Special Session to Become Feeding Frenzy?
Many legislators are expecting Christmas early when the special session opens December 8. Election years and budget surpluses have, in the past, combined for money-fueled re-election promises.
"I think it's certainly has to be the possibility of a feeding frenzy,” says Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) President Barry Erwin. “You got $1.6 billion to divvy up for all kinds of different things. I'm sure the legislators are licking their lips.”
Governor Blanco has already outlined her wish list for the budget surplus: read the full story here.
Communities like Baton Rouge have certainly felt the brunt of increased population. Mayor-President Kip Holden is fully aware of the amount of extra cash down the street and he wants his share: “We have a drain on our basic infrastructure from increasing calls to police department and the fire department and EMS so any dollars directed to any of those areas will greatly be appreciated.”
Warden Burl Cain already sounded his alarm a couple of months ago when he called his prison a crisis in the wake of low pay for the guards.
Erwin tells WAFB 9 News there will be much more jockeying for position as the session approaches: “We need to put that money in a box that it is used for the real interests that the constitution requires. We have a surplus too and hopefully will do it in strategic ways these are real investments and not just try to make people happy.”
How should the legislature divvy up the expected surplus?
"I think it's certainly has to be the possibility of a feeding frenzy,” says Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) President Barry Erwin. “You got $1.6 billion to divvy up for all kinds of different things. I'm sure the legislators are licking their lips.”
Governor Blanco has already outlined her wish list for the budget surplus: read the full story here.
Communities like Baton Rouge have certainly felt the brunt of increased population. Mayor-President Kip Holden is fully aware of the amount of extra cash down the street and he wants his share: “We have a drain on our basic infrastructure from increasing calls to police department and the fire department and EMS so any dollars directed to any of those areas will greatly be appreciated.”Warden Burl Cain already sounded his alarm a couple of months ago when he called his prison a crisis in the wake of low pay for the guards.Erwin tells WAFB 9 News there will be much more jockeying for position as the session approaches: “We need to put that money in a box that it is used for the real interests that the constitution requires. We have a surplus too and hopefully will do it in strategic ways these are real investments and not just try to make people happy.”
How should the legislature divvy up the expected surplus?
posted by Joe Rawley at 12:22 AM
7 Comments:
State Workers neeed a raise every bit as much as teachers! Teachers received raises the last 2 sessions! State workers have not had a cost of living arise in 16 years! State Workers keep this great government of ours running.
A surplus means that the state collected too much money in taxes and fees from Louisiana residents. They need to refund the money that Louisiana residents OVERPAID tremendously. The state going on a frenzy to spend is typical thinking. Basically they view this as free money. We can give more money to our pet projects. Projects and increases that haven't been approved by the voters. I think the first step should be rebating the taxes to those of us who have been paying through the nose since the Stelly Plan.
WHAT ABOUT OUR ROAD AND INTERSTATE SYSTEM THAT MAYOR KIP HOLDEN PROMISED US HE WAS GOING TO FIX AND HAS NOT DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AT DOING? WE NEED MORE LANES ON OUR INTERSTATE SYSTEM, I TRAVEL A LOT HAVE HAVE BEEN THROUGH MUCH SMALLER CITIES THAN BATON ROUGE AND THEY HAVE BIGGER AND BETTER INTERSTATES THAN WE DO, MORE LANES, MORE EXITS, ECT. I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO STOP WORRING ABOUT GIVING PAY RAISES TO PEOPLE AND PUTTING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO REAL USE ON OUR INTERSTATE SYSTEM. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE TRAFFIC BEING TALKED ABOUT AND NOTHING BEING DONE. NOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND A CHANCE TO MAKE BATON ROUGE THE GREAT CITY IT COULD BE. YOU HAVE TO UPDATE THE ROAD SYSTEM IF YOU WANT A GREAT CITY!
Our representatives need to spend the surplus on items that directly affect the hard working citizens and businesses who have been paying these taxes for years, but see the tax money going to able body, non productive, ill responsible people of Louisiana who contribute nothing to this state. We are tired of paying for other people's ill responsibilities and laziness. However, if one is truly disabled and cannot physically work we have no problem assisting those people in any way we can. We need to direct the surplus to the essentials of government such as infrastructure, transportation, security and education. We have too many programs in this state that attract the able body, ill responsible, non productive citizens who costs this state dearly and don't contribute to the state at all. Our representatives need to take care of the state's best customers, us, the tax paying citizens and businesses of the state! If not, who will the state have to pay the taxes? Our representatives need to put personal perks to the side and direct the surplus to government essentials that will make this state attractive to people and businesses who contribute to the state and not those who want the state to do everything for them for free!
"DON'T SPEND THE SURPLUS ON THE WORTHLESS!"
The state workers should receive a pay raise. If we were to go on strike, there would be a lot of businesses closed. Numberous state agencies would be shut down like, Margaret Dumas, Social Security Office, etc. This state cannot function without us. Teachers are not the only one who put up with a lot, we have to deal with mental patients BEFORE they receive their meds and additional help from us. We are the ones who keep everything running. We need a pat on the back, a raise.
Monica
I think that it’s a shame that our government is making me and other correctional officers choose between taking care of our families an getting insurance . I myself have to choose my family because the pay is just not enough to have both that is much need .Still through all of this I continue to do my job faithfully. I would like our law makers to just come and do my job just for a two weeks and get my check an support his family with the check he/she gets. And work under the conditions that I worker under then and only then can they see that 20,000 dollar is not enough to support a family. Just to you a little of my job detail : the police have to catch the criminal I have to keep him while everyone else is sleeping. ( That is called public safety ).also we are exposed to hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV. Even knowing all of that we still do our jobs. And this is just for you law makers ( We as correctional officers are not at anytime consider hostages in side a prison so sleep tight law makers we are still doing our jobs unless you make us do other wise.
1.6B.?????How about 600M in an interest bearing account and forget about it for 5 years. Didn't they think we were in the red a year ago?
Use the interest on the above amount to lure environmental-friendly businesses to the state.
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