There will continue to be some individual republicans who will not support Donald Trump as the party's nominee but the republican party itself will. A lot of the noise about abandoning Trump by the party is just that, noise. The boom has been lowered by the republican base in the primaries, they will not support any other of the 16 challengers.
The announcement that former President George W. Bush would not be attending the republican convention or commenting any more on the 2016 election is not a big deal and is really a no brainer. During the republican debates and on the campaign trail the candidates would not even mention Bush's name because they had nothing positive to mention about his administration. Bush being at the convention would just remind the viewing audience about the failures of his administration.
Speaker of the U.S. House Paul Ryan said he is not ready to endorse Trump but this writer thinks he will. It is part of what is taking place inside the republican party. Ryan and his party who control both houses of congress has been the least productive congress in the past 50 years. They want to win back the White House so bad to try again and implement their extreme agenda they would support Satan.
The best outcome for the GOP after the 2016 elections is a big democratic win and the emergence of a new republican party where conservatism becomes a virtue and ideology becomes a thing of the past. The reckless behavior of the GOP, especially during the Obama administration has been self destructive and a insult to the country and its people who deserve better. Those republicans serving in congress and others in the party who now say they will not support Trump had a hand in the making of Donald Trump using many of the same tactics in the past and are still doing so against President Obama.
America's political system is not perfect and never will be because humankind lacks perfection, but those who seek election to public service have a responsibility and obligation to put the country and the people's needs first and govern accordingly. Any thing less is unacceptable and that is where the GOP stands today.
This commentary was written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
Louisiana's State Parks Now Joins The News Of Financial Neglect
According to a Times Picayune article of 5/1 by staff writer Greg LaRose Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser suggest that Louisiana sell naming rights to the state parks because those recreation sites are strapped for cash. Visitation at Louisiana's state parks are up and Nungesser would like to see some of the parks upgraded to handle more overnight visitors. But Louisiana does not have any revenue designated for the state park system and user fees do not provide enough revenue for upkeep, expansion and etc.
This problem is related to the state's budget and joins a list of other issues that are not funded to meet needed demand. That should sound familiar to every one. Selling naming rights is one aspect of privatizing state services. Jindal did that with several hospitals and we are finding out in the last several weeks it has cost the state more than was projected. It is the easy way out for elected officials so they do not have to make the hard choices.
The article points out that Bobby Jindal pulled $54 million from state parks in his last 5 years in office according to Nungesser and here is what Nungesser said about that. I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIST FIGHTING WITH BOBBY IN THE FRONT YARD OF THE GOVERNORS MANSION TO RETAIN THAT MONEY. Well during that same 5 year period, Nungesser was President of Plaquemine Parish so he had a good opportunity to have that fist fight with Bobby but he choose not too. So much for tough talk. Nungesser is the same loud mouth who blamed President Obama for the actions he took after the BP Oil spill. But, unlike Louisiana officials who have let the Oil industry in Louisiana off the hook for their damage to the environment for the past 40 plus years, Obama held BP accountable.
Some states like Illinois and Texas charges fees and taxes on some sporting goods purchase that goes to operate its state parks. In other words, they have designated revenue to count on for their state parks while Louisiana does not. The state parks issue is just another example how Louisiana operates without priorities and does not have a revenue base for recurring expenses, something "PolitiDose" has pointed out in previous commentary.
More and more it becomes evident how the $8 billion in tax breaks, exemptions, credits and etc., for business has corrupted Louisiana's fiscal house and budgetary process and all because the state legislature have failed to do their job of taking care of the people's business and the state itself. That is one reason Governor Edwards has told the legislature to focus on those tax exemptions and etc., as a way for the state to increase its revenue base. Its called tax fairness.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Hillary Clinton Is Right: The Country Needs A President That Will Build On and Extend President Obama's Successful Policy and Achievements.
President Obama's policies reversed the economic melt down and record job losses of the previous republican administration, reduced deficit spending that was at record levels and reduced the unemployment rate to 5%. The ACA was passed that reduced the uninsured rolls by millions. The increase in total federal spending under Obama has been much less than under President George W. Bush, his father and the Reagan administration. And the republican's in congress opposed all the President's economic plans that worked. In other words the republican party had nothing to do with the economic recovery.
The President's policies reduced the country's military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan even though the republicans wanted our military to have an active combat role there. As a result of the President's policies our military are not serving 4 or 5 tours in the middle east any more and our military deaths have declined significantly. The country's policy in the middle east is the right one despite the negative attitude of the republican party and its Presidential candidates. The U.S. is working once again with our allies in the region, something that was lacking in the previous administration.
Clinton is the best candidate to build on those successful policies, have them produce better results for the average American and move the country forward in the right direction. The republican noise machine are still trying to sell the people their same old failed policies of trickle down economics and their leading Presidential candidate Donald Trump in a so called foreign policy speech last week was pathetic. It was a repeat of George W. Bush's policy of go it alone against everyone and so called tough talk with no bite.
For the record, there has been no republican administration that created as many new jobs as the democratic administration it followed in the last 50 years. There has been no republican administration that left office with a smaller deficit than when they took office in the last 50 years. The last republican President to balance the federal budget was Dwight Eisenhower in 1960. There has been no republican administration where the unemployment rate stayed below or where it was when they took office during their term in office in the last 50 years. There has been no republican administration where total federal spending decreased year to year in the last 50 years. President George W. Bush had the worst job creation record since the great depression after his first 4 years in office and also after his full 8 years in office.
But the record does show that the democratic administrations of Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama did accomplish a combination of all those things the republican administrations of Nixon-Ford, Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 never did. More Americans have been killed in terrorists attacks at home and abroad on the republican watch while those administrations were trying to talk tough. Democratic administrations have kept America safer. North Korea tested its first atomic weapon on President George W. Bush's watch. America was told we would be welcomed as liberators when we invaded Iraq but it never happened and 13 years after the invasion Iraq is still destabilized. President Reagan traded arms for hostages with Iran after his tough talk of never to negotiate with terrorists.
Now comes Donald Trump, the news media's favorite Presidential candidate, especially cable news with his tough talk. Instead of talking about the threat of spreading nuclear weapons he said he would urge South Korea and Japan to build their own nuclear capacity for self defense and that he would use nuclear weapons against ISIS in the middle east and that he would defeat them quickly. What do these republicans eat that make them try to talk tough only to fall flat on their face. Trumps policy of cutting taxes for Corporate America and the wealthy to spur the economy and create an unbelievable amount of jobs can be found in the library under "failed economic policy of republican administrations."
The America that the republicans try to paint with all their negative rhetoric is not the America I see or live in. America is still the greatest country in the world to live and breathe in and to raise a family. President Obama and the democratic controlled congress early on took the steps needed to bring the economy and jobs back after the worst recession since the great depression. It will now fall to the next President to take the next step with the economy to raise the wages of middle class workers that can be sustained and lasting. And the record shows democratic administrations accomplish that much better than republican administrations.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Note: See my previous 3 part commentary and conclusion titled, The U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best. Initial date 1/27/08
Saturday, April 30, 2016
The Latest Insult To The State and People Of Louisiana By The State Legislature
Tyler Bridges of the New Orleans Advocate in an article dated 4/28 reported Governor Edwards is pushing legislators to focus on tax breaks to raise state revenue, but guess what? The Governor found out the legislature has no system to justify the tax breaks and judge if those tax breaks are doing the job the business lobby claims they do such as creating jobs and etc.
"PolitiDose" reported many times how the $8 billion a year in tax breaks given to business is the main reason why Louisiana has a revenue problem. The article also reported what was known earlier that Corporations are enjoying more tax breaks than they are paying in Corporate taxes. Governor Edwards said what business would spend money and not know what return it is getting. Yet, that is exactly what the state Legislature has been doing with those business tax breaks.
It is a little late in the game for the legislature to wait around and come up with a plan to evaluate the tax breaks with looming deficits. What they should do is make steep cuts to those tax breaks across the board in the special session the Governor will call in June. Require business to justify what tax breaks are left and in the future the legislature should work on the assumption that if a business needs tax breaks to operate, then the business is not viable nor is it properly managed.
The legislature has insulted the state and its people long enough by not having a plan in effect to judge if the $8 billion in tax breaks are justified. The legislature has to act now.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
"PolitiDose" reported many times how the $8 billion a year in tax breaks given to business is the main reason why Louisiana has a revenue problem. The article also reported what was known earlier that Corporations are enjoying more tax breaks than they are paying in Corporate taxes. Governor Edwards said what business would spend money and not know what return it is getting. Yet, that is exactly what the state Legislature has been doing with those business tax breaks.
It is a little late in the game for the legislature to wait around and come up with a plan to evaluate the tax breaks with looming deficits. What they should do is make steep cuts to those tax breaks across the board in the special session the Governor will call in June. Require business to justify what tax breaks are left and in the future the legislature should work on the assumption that if a business needs tax breaks to operate, then the business is not viable nor is it properly managed.
The legislature has insulted the state and its people long enough by not having a plan in effect to judge if the $8 billion in tax breaks are justified. The legislature has to act now.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Donald Trump, Former President George W. Bush, Conservatism and The Republican Party: What They All Have In Common.
Their common denominator happens to be so called "tough talk", division, extremism, trickle down economics, failed foreign and domestic policy, deficit spending and a lack of understanding the basic's of arithmetic. As a result very few lasting accomplishments for the last three republican administrations.
That has set the stage for Donald Trump to be able to run over his republican opponents exposing their weakness and the party's failures. Republican voters think they found a new kind of republican in Trump but behind the tough talk is a man who supported the republican party's failed policies of the past with rhetoric and campaign contributions. Like republican elected officials in general, Trump likes to speak of doing things in the singular and as a result little policy is offered the people to look at.
If Trump wins his party's nomination which is likely, one can be sure his general strategy in the general election against the democratic nominee will be personal attacks of a nasty nature just as past republican campaigns have been. Tough talk is a reflection on Trumps lack of character and knowledge and his inability to be articulate on the very issues that the country faces.
President George W. Bush could not articulate how Saddam and Iraq were a threat to the national security of the U. S. so the fairy tale story of WMD was created along with the planted seed that Saddam had a hand in the tragic attack on 9/11. Trump is using the same kind of tough talk on the campaign trail to hide his lack of understanding in foreign affairs. Extremism, division and trickle down economics will catch up to Trump in due time and the people will realize he represents the same republican party he loves to hate.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
That has set the stage for Donald Trump to be able to run over his republican opponents exposing their weakness and the party's failures. Republican voters think they found a new kind of republican in Trump but behind the tough talk is a man who supported the republican party's failed policies of the past with rhetoric and campaign contributions. Like republican elected officials in general, Trump likes to speak of doing things in the singular and as a result little policy is offered the people to look at.
If Trump wins his party's nomination which is likely, one can be sure his general strategy in the general election against the democratic nominee will be personal attacks of a nasty nature just as past republican campaigns have been. Tough talk is a reflection on Trumps lack of character and knowledge and his inability to be articulate on the very issues that the country faces.
President George W. Bush could not articulate how Saddam and Iraq were a threat to the national security of the U. S. so the fairy tale story of WMD was created along with the planted seed that Saddam had a hand in the tragic attack on 9/11. Trump is using the same kind of tough talk on the campaign trail to hide his lack of understanding in foreign affairs. Extremism, division and trickle down economics will catch up to Trump in due time and the people will realize he represents the same republican party he loves to hate.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Seven Months Until The November Election
Election day in November will conclude 18 months of campaigning for the President of the United States. Much money will be spent during that time period by the candidates, PAC's, individuals and other supporters. It is a ritual that needs to be changed in this writers opinion. The debate process should be changed and handed over to Public Television and their hosts should be the moderators for obvious reasons.
At this point in the campaign, strategy will change and so will the rhetoric, especially on the republican side. Donald Trump's campaign has recently announced Trump will act more Presidential than he has been because he believes he will b his party's nominee. He will now be more moderate and nice to the voters he has been critical of. His campaign believes he has done all the damage he can do to his republican opponents and now has to do an about face for the every day voter. That is SOP for republican candidates because they are a party of ideology and think of themselves as elite.
Democratic candidates do not have that problem because they believe in policy for America that reaches all Americans. It is the reason why the country and its people do better on the democratic watch. The Obama administration has continued that record moving the country out of the republican record recession of 2008. The republicans do not wish to talk about that and neither does the news media, they would rather report on what divides America.
There could be a real challenge to the candidates before the election if the Supreme Court rules in favor of President Obama's executive order on immigration which they are now hearing. It would be interesting to say the least how the republicans would act if the court rules in the President's favor. We know they do not want immigration reform from their own lips. President George W. Bush introduced immigration reform during his administration in 2007 only to be rejected by his own party. They also rejected immigration over 2 years ago when the democratic controlled senate passed immigration reform legislation.
So a lot can happen in the next seven months. But regardless what happens, one candidate alone will stand out as the voice of reason and consistency on the issues facing the country and its people. And this writer has a good idea who that person will be.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
At this point in the campaign, strategy will change and so will the rhetoric, especially on the republican side. Donald Trump's campaign has recently announced Trump will act more Presidential than he has been because he believes he will b his party's nominee. He will now be more moderate and nice to the voters he has been critical of. His campaign believes he has done all the damage he can do to his republican opponents and now has to do an about face for the every day voter. That is SOP for republican candidates because they are a party of ideology and think of themselves as elite.
Democratic candidates do not have that problem because they believe in policy for America that reaches all Americans. It is the reason why the country and its people do better on the democratic watch. The Obama administration has continued that record moving the country out of the republican record recession of 2008. The republicans do not wish to talk about that and neither does the news media, they would rather report on what divides America.
There could be a real challenge to the candidates before the election if the Supreme Court rules in favor of President Obama's executive order on immigration which they are now hearing. It would be interesting to say the least how the republicans would act if the court rules in the President's favor. We know they do not want immigration reform from their own lips. President George W. Bush introduced immigration reform during his administration in 2007 only to be rejected by his own party. They also rejected immigration over 2 years ago when the democratic controlled senate passed immigration reform legislation.
So a lot can happen in the next seven months. But regardless what happens, one candidate alone will stand out as the voice of reason and consistency on the issues facing the country and its people. And this writer has a good idea who that person will be.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, April 22, 2016
The GOP: A Conservative Party With Various Ideologies That Can Not Be United
The republican party is not a conservative party of only one ideology. That is why they oppose everything and have achieved very little while in control of the government they hate. There are the Eisenhower republicans, the Goldwater republicans, the Reagan republicans, the extreme republicans, the right wing republicans, the Evangelical republicans and the Tea party republicans. Some of those factions think of themselves as being purist.
The republican Presidential candidates in the last two campaigns of 2008, 2012 and now 2016 were and still are so divided among themselves had no policy to offer the voters because they were too busy trying to appeal to all of the conservative factions. That is an impossible task. The republican controlled House is a good example. They have no accomplishments, shut down the government, can not agree on needed legislation, are in conflict with each other and their former speaker John Boehner resigned because he could not control their actions. And as of this writing the republicans control both houses of congress and there is no action taking place.
The republican Presidential candidates of 2016 (17 when they started) were so weak because of their ideology, the 3 left standing, Trump, Cruz and Kasich continue to have problems with the factions within the party. Trump and Cruz are dividers with Trump playing on the republican party's past failures and Cruz trying to prove he is Mr. conservative. Kasich does not play well within his own party with most of the factions.
The various factions of the conservative ideology with in the party has been devastating. Because of the "stop Trump movement" Trump said the other day he did not believe there would be violence at the RNC. If Trump wanted to use the word violence what he should have said is I will not condone or support violence in any form at the convention. Saying he did not believe there would be violence is not a very strong message.
The conservative ideology of the republican party is truly unAmerican in practice because it believes there is no boundary in achieving its radical and extreme agenda even if it means holding the people and the government hostage by shutting it down. Today's republican party will not survive or live to govern effectively if they fail to realize that America and democracy are inclusive, that all people should be able to live the American dream and diversity is American's strength. No one can live in the past and the future needs to be embraced because it is the future for our children and grand children.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The republican Presidential candidates in the last two campaigns of 2008, 2012 and now 2016 were and still are so divided among themselves had no policy to offer the voters because they were too busy trying to appeal to all of the conservative factions. That is an impossible task. The republican controlled House is a good example. They have no accomplishments, shut down the government, can not agree on needed legislation, are in conflict with each other and their former speaker John Boehner resigned because he could not control their actions. And as of this writing the republicans control both houses of congress and there is no action taking place.
The republican Presidential candidates of 2016 (17 when they started) were so weak because of their ideology, the 3 left standing, Trump, Cruz and Kasich continue to have problems with the factions within the party. Trump and Cruz are dividers with Trump playing on the republican party's past failures and Cruz trying to prove he is Mr. conservative. Kasich does not play well within his own party with most of the factions.
The various factions of the conservative ideology with in the party has been devastating. Because of the "stop Trump movement" Trump said the other day he did not believe there would be violence at the RNC. If Trump wanted to use the word violence what he should have said is I will not condone or support violence in any form at the convention. Saying he did not believe there would be violence is not a very strong message.
The conservative ideology of the republican party is truly unAmerican in practice because it believes there is no boundary in achieving its radical and extreme agenda even if it means holding the people and the government hostage by shutting it down. Today's republican party will not survive or live to govern effectively if they fail to realize that America and democracy are inclusive, that all people should be able to live the American dream and diversity is American's strength. No one can live in the past and the future needs to be embraced because it is the future for our children and grand children.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, April 21, 2016
MSNBC's Love Affair With Donald Trump
MSNBC's coverage of Tuesday's New York presidential primary continued the networks love affair with Donald Trump and used superlatives to describe his victory over John Kasich and Ted Cruz. But the real story of Trump's win was that it was predictable, expected and the polls prior to the primary gave Trump a large lead. After all, it was Trump's state and spouting superlatives was totally phony.
Governor John Kasich won his state's primary in Ohio and Ted Cruz won his state's primary in Texas just like they were expected to do and MSNBC described those two wins as ho-hum because they knew it was predictable. The double standard by MSNBC is just another example of the networks favorite candidate who they generously give free air time to.
This writer tuned MSNBC out early because it was evident where they were going with the story. Its ironic that both Clinton and Sanders received more votes than Trump but that was never mentioned before I turned the network off. On primary election nights once the votes are counted, that is all that matters. All of the talk before and after is to fill up air time and an attempt to influence the voters with silly statements by the networks host.
In the year 2016 it can be said that television was more informative before the existence of the cable news networks. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Governor John Kasich won his state's primary in Ohio and Ted Cruz won his state's primary in Texas just like they were expected to do and MSNBC described those two wins as ho-hum because they knew it was predictable. The double standard by MSNBC is just another example of the networks favorite candidate who they generously give free air time to.
This writer tuned MSNBC out early because it was evident where they were going with the story. Its ironic that both Clinton and Sanders received more votes than Trump but that was never mentioned before I turned the network off. On primary election nights once the votes are counted, that is all that matters. All of the talk before and after is to fill up air time and an attempt to influence the voters with silly statements by the networks host.
In the year 2016 it can be said that television was more informative before the existence of the cable news networks. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Louisiana's TOPS Program
What is taking place today with TOPS was bound to happen. Those who have just a little knowledge of budgeting knew it was only a matter of time. The people and our elected officials think it is a very worth while program and the sad part of it all is the mismanagement by the previous administration and the legislature.
When government is faced with choices, elected officials have the responsibility to face the challenge of those choices and act accordingly. Governor Edwards has done that in his proposed budget concerning TOPS by recommending for the next budget year TOPS financing only about 1/3 what it had been doing because of revenue shortfalls. It brings reality to the subject matter for the legislature to deal with. So lets look at TOPS as a worthy program that enables the state's citizens to have a Louisiana college education and stay and work inside the state instead of seeking employment out of state.
If it is a worthy program, the answers are there as to how to make it work. The first question to be answered is: Does the state have the necessary revenue to fully fund the program year in and year out. Enrollment is sure to increase and so will tuition so that has to be taken into consideration as the cost of the TOPS program will continue to escalate as it has done since the program was started.
If the answer is no then the legislature has to take the next step. Instead of funding full tuition how much can the state afford to have a reduced level of TOPS support. Could it be 20, 30 or 40% of tuition? Can a source of funding at that level be found year in and year out. Even a lesser level of TOPS funding will create a problem if a steady stream of funding is not found.
Those questions should have been answered before the program was even started. Reality then would have averted what the state is going through now. Edwards is trying to have the legislature prioritize its needs. The needy and the most important issues for the state and its people should come first. Edwards has taken the first step by himself by announcing his decision to delay some construction that the state can not afford at this time and which is not a priority.
There was no TOPS available while this writers children were of school age but I know what today's parents face. If I were a parent of college aged children I would settle for TOPS even if at a reduced benefit if that is the only thing the state could afford. That would still be a great help.
The legislature has to learn from the past failures so Louisiana's future will not be like the failed past. A crisis of ones own making can be corrected, reversed and a new progressive future can be charted. If the legislature works with Governor Edwards in due time they will be able to say, "we faced the bullet, did our jobs and took care of the business of the state and our people." If they can say that then needy programs like TOPS will be viable.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
When government is faced with choices, elected officials have the responsibility to face the challenge of those choices and act accordingly. Governor Edwards has done that in his proposed budget concerning TOPS by recommending for the next budget year TOPS financing only about 1/3 what it had been doing because of revenue shortfalls. It brings reality to the subject matter for the legislature to deal with. So lets look at TOPS as a worthy program that enables the state's citizens to have a Louisiana college education and stay and work inside the state instead of seeking employment out of state.
If it is a worthy program, the answers are there as to how to make it work. The first question to be answered is: Does the state have the necessary revenue to fully fund the program year in and year out. Enrollment is sure to increase and so will tuition so that has to be taken into consideration as the cost of the TOPS program will continue to escalate as it has done since the program was started.
If the answer is no then the legislature has to take the next step. Instead of funding full tuition how much can the state afford to have a reduced level of TOPS support. Could it be 20, 30 or 40% of tuition? Can a source of funding at that level be found year in and year out. Even a lesser level of TOPS funding will create a problem if a steady stream of funding is not found.
Those questions should have been answered before the program was even started. Reality then would have averted what the state is going through now. Edwards is trying to have the legislature prioritize its needs. The needy and the most important issues for the state and its people should come first. Edwards has taken the first step by himself by announcing his decision to delay some construction that the state can not afford at this time and which is not a priority.
There was no TOPS available while this writers children were of school age but I know what today's parents face. If I were a parent of college aged children I would settle for TOPS even if at a reduced benefit if that is the only thing the state could afford. That would still be a great help.
The legislature has to learn from the past failures so Louisiana's future will not be like the failed past. A crisis of ones own making can be corrected, reversed and a new progressive future can be charted. If the legislature works with Governor Edwards in due time they will be able to say, "we faced the bullet, did our jobs and took care of the business of the state and our people." If they can say that then needy programs like TOPS will be viable.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, April 15, 2016
Governor Edwards Gives His Budget Proposal To The State Legislature
Louisiana Governor Edwards met with House and Senate members this week and offered his much awaited budget proposal for the state's fiscal year beginning July 1. The proposal included cuts to the TOPS educational program, hospitals, prisons, public schools and other areas. It is a budget of reality that will allow the legislature and the public for once address the seriousness of the state's fiscal problems.
The governor nor the legislature wants to see those cuts take place especially the TOPS program which is pegged at a reduction of 66%/ Edwards knows this is serious business and one time money and temporary funding that won't be there in the future will not be used like in past budgets.
The House and Senate will have to bite the bullet and do the job they failed to do in the special session. The truth and facts now have to be faced with answers that truly put the state's fiscal house in order. Anything less is a failure. The current budget that ends June 30 is still $30-70 million out of balance. The budget year that begins July 1 is $750 million out of balance. Reruns of Jindal's budgets can not be tolerated.
The $8 billion of loss revenue because of tax breaks, tax credits and other goodies to business need to be closed. If TOPS, hospitals and needed services have to take a hit, so should the $8 billion. Its called fairness.The TOPS program started out costing $50 million a year and is now well over $200 million a year. If TOPS is important then the legislature has to find the financial resources to fund it with out the gimmicks or scale it back until a source of funding is found to keep the program running.
The republican controlled legislature has to correct its past budget failures and work with governor Edwards to solve the problems. Reality is what it is. Now is the time to deal with it. The fairy tale has finally been exposed and the status quo is not acceptable.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The governor nor the legislature wants to see those cuts take place especially the TOPS program which is pegged at a reduction of 66%/ Edwards knows this is serious business and one time money and temporary funding that won't be there in the future will not be used like in past budgets.
The House and Senate will have to bite the bullet and do the job they failed to do in the special session. The truth and facts now have to be faced with answers that truly put the state's fiscal house in order. Anything less is a failure. The current budget that ends June 30 is still $30-70 million out of balance. The budget year that begins July 1 is $750 million out of balance. Reruns of Jindal's budgets can not be tolerated.
The $8 billion of loss revenue because of tax breaks, tax credits and other goodies to business need to be closed. If TOPS, hospitals and needed services have to take a hit, so should the $8 billion. Its called fairness.The TOPS program started out costing $50 million a year and is now well over $200 million a year. If TOPS is important then the legislature has to find the financial resources to fund it with out the gimmicks or scale it back until a source of funding is found to keep the program running.
The republican controlled legislature has to correct its past budget failures and work with governor Edwards to solve the problems. Reality is what it is. Now is the time to deal with it. The fairy tale has finally been exposed and the status quo is not acceptable.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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