This is government by hostage taking like in the bad ol’ days of Edwin Edwards. The only way John Bel Edwards will release the hostages is if he gets more tax increases. |
Governor John Bel Edwards, who campaigned to fix the state budget problems with cuts, not by raising taxes on an already high taxed citizenry, spoke to the the citizens of Louisiana Thursday night. In his twelve plus minute speech, the Governor addressed the state's budget deficit of nearly $1 billion dollars…and he told Louisianans it's worse than he thought. (even though he had sat in the Louisiana House of Reps from 2008, and as minority leader since 2012 where he voted for deficit spending) So now he targets Health and Higher Education for cuts.
On the day he stopped TOPS funding for state college students, Edwards spoke in dire terms:
“I will also tell you about cuts we are facing that, without your support to fix, will close down higher education institutions all across our state."Then he he pull out all the stops and jumped with all fours squarely onto the third rail of Louisiana politics while measuring his neck for a noose by saying the cash crisis even threatens the upcoming LSU football season and more:
“…the LSU main campus in Baton Rouge will run out of money after April 30th, as will the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. There is no money left for payroll after those dates.”Governor Edwards vetoed a bill passed by the legislature in the special session that would've cut the budgets of five state boards and save millions. Beholding to unions, he has yet to propose cuts in a bloated state employee staff, or outside consultants. (Thanks Boobie Jindal)
He tried this emotional terrorism last month when he threaten to cut a program in Louisiana that helps parents of special needs children with housing, transportation, healthcare, and other essentials. The program is a valuable tool for families truly in need of assistance when developmental disabilities can take up so much of a parent’s time and resources. And, Edwards, had threatened to cut those services if the legislature didn't raise taxes.
They Did.
After passing a 28 page bill, the state now virtually taxes everything. Besides raising sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, new taxes include things like your membership fees and dues to civic organizations like the American Legion, YMCA, Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution, local historical societies, concert tickets and Opera and Symphony memberships. But that's still not enough for John Bel.
But ya don't have to pay taxes on your food stamp purchases!
By threatening to turn off the dialysis machines at Charity Hospital and canceling the most anticipated LSU's Football season in years, the good governor has pulled the noose a little tighter. And we aren't very picky which lamp post he'll swing from.
[KEEL 710AM]
[And So It Goes In Shreveport]
[image via The Hayride.com]