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So many ifs, but the biggest if is that he could not have run on cutting higher ed and especially TOPS. Some will say that he didn't know. Anybody with a political pulse in this state knew how bad things were BEFORE the election. There is no new news here.Originally Posted by maverick
Cut what can be cut (besides higher ed) first. That's the simple solution, but it is being completely ignored by our lying governor and our cowardly legislature.
Jindal was a huge part of the problem. Those that played his game were rewarded with numerous pet projects - including state funded golf courses. Kennedy has been laying out the low lying fruit for years and people aren't paying attention. Someone needs to grow a pair and stand up against the tax and spend liberal that was elected and make real cuts. Jindal cut state employees and spent more to do it with contracts to outsource it. Edwards saying he was unaware is simply another lie- he was there. Dardenne sold his support to Edwards and was rewarded with a nice job and hefty raise. TOPS will not be cut out and this is a scare tactic at this point to try to force new taxes with no cuts. There should be changes in TOPS though, and it should be something that is earned- the 2.5 number I saw earlier hopefully is not the requirement (no, I haven't checked). Hopefully we will see real cuts and no new taxes, but with the idiots elected to represent us that supported this yahoo during the election, I don't have much hope.
Asked for forgiveness? He never even acknowledged what he needed forgiveness for! He's just sorry he got caught. No one in his position can preach moral values, and no one from the religious right should be quick to ignore his lack of morals.
the bold, the beautiful, theprofessor
The cuts will come from Higher Ed and Healthcare, as they always have. Most of the dedications Kennedy mentioned are not statutory, they are constitutional. Whole different ballgame. And there's no political will. Consultant fees? Chump change. Medicaid Fraud to balance a midyear cut? Sounds like a long-term project at best, and an accounting gimmick at worst. We are in a TWO BILLION DOLLAR hole.
There is little political will to increase taxes in Louisiana.
There is even LESS political will to cut out such goodies as: Sales tax Exemptions, Industry/Oil and Gas/Film tax credits, TOPS.
The taxes will happen, the run-up to it is just a show.
Yes, he admitted his mistake before he ran for Senate and again during the governors election. He asked for forgiveness.
I agree that he was sleezy for running on high morals. That's always setting oneself up for trouble...see JBE and his honor code bullshit.
Actually the "religious right" is instructed to forgive. Not sure where you get that they should not ignore his lack of morals from 15 years ago.
There is only one morally divine person that has ever walked on this earth. The religious right should worry about their own morals and "judge not lest ye be judged."
Prostitution is legal in some areas of the country.
Easy... Vote for David Vitter. There is never a reason to vote for a democrat.
I think this would be a good time to introduce the legalization of recreational use of Marijuana. With the budget getting deeper and cuts looming. If we followed what Colorado did and tax it around 30% we would see a increase in funding for all levels of education.
Sent today. Emphasis mine.
Dear Students,
Over the past eight years and as a result of the efforts of our campus community, Louisiana Tech University has made significant impacts and achieved substantial growth in the face of unprecedented financial constraints and operational challenges. These accomplishments have shown what can be accomplished when working together to create opportunities for our students and our state.
Last night, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced a shortfall of funding for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Student (TOPS) for the remainder of the 2015-2016 fiscal year.We have been notified that the State of Louisiana is resuming partial payments to the colleges and universities for TOPS awards for the Spring term.
*In the event of a funding shortfall for this fiscal year, Louisiana Tech University, NOT students, will absorb the difference.Estimated TOPS payments for Spring Quarter will be posted as normal in order for students to meet their financial obligations.*
Be assured that Louisiana Tech University will make every effort to reduce the impact on students due to the state’s current financial crisis.The impact to TOPS funding for the 2016-2017 academic school year will be determined during the upcoming legislative sessions. We will keep you updated regarding 2016-2017 TOPS funding as additional information becomes available.
Please stay active and engaged in this fight for Louisiana Tech and higher education, and I would ask that you encourage others to lend their voices and advocate on behalf of Louisiana Tech and our entire higher education community.
Thank you,
Dr. Les Guice
President
http://bobmannblog.com/2016/02/12/40...y-night-fraud/
Where do you come up with these links Maverick?
Edwards and his speech were the frauds.
The problem is "the government." Guvmint exists to serve itself and to make sure IT survives, thrives, and expands. That is the fundamental problem.
There are some very simple steps that can be taken to shrink the size of guvmint without impacting those who need services. Then it's a matter of how fast "we the people" want to right the ship. If, for instance, "the people" can stomach only a slow shrinking, then positions can be eliminated thru attrition. The savings would start slowly....perhaps measured in $hundreds of thousands the first couple of years, growing to cumulative $millions within a few years, to $tens of millions going forward.
This will NOT, on its own, solve the budget crisis, but it will help and will at least allow any guvnar, and the legislature, to go to the people saying, "we have cleaned up our house and done all we can to make state guvmint as efficient as possible....without any disruption to services, and now we have to come to you with a proposal to...."
To...what? At this point "we the people" must decide:
1. Do we want to keep ALL services and pay higher taxes
2. Keep taxes as is and cut services
3. Agree to some spending cuts and some tax increases
Then, if the guvnar/legislature would propose TEMPORARY tax increases WITHOUT an automatic renewal, I think most voters would agree. Such as:
By statewide vote, increase sales tax by ....whatever! for a period to commence on July 1, 2016 and to end June 30, 2018. Period. And that it can ONLY be extended by another statewide vote. In other words, the burden to extend the higher tax will be on those wanting to extend it, not on taxpayers to have to try to stop it. The default position will be the higher tax(es) END.
Then, after two years of state guvmint bureaucracy cuts, and higher taxes, the budget can be reviewed, and.....crisis over? If it is, then "we the people" must be diligent in not allowing the guvmint to quietly rebuild itself by adding positions, raising salaries to ridiculous levels, etc... if we do, then we only have ourselves to blame....again.
As I understand it the state of Louisiana benefited most from TOPS by keeping many of our best students in our state. Let's say for the moment that those high school graduates with aversge and above ACT scores who want to attend college will find the funding to do so in the absence of TOPS. Prior to TOPS many of those young future stars of society left our state for their higher education and for the most part never returned. TOPS turned the tide and that practice almost ceased which increased ACT scores and enrollment at Louisiana universities. Although it seems that most believe TOPS was there to help families pay for college, it was actually there to improve Louisiana by helping retain high quality students who would study then live in and raise the intellectual level of Louisiana.
With Louisiana Tech being the most affordable university in Louisiana, there is a possibility that it could, more easily than others, reach it's enrollment goals. However continuing to increase the average ACT level will certainly be in jeopardy.
Interesting points. FWIW, I like them.
I have never viewed TOPS as being specifically good for Tech as much as for the future of the entire State of Louisiana. TOPS paid the higher tuition for lsu just as quickly as the lower tuition for Tech. So generally it is/was not in our best interest.
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