It was reported in a recent Times Picayune article that Governor Jindal has ordered a partial freeze on state agency spending that covers several areas. The order covers the balance of the states fiscal year that ends June 30. The state has been borrowing hundreds of millions dollars to pay state expenses because the states general fund revenues has been slow to arrive the article points out.
And here is the other kicker reported by the TP. "In addition a $1.2 billion budget gap is projected for next year, and lawmakers have yet to decide whether the state finished the last fiscal year with a surplus or a deficit." What is happening with this years budget is just a repeat of previous state budgets of the Jindal administration as out lined in "PolitiDose" many times over the last few years. Jindal and the legislature has never really balanced one state budget except by gimmicks. Its the same con game over and over.
Can the people of this state really understand why the Jindal administration still can not tell the pleople if last years budget that ended June 30, 2013 ended in a deficit or surplus? How long does it take? President Obama has reduced the federal deficit and the unemployment numbers since he took office while Jindal continues to cut the state budget and still not able to balance it. And the unemployment rate in Louisiana is still higher than it was when he took office.
Is there any wonder why Jindal and the republicans in Louisiana are always on the attack against the President? This writer does not have to wonder, its because they have no positive record to run on or talk about. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
