In what might be considered to be a very historical moment during the times of a major recession and cutbacks, four former Governors (Governors Treen, Roemer, Foster and Blanco) met with Governor Bobby Jindal and then with the media to discuss the budget process and the needed commitment to education.
The press conference was held Thursday morning on the 4th Floor of the State Capitol building .
Governor Jindal opened the press conference and implied that the former Governors were in agreement--the necessity to fund the flagship LSU, making opportunities for technical and community colleges, reducing the duplication of institutions and restructuring the budget process so that higher education and health care are not hit.
Jindal said he will ask lawmakers to restore approximately $100 million to the state budget for college education while the state works to reorganize and downsize institutions of higher education.
Based upon statements by the former Governor Buddy Roemer, the meeting was a product of emphasis and initiatives by his son, Chas Roemer (who sits on the BESE board) and Jim Bernhardt of Shaw Group. Recently, Chas Roemer has been critical of Governor Jindal’s focus or lack of focus on higher education.
Chas Roemer has recently said, “And the reason they do not want to focus on meaningful issues is simple and it is the reason our state continues and will continue to struggle: politics,” Roemer said in a prepared statement.
“To take on issues that matter would mean to risk some political capital — something this administration seems unwilling to do,” he said. (source The Advocate)
Each Governor went to the microphone after being introduced by Governor Buddy Roemer as being firm advocates of higher education.
There is a question, however, how higher education will be funded.
Governor Jindal said that he is looking at a separate instrument other than HB 1. However, former Governor Kathleen Blanco indicated that governors are generally reluctant to allow other funding bills to be utilized outside of HB1.
Governor Jindal said that the negotiations between the House and Senate were still going on regarding education funding and the budget. The House and the Senate have produced two separate budgets.
Governor Blanco appeared to be the Governor most willing to disagree with Governor Jindal when she said, “We cannot do more with less, you do less with less.”. Governor Blanco indicated that she was in agreement with Governor Jindal generally, but appeared to be concerned over the final budget product. However, immediately after Katrina, Governor Blanco initiated a plan to cut the budget by almost one billion dollars during a time of emergency.
Governor Jindal repeated that he was against raising taxes or deferring tax breaks.
Governor Roemer made a statement that he said the former Governors agreed upon: That the Governors were not asking higher education be cut, but were asking that it not be slashed without benefit of full review;
He suggested that slashing education would destroy higher education.
Stephen Sabludowsky Commentary: There is no question that all of the former Governors including current Louisiana Governor Jindal are concerned about the fate of higher education and desire to fund the institution efficiently. The problem is the details, the mechanism utilized and if the final method ultimately approved by the legislature and the Governor achieves the intended results. Governor Jindal again repeated his commitment to stave off increased or deferred taxes. So, the issue is how much of higher education will be cut, and what vehicle will be utilized to fund higher education. Although it was not mentioned, one can infer from the momentous occasion that much pressure is being put upon Governor Jindal to not hack higher education and to find a way to soften the fiscal blow. Governor Jindal did indicate that he could utilize the Budget Stablization Fund money to ensure higher education funding as Louisiana takes in revenues from a State Income Tax Penalty program that is being designed to entice tax payers to pay back taxes while being relieved of certain penalties for late payments. The key is to maintain education during a recession while the state finds ways to study how to make higher education more efficient and to ensure that education and health care are not the victims of the budget. Governor Jindal urged that legislation that will require a constitutional amendment be approved which will take the onus off education and healthcare.
In connection with the above, the House is currently discussing the budget. It appears that many (although certainly not all) in the House are in agreement with the Governor over the budget and both are in disagreement with the Senate. One reason that the House might pass the budget now would be so that there would be funding in place during this session and not a need for a special session on the budget. It is still uncertain how the one hundred million dollars specified by Governor Jindal as a "separate instrument" would be treated by the House and if it would be approved by the Senate. Perhaps, the ultimate question is--if the House and Governor agree upon the budget which would include education funding, does the Senate have the power and the "will" to disagree with the other legislative body and the Governor and can they muster up enough votes to override any budget line item vetoes by the Governor or the budget by the House and by the Governor. It will be an interesting week, if not an interesting day..
Update: As Bayoubuzz had reported earlier today, the House has in fact approved the version of the budget by the Louisiana Senate. Earlier today, I said, "One option is that the House would approve the Senate version allowing Governor Jindal to use his line item veto to eliminate budget items approved by the Louisiana Senate. Also, it appears that four prior Governors are meeting with Governor Jindal this morning to discuss the Budget issues."
The House did vote 69-25 in favor of the Senate budget which means that the budget now goes to the Governor who can veto or sign the budget or let it become law. Some House members preferred that the House go through conference.
Thre is still a question as to the funding for health and education since the senate version contained certain contingencies. Now, it is up to Governor Jindal. By the House voting on the budget today, this could eliminate the necessity of a special session should the Governor sign the line-item veto or sign the budget and the legislature respond within the current session. Should the Governor veto the budget, or part of the budget, the legislature would then decide whether to override the veto. There is still a possibility of a special session depending upon what the Governor does and what the legislature does.
