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After months of meetings that failed to yield compromises and threats of a gut-wrenching string of legislative sessions, Gov. John Bel Edwards has finally shared with lawmakers his top policy priorities and a doomsday budget proposal.
But some lawmakers who were involved with the big reveal during Monday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget were unsure about one thing: the numbers.
From how much money revenue proposals would bring in for the state to the size of the deficit the Legislature and administration must address, there were more than a few disagreements hosted by this most recent budget hearing over the inability to agree on such figures.
By law Edwards had to present a budget to lawmakers this week, which meant he also had to account for more than $1 billion in temporary tax revenue falling off of the books at the start of the next fiscal year on June 1.
Severe reductions to health care services and the TOPS scholarship program were a part of that rocky outlook, as were cuts to sheriffs, district attorneys, state parks, judges and other government stakeholders.
"This is what falling off the cliff looks like," Edwards told the committee, adding it’s not the budget he wanted.
But if lawmakers can rally around some of his revenue-generating proposals, the budget picture would improve, the governor said.
Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, the chairman of the House Republican Delegation, doubted that assessment, especially since the governor’s plan no longer calls for changes to personal income tax brackets.
Without that hefty tax alteration in the governor’s plan, Harris said the administration’s overall proposal for the 2018-2019 fiscal year still falls short by $300 million to $400 million.
"The governor's plan that’s out there now doesn't cover the shortfall," Harris said.
Acknowledging as much, Revenue Secretary Kim Robinson said later, "We have a little more work to do."
There’s also some uncertainty about how much of a boost the state would receive due to the tax changes implemented by Congress and President Donald Trump.
The governor said the state does stand to benefit from those changes, but he stopped short of placing a price tag on the new federal laws.
House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, also asked the administration for a financial analysis, or fiscal note, for each of its proposals.
The governor countered that all of his proposals have been debated by the Legislature already over the past two years and those fiscal notes are readily available for review.
Many lawmakers, however, believe fiscal notes could play a critical part in coming negotiations as Capitol players try to find common ground on how much money is needed and how much revenue would be generated by various proposals.

Edwards passes on Kennedy meeting

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy wrote to Gov. John Bel Edwards last week to "respectfully" request a meeting with him and CMS Administrator Seema Verma "to help expedite a waiver to institute work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients."
Kennedy wants work requirements and Edwards said he’s open to the idea.
Kennedy also wrote in the letter, "The consultant the state recently hired is also welcome to join the meeting."
Edwards responded to Kennedy with his own letter a couple days later. The governor wrote that his administration not only started drafting the referenced requirements last year, but it also has already met with Verma.
Edwards also urged Kennedy to renew the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program and added that he’ll see the junior senator around, possibly at Washington Mardi Gras, which is scheduled for later this week.
"I look forward to meeting with you while in Washington, D.C., next week and discussing this and any other issues you see fit," the governor wrote.

Political History: The election that changed everything

Last week marked the 90th anniversary (Jan. 17, 1928) of a gubernatorial primary that forever changed politics in Louisiana.
The turning tide became visible when Public Service Commissioner Huey P. Long of Shreveport defeated Congressman Riley Joe Wilson and incumbent Gov. Oramel Simpson to win the Democratic nomination for governor.
Carrying 47 parishes and 44 percent of the vote, Long effectively captured the Governor’s Mansion, facing only nominal Republican opposition in the general election.
It was not Long’s first race for governor, as he had run four years earlier but finished third, behind Henry Fuqua, the Angola warden who would become governor, and Lieutenant Governor Hewitt Bouanchaud.
Later recalling that earlier 1924 contest, Long always maintained that a massive Election Day rainstorm kept his supporters home.
While he was stung by the loss, Long immediately started campaigning for the 1928 race. Privately recognizing that his north Louisiana base was not enough to win statewide, he focused his attention on Acadiana, knowing that rural, Cajun audiences would be receptive to his message of new roads and free textbooks.
Barnstorming the bayous and backroads in his bright new automobile, Long spoke to any crowd willing to invite him, often peppering his promises of social programs with biting humor and vicious personal attacks on his opponents. The crowds loved it.
The Long campaign was a family affair. The candidate’s brother, Earl, also criss-crossed southwest Louisiana as a surrogate, while back at headquarters, his 10-year-old son, Russell, was in charge of stuffing envelopes and licking the stamps.
Long’s opponents were no match for his oratory or his stamina and a coalition was formed relying on the support of New Orleans’ political ring, The Old Regulars; The Times-Picayune; and the Standard Oil Company. Strictly machine politicians, Wilson and Simpson preferred to make a only a few campaign appearances while the bosses drummed up support.
Their efforts were fruitless on Election Day, as rural voters turned out in record numbers, eager to cast their ballots for Long.
Moments before victoriously addressing his supporters, Long turned to his inner circle and said, "We’ll show ‘em who’s boss. You fellows stick by me… We’re just getting started."

They Said It

"The only people who are complaining about a town hall are the whack jobs who want to get on television."
—U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, to a reporter who asked about his town hall schedule, on a conference call

"There are some real opportunities that we can do without ruining the attractiveness of the outdoorsy-ness."
—Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, on the push to privatize state parks, in The Advocate

For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

DELCAMBRE – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Edna Saunier White at 1:30 pm Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. Fr. Gilbert Dutel will be the celebrant. Mrs. White will be laid to rest privately at a later date.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Evangeline Funeral Home on Thursday from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm, with the Rosary being recited at 12:00 pm.
Edna was born February 18, 1953 in Erath to Melby Comeaux Saunier and the late Bruno Saunier, Jr. and passed away Monday, January 22, 2018 at her residence.
Edna was a homemaker who devoted her life to the care of her family. Her proudest accomplishments were the beautiful marriage she shared with her husband Richard, and raising her daughters. She adored her grandchildren and loved spending time with them. Some of her pastimes were reading, sewing, cooking for family and friends, and caring for her three fur-babies. Edna will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and kind heart, and leaves a legacy of love that will live forever in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her husband and best friend of 47 years, Richard H. White; her daughters, Jody White DeRouen and husband Gary, and Melissa White; seven grandchildren, Stephan White, Sierra DeRouen, Payton LeBlanc, Dillon DeRouen, Averi LeBlanc, Jolie DeRouen and Eli LeBlanc; a great granddaughter, Hollyn White, and another great grandchild, Reece, expected in April; her mother, Melby Comeaux Saunier; and her sisters and brothers, Patsy Suire and husband Randal, Maggie Miguez and husband Glen, Gregory Saunier, Scott Saunier and wife Cimi and Andy Saunier and wife Maria.
Edna was preceded in death by her father, Bruno Saunier, Jr. and her grandson, Devon Paul LeBlanc.
Serving as pallbearers are Gregory, Scott and Andy Saunier, Stephan White, Dillon DeRouen, Eli LeBlanc and Glen and Max Miguez.
To view the online obituary and video tribute, and to share condolences and memories please visit Mrs. White’s memorial page at www.evangelinefuneralhome.com
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.

BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge’s rainy weather mirrored the gloom inside the Capitol Monday, as Gov. John Bel Edwards presented a 2019 doomsday budget with deep cuts in the popular TOPS college scholarship program and in state health services that he said he hopes never go into effect.
Under his proposal, TOPS would be gutted, losing all $233 million in state general funds, while the budget for higher education institutions would be slashed by $272 million. The Department of Health and Hospitals, which oversees the state’s Medicaid program and hospitals, would suffer a $488 million cut in state funding and ultimately lose $2.3 billion once federal matching funds are factored in.
“There’s not a cut in that budget proposal that I’m advocating for,” the governor said when presenting his proposal to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. “Not a single one.”
The budget calls for a $6 million cut at the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, just over 24 percent of its general fund allocation. The proposal also includes a $3 million cut from the office of the governor’s longtime Republican rival, Attorney General Jeff Landry, $13.8 million from juvenile justice services and all $19 million from public safety services.
While money for public safety was stripped from the general fund budget, the administration proposed a fee increase to make up most of the lost dollars, leaving a $5 million cut overall.
Despite major cuts, several key areas, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Children and Family Services and most of K-12 education, were spared.
The governor said he was forced to propose the cuts because a temporary one percent increase in the state sales tax, implemented in 2016, will expire in July, stripping the state budget of roughly $1 billion in discretionary spending.
While Democratic legislators were sympathetic to Edwards’ proposal, some Republican lawmakers were not convinced that the governor had looked hard enough for other possible cuts that might have less impact.
“I think there are more opportunities on the expense side,” Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, said at the budget committee hearing. “I don’t think you’ve spent the time honestly looking at our expenses. I believe there are other opportunities to reduce the budget, and I would appreciate if you would take the time to drill down and look at those.”
Republican leaders have not said much so far on what kind of fiscal reform members they would support.
Edwards, Louisiana’s only statewide-elected Democrat, told reporters over the weekend that House Speaker Taylor Barras had not told him which suggestions Republicans might be willing to back. Edwards said he expects to see a “fleshed-out” proposal from Barras before the end of the month.
The governor said that he, Barras and Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, are in agreement that they need to hold a special session in February. Edwards said he viewed that as the “most responsible” option, but he has said he is reluctant to call one if he and the GOP leaders cannot reach a consensus.
Whether a special session will start just after Mardi Gras depends on the two sides reaching an agreement. Edwards has already called four grueling special sessions over his two years as governor, and lawmakers are weary of entering another special session if their efforts might be fruitless.
“I’m not in favor of spending $60,000 a day for us to go in to have conversations about bills and then end up having them go soft,” House Appropriations Committee member Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, said late last week. “I would prefer to see us at least have something on the table.”
State law precludes the legislature from approving revenue-raising measures during even numbered years Without a special session to solve the fiscal problems, legislators will have to exact deep cuts to state services during the regular legislative session that begins in March..
A special session following the adjournment of the regular session in June also is possible. But the tight turnaround would leave state agencies and universities with little time to make adjustments before their budgets take effect July 1.
Edwards told the joint budget committee Monday that he is not in favor of a June special session.
“Let’s prove that we are not Washington,” Edwards said, referring to Congress’ failure to reach an agreement on its own budget last Friday, resulting in a federal government shutdown. He insisted to the joint committee that, despite critics’ claims, he was not using fear tactics, and that he was “confident” that no legislator will want his budget proposal to become reality.
“Tell me what aspects of my plan you can live with, and for the parts you can’t, bring me your own plan,” Edwards said. “I cannot negotiate with myself. It doesn’t work that way.”
The governor added: “There’s still time to come together and responsibly get this done. We can do this."

December 15, 1925 ~ January 22, 2018

MAURICE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Gersey “Sis” Trahan (Mrs. Adless Trahan), 92, who died Monday, January 22, 2018 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Alphonsus Cemetery with Reverend Paul Bienvenu officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Troy Noel, Trent Nugier, Shawn Dugas, Alex Noel, Brandon Noel, and Tyler Broussard. Honorary pallbearer will be Todd Noel.
She is survived by her son, Joey Trahan and his wife, Mona of Maurice; two daughters, Millie and her husband, Floyd Noel of Maurice and Nell and her husband, Clyde Nugier of Maurice; 6 grandchildren, Troy Noel, Jill and her husband, Kenny Broussard, Trent Nugier and his wife, Nikki, Todd Noel and his wife, Lisa, Hanna and her husband, Romey David, and Emily Trahan; two step-grandchildren, Shawn Dugas and Danielle and her husband, Scott Breaux; and 13 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Adless Trahan; her parents, Theo Faulk and the former Lucy Theriot; one brother, Luther Faulk; and one sister, Grace Dubois.
The family would like to thank the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Dr. Kandice Thibodeaux, and her nurses, Ryan Butcher and Laura Thibodeaux.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Trahan family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.