm to Mr.Perfect
I think TOPS is a good program. Nevermind other states don't really use anything similar. The problem is not that it exists, it's that they don't have enough regulations on TOPS. The unproductive people who use it need to be cut off. It's that simple. People who are actually using it as they should are the ones who deserve it. The program's idea is excellent but much like social programs in this state like welfare, their execution is absolutely horrible. It's easy to see why you struggle to fund a program like this. Much like welfare, you need to find a way to give it to people who NEED it and cut the people off who DON'T!
Education needs to be the top priority in this state because it's an avenue to improve virtually anything you can think of. Crime areas get reduced, infrastructure becomes better due to generational education, technology, poverty is reduced due to education, etc. I mean, you even have hard scientific data that proves it. Amazes me how this isn't the top priority of any candidate trying to run this country right now. We need a complete overhaul of our education system and needs to be implemented over a 30 year period slowly.
It's also shameful the salaries teachers get considering they're responsible for where future generations will go. I know several teachers that should just be dirt poor thanks to their horrible salaries. I guess it's not too surprising when you consider where the wage gap is in this country and the middle class is completely disappearing. A lot of our priorities just isn't where it should be I guess.
Education needs to be the top priority in this state because it's an avenue to improve virtually anything you can think of. Crime areas get reduced, infrastructure becomes better due to generational education, technology, poverty is reduced due to education, etc. I mean, you even have hard scientific data that proves it. Amazes me how this isn't the top priority of any candidate trying to run this country right now. We need a complete overhaul of our education system and needs to be implemented over a 30 year period slowly.
It's also shameful the salaries teachers get considering they're responsible for where future generations will go. I know several teachers that should just be dirt poor thanks to their horrible salaries. I guess it's not too surprising when you consider where the wage gap is in this country and the middle class is completely disappearing. A lot of our priorities just isn't where it should be I guess.
This post was edited on 7/1/16 at 1:37 pm
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:30 pm to deuce985
quote:
The unproductive people who use it need to be cut off. It's that simple. People who are actually using it as they should are the ones who deserve it.
What does this mean?
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:30 pm to Irish LSU Fan
quote:
Have you noticed that as the "state budget crisis" has gotten worse
The national economy is limping along, and the state's economy is in recession (per the state's economist). This shows up on the revenue side of the ledger.
Spending goes down, sales tax collections go down. Businesses lay off workers, income tax collections go down. Businesses break even or lose money, income taxes and corporation taxes go down.
Throw in the big increases Edwards pushed through and it just adds to the cycle.
Our state budget has increased mostly because of the Medicaid Expansion that Edwards pushed through. It brought a couple of billion dollars or so to La. that would not have come. They have had to hire some folks to run the program, but these expenses are offset somewhat by the Feds and some saving s elsewhere in the budget so that we are supposedly "saving" money.
TOPS became an entitlement, the film Tax Credit became an entitlement, and now the Medicaid Expansion is becoming an entitlement.
The day is just around the corner when we won't be able to afford all of this especially when the Feds cut back on their share of the Medicaid deal.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:31 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
Should take the GA route...... Use the lottery and or casinos to help fund TOPS! This doesn't help either....
• Number of food stamp recipients: 868,192
• Percentage of the state's population on food stamps: 18.67%
• Total cost of just these benefits alone (That is, how much do just the money on those EBT cards cost the state): Around $107.4 million....
• Number of food stamp recipients: 868,192
• Percentage of the state's population on food stamps: 18.67%
• Total cost of just these benefits alone (That is, how much do just the money on those EBT cards cost the state): Around $107.4 million....
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:32 pm to deuce985
How much more money could they put towards TOPS if they shut down SUNO? It's little more than a Pell Grant scheme. And a place to give the family members of black legislators high paying state jobs.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 1:54 pm to lsu2006
Seriously, what does unproductive mean referring to TOPS? If you fall below a minimum amount of hours or GPA, you lose it permanently. There's zero margin for error.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:25 pm to Mr.Perfect
FWIW, I agree with the OP that TOPS is just another big socialist giveaway program that the state can't afford anymore, but what does this have to do with football?
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:29 pm to BIWO
quote:
Yeah because it's TOPS that has caused this budget disaster
Citizen funded programs are always the ones that are said to cause a disaster and never the unfunded deals and programs that are really the cause due to money being "borrowed" from those programs that are funded.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:35 pm to boxcar willie
quote:
but what does this have to do with football?
Likely nothing to do with football. But it definitely could affect baseball recruiting.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:43 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
But it definitely could affect baseball recruiting.
maybe we could do a more targeted academic program aimed at baseball playing students so that it doesn't balloon into such a big government free handout type program.
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:53 pm to deuce985
quote:
It's also shameful the salaries teachers get considering they're responsible for where future generations will go. I know several teachers that should just be dirt poor thanks to their horrible salaries. I guess it's not too surprising when you consider where the wage gap is in this country and the middle class is completely disappearing. A lot of our priorities just isn't where it should be I guess.
Get the frick out of here with that sob story! They make roughly $50K a year for 8 months of work. There are a hell of a lot of people who don't make that for 12 months of work. Oh, don't forget about the absurd benefits they receive that most in the private sector could never dream of getting. Teacher always forget to factor in their benefits when crying about salary. But hey, maybe it's normal to retire at 47 years old with full benefits
Posted on 7/1/16 at 2:55 pm to Mr.Perfect
Legalize marijuana. Debt will go bye bye
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