Louisiana state Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Covington, told the Press Club of Baton Rouge this week that the Legislature should develop its own plan for dealing with a proposed $3 billion revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years.
Donahue, who chaired the Commission on Streamlining Government, said Monday that the 238 cost-cutting recommendations developed by the commission will not meet Gov. Bobby Jindal’s call for $802 million in spending cuts. Donahue said that while not all the recommendations will be acted upon, he will push for consideration of the most significant proposals.
Legislative committees will begin reviewing the recently released recommendations on Feb. 1. The Legislature will convene its 2010 session on March 29.
“I feel very strongly that the Legislature should have its own agenda for the state of Louisiana,” Donahue said in his presentation to the press club.
Recommendations developed by the commission include an across-the-board 2% budget cut for all state agencies, reducing the number of employees by 5,000 over the next three years, and reducing the number of dedicated state funds that limit lawmakers’ ability to shape the state government to meet current demands.
Donahue said several state agencies, notably the Department of Education, delayed providing information to the streamlining commission because officials knew it had only a short time to develop its list of options.
“I think part of it was a stalling tactic,” Donahue said.
