The Louisiana legislature began its second special session on June 6 because it failed to resolve the state's fiscal problems that begins the state's new budget year which starts July 1. The governor thinks the short fall is about $600 million. The legislators say it is less, around $300 million.
The bottom line to be able to measure success will be for legislators to find a way to fully fund or partially fund those programs deemed necessary to advance the state and its people with funds that are recurring and can be counted on year in and year out. There are ways to raise revenue and cut spending with out the rhetoric that takes those two issues to the extreme.
The legislators have failed that test in the past and it is now time for them to stand tall and finally take the steps necessary to make a final break with past mistakes. They can debate raising revenue and cutting spending all they want but will their final decision result in real fiscal change that solves the budget problem.
If one takes the results of the first special session and the regular session that ended just a week ago the answer is no and the ball is in the court of the republican controlled legislature. The governor has given them his ideas, just maybe they are more workable if given a chance. After all the legislators should be getting tired of their 8 years of budget gimmicks. If they did their jobs right in the first place there would be no need for special sessions.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
