re: Louisiana Budget 101

quote:

---

Jindal did not cut expenses. When JBE came in... there was no more reserve money to sweep, no more excess property to sell, no more bills to delay paying, no more accounting tricks. The GOP in the legislature approved a 1.3 billion dollar sales tax hike. JBE signed it... but the GOP sent it to him to sign. Sales tax hike lasted two years, it was temporary. Now, two years later... about half of that 1.3 billion is coming from spending cuts, federal tax reform, and better oil and gas prices. So, we can maintain half of the GOP-approved and JBE-signed tax increases from two years ago, or, we can cut spending by that amount.

---

Now if you’re trying to tell me that JBE is just as useless as Jindal after the oil crash, I’ll give you that.

And every year spending goes up.
And every year we face a budget deficit.
And the “temporary” taxes are expiring.

Can’t wait until JBE the Big tax and spender becomes an ex-governor like Jindal.

Louisiana spends way more than a Southern state should, and our children are leaving while JBE fiddles, and you tell me how we are ripping off our fellow Americans.

We need a reduction of government so that we live within our means.

Why should I be happy that a substantial part of my federal tax cut and my “temporary” taxes are being given as free shite?

Louisiana is one of the most unfriendly states to business and prosperity, but we get more than our fair share of free shite.

La. Had the worse economy in 2017 of any state. We were one of three states where the economy shrank.
You need to revisit your position. The 1.2 Billion dollar tax increase hammered the state, and the surplus you describe was a result of taxes being raised too much.

quote:

---

Correction - Louisiana actually had a budget surplus last year for the first time in many years. It was used to pay down debts and restore the rainy day fund.

---

So after major temporary taxes and an increase in oil prices we eked out $100 million surplus. Now oil is still up and we got a GOP provided tax infusion. But because of JBE’s wonderful management we have a $650 million dollar deficit.

quote:

---

This shows that if you stabilize the budget, you can grow the economy and reduce taxes.

---

This showed the exact opposite!
We did not stabilize the budget despite increasing oil revenue, and we haven’t cut taxes!

quote:

---

But cut too much too fast (like Jindal did) and then you lose a ton of doctors, teachers, and college students to other states and you are in an even bigger hole economically and more businesses leave.

---

Bobby Jindal was Governor of Louisiana between 2008 and 2016 during the National financial crisis.
Louisiana spending:
2008 Gov. Bobby Jindal announced on December 11, 2008 that, in light of a $1.2 billion shortfall, a review of government functions was necessary "to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce spending in a strategic way that will help our state in handling the effects of this national economic downturn.”However, according to Jindal, Louisiana was facing "good news" because in December 2008 the real estate market held steady and, while the various other states saw a decline in job opportunities, "Louisiana gained jobs in seven of the 10 months" in 2008. Jindal became the first governor to reject certain programs of the stimulus bill. In February 2009 the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported that although the national unemployment rate increased to 7.6 percent, Louisiana's stood at 5.9 percent.
2008/9 Louisiana spent $29,611,069,662
2009/10 $29,704,582,028
2010/11 $26,055,019,367 Hurricane budgets ending.
2011/12 $25,590,819,058 Re-election.

2012/13 $25,747,899,321
2013/14 $25,614,542,728
2014/15. $25,844.800,000 oil prices that had hovered between $100 and $125 fell to around $50
2015/16 $24,959.200,000

2016/17 $28,356.600,000 JBE’s 1st budget, I detect a big spender here!
2017/18 $29,738.400,000 more spending!
2018/19 projected 1 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT reduced to 650 MILLION by GOP Fed tax cuts!

quote:

---

Business know that if you aren't growing, you are dying. Cut too much too fast and you put a big dent in the economy.

---

You know what is worse than not growing?
Deficit spending.

All we are saying that they all spend money like drunken sailors so why should we aquiese and go along with giving them more money via tax increases in order that they can go on a bigger spending binge?

quote:

---

But because of JBE’s wonderful management we have a $650 million dollar deficit.

---

Come On, Man!!

We have a 650 million PROJECTED DEFICIT because 1.3 billion of TAX REVENUE is falling off the books.

If the sales tax would have been made permanent... we would be having a discussion about what to do with our huge government surplus, and where we should be cutting taxes.

Edwards did what Jindal did, you are correct now.

And Edwards signed the legislation, the legislation he pushed for.

He like Jindal, and the legislature would rather raise taxes, cut TOPS, scare grandma and use LSU as a political football rather than make their film buddies or their nursing home buddies mad and you seem to be taking up for him because he is like the rest.

I'll take no taxes and let's keep playing the game Jindal played, rather than playing Edwards' game.

Both juggle the books. Both use rainy day money. Neither rolled back nursing home rules, eliminated Hollywood favors or hurt their backers.

One is all about raising taxes.

quote:

---

A lot of these monies are restricted in spending use. For example, there may be a rule that says fees paid to camp in a state park, can only be used for expenses in the state park system. These fees can't be used to pay for TOPS. This is the majority of state revenue.

---

How much of this money is restricted only due to statute? Meaning, how much is actually constitutionally protected and how much is legislatively mandated?

Also, how much state spending is part of a match that is spent to unlock federal funds?

I'm a Reagan Republican with principles. I'm in my mid 60s.

Starving govt., limiting taxes, cutting the waste is far better than giving them what they ask for and then watching them and their friends grab it out the cookie jar and we the people are left with some crumbs that spill over.

And you keep saying Edwards could ask for more, he did ask for more when he floated his crazy tax reform and during the special session when he cried there was s Billion dollar cliff when there was not.

Nothing Edwards is doing now is for the future, nothing. And right now our state's economy has shrunk for two strdight years. What does that say about our future, what does it say when we have an outward migration larger than our birth rate and immigration rate?

Sure we educate our kids, but they go to work in Atlanta, Houston or elsewhere. They see a better future elsewhere.

I have grandkids, and I worry about crime, BR, their education, the infrastructure and the important things. Fixing our corrupt system is right up there too, and giving them more money to spend without holding them accountable for what they have now is not the way to go.