By Christopher Tidmore, ctidmore@louisianaweekly.com

       The Louisiana legislative session ended on Thursday, June 25, 2009, with what some call a whimper rather than a bang. Only a few reform measures saw the light of the floor, dying in the bowls of the committee chambers, and despite a last minute deal that restored millions to higher education and health care, colleges will still see a real reduction in 5% of their funding and hospitals even more.

      Eleventh hour negotiations between House and Senate negotiators put $210 million in one-time dollars back into health care and higher education, using $86 million from the state's Budget Stabilization Fund, better known as the "rainy-day fund", $76 million from an expired insurance incentive fund, and other one-time revenue sources. The last bit of money came when legislators learned that they would receive $60 million more than expected in federal stimulus dollars for Medicaid. Twenty-nine million dollars was plugged into the 2009-10 budget, while the rest will be used the following year.

      The deal preserved much of the rainy day fund for use in in in the 2011-12 fiscal year, when revenue problems are expected to worsen significantly as federal economic stimulus dollars disappear and the state's contributions to the Medicaid program are projected to increase. The final package restores $100 million in direct state support for higher education, which had faced a potential cut of $219 million. Public colleges also would benefit from $6.5 million for endowed chairs and $5 million for needs-based scholarships.

     In total, the restorations provide a means for House and Senate negotiators to claim that they cut total state support to universities to only seven percent. When a $30 million tuition increase is factored in as well, the cuts amount to less than five percent.

      Besides the budget, the legislature tightened the laws on sex offenders and drunken drivers, signed off on a deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans, weakened the minimum standards for admission to high school, enacted tax breaks for movie producers, green energy initiatives, capital gains and investors in start-up firms, and subsidized the sale of a north Louisiana chicken plant.

      According to Good Government Watchdog C..B. Forgotston, "By the process of elimination, the leges are awarded an overall grade of "D" for the 2009 Regular Session."

     Comparing the session to a schoolroom, Forgotston noted, "The leges don't deserve a "C" because it was a less than average session. They don't deserve an "F" is because they didn't do any major damage or at least not that has been uncovered thus far."

      In his "SPECIFIC AREAS OF EVALUATION", Forgotston ranks the legislatures report card as follows:
       "Attentiveness: "U" (Unsatisfactory) The leges paid little attention to their constituents for whom they were attending classes. The House at least twice during major assignments (HBs 841 and 834 ), simply slept through the entire thing."
      "Civic Endeavors: "U" The leges spent millions of dollars on museums and conventions centers all over the state, but reduced funding to attract tourists to the state."
     "Completion of Assignments: "I" (Incomplete). Left to be completed are major assignments on healthcare reform, tax reform, spending reform, insurance reform and higher education reform."
     "Conduct: "U" The leges cannot seem to sit still. They are constantly out of their desks walking around and talking with their classmates while others are addressing the class. The Senate started a "got-you-last" game over the State Budget (HB 1). It was a bit juvenile for their age group."
      "Extracurricular Activities: "S" (Satisfactory). The leges are very sociable. However, if classes run late around meal times they sometimes become irritable. Most forget to bring their lunch money and must rely on others, usually lobbyists, for their meals. The leges manage to get an increase in what lobbyists could give them for their lunch money."
     "Honesty: "U" The leges failed to completely explain the assignments to their classmates. They answered questions for their tardy or truant classmates though it is against the rules. The House was caught constantly changing their answers (votes) on their finals. Principal Jindal promised to stop this practice, but failed to write the rules correctly. Thus, there is no legal basis to kick them out of school."
      "Knowledge of Subject Matters: "U" The leges lack a fundamental understanding of economics. They think that tax breaks for a few is good, but tax breaks for all is bad. The leges lack bookkeeping skills. They believe that more spending rather than cutting costs is the way to higher profits. Remediation would be suggested, but the leges show little interest in learning. They believe they already know everything."
     "Physical Education: "U" The leges funded a failing professional golf course [purchasing the TPC Golf Course in Westwego for $9 million], but eliminated golf teams at various colleges. They funded more tennis courts, but eliminated college tennis teams. When the leges can't get the basketball into the net, they lower the net."
      "Reading Comprehension: "U" The leges’ transcripts indicate that they should be able to read at grade level. However, they failed to demonstrate significant reading ability or reading comprehension."
      "Work Habits: "U" The leges showed little ability to work independently. They had to ask Principal Jindal or one of the assistant principals before initiating actions. The leges put important assignments off until the last minute instead of focusing on getting their work done and going home early for the semester. They lacked a sense of priorities. They spent more time at recess than in the class."
       Finally, Forgotston concluded, "PROMOTION: The leges don't deserve to be promoted because their efforts failed to meet the minimum standard of "approaching basic" in addressing the major problems facing the people of Louisiana. It's now obvious why the leges were so determined to give "alternative" diplomas to those who were unable to satisfactorily complete the course work for a regular diploma. That may be the only way that the leges will get to the next grade. School starts again next March. Before that time, it is suggested that the leges get some tutoring. Sylvan Learning Center comes well-recommended."
     Put another way, the good government watchdog said, "The people of LA sent the leges to Baton Rouge for two months to address major issues facing us mullets such as healthcare reform, tax reform, spending reform, insurance reform and education reform.  All we got was more study commissions.  The end."

Christopher Tidmore hosts The Political Roundtable on KKAY 1590 AM Donaldsonville/Baton Rouge from 4-5 PM weekdays and on the web at www.kkay1590.com

His past columns for this year can be found at 
http://host1.bondware.com/~Louisiana_Weekly/news.php?NewsSectionId=

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