JBE is using one time money just as Jindal did. Reality is there has been no change.

Reality is post Katrina, the state coffers were full. The economy expanded as federal dollars, insurance dollars, and all the associated activity created a boom of sorts.

Then we returned to normal only to see a major recession on the national scene followed by a big oil downturn. The fact is no matter who was governor, we were in trouble.

The problem is that Jindal failed to react to the big issues, he didn't cut spending, he kept giving away dollars in the name of creating jobs, and we managed to stay about even.

Now JBE has to either cut spending or raise taxes because the state economy is still down. And reality is he isn't doing much cutting, and he is raising taxes a lot. He also added a huge entitlement and that is problematic too.

No one is talking about reforming any of the giveaway programs, and pork barrel giveaways, the only answer is higher and higher taxes. Sure they'll call it "reform" or they'll say its "dedicated" to something we all want, but in the end it will be business as usual.

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Posted by KiwiHead

Auckland, NZ

Member since Jul 2014

29780 posts

Posted on 3/17/17 at 11:09 am to doubleb

If you reall want to look at what got us into this mess aside from the cratering of the oil and gas market (huge impact), it was the scrapping of the Stelly Plan which actually reduced sales taxes, etc. but did make an increase in income taxes. Of course people don't like to pay income tax....but they don't mind getting raped on sales taxes so the legislature repealed it.

Look, if you want things like roads and road maintenance. Fire protection, police protection....flood protection and the maintenance thereof as well as education for the kids (not everyone can afford the 10K a year (minimum) it takes to send their kid to a Catholic or private school...then those things require money. I think the tax burden in Louisiana is kind of high especially on the sales tax end as well as the "fees" you pay. But taxes are a reality.

A lot of us bitch when things get tight and the legislature says they may have to raise taxes. We always say well, the state will have to do with less. Fair enough, but no one ever really says what they are willing to do without when it comes to services. We can bitch about the Medicaid expansion , but, we pay for the poor one way or the other when they get sick either through taxes or higher rates on our insurance.

We probably as a state need to do better at getting federal royalties on oil and gas from offshore leases that pass through Louisiana. Personally, I would hit the refiners wit a tax....they are not going to run off anywhere....it's been 30 years since a new refinery was built in the US. Also change the homestead exemption to tax the 2nd 75K....you could reduce or eliminate the state sales tax on things like .....food

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