Louisiana Legislators Prepare to Face Budget Deficit

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times







The Louisiana Legislature returns for its 2009 Regular Legislative Session on Monday, April 27. With an anticipated budget deficit and a struggling economy, state lawmakers voice their views on the upcoming legislative session and the work ahead of them.

Each of the state legislators representing Southwest Louisiana was asked to respond to several questions. For example, they were asked what their priorities were as they work to draft a final version of the budget; and, they were asked what they saw as their most difficult challenge this legislative session.

In addition, the lawmakers were asked to discuss specific bills they will be authoring/co-authoring and what they hoped to accomplish with the legislation. Also, they discussed whether or not they anticipated taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus legislation.

Finally, the legislators were given the opportunity to discuss anything else they felt was important to note about the 2009 Regular Legislative Session in April.

What follows are the responses received from state Senators Dan “Blade” Morrish and Willie L. Mount; and, state Representatives Dorothy Sue (Tramel) Hill; Mike Danahay, and John E. “Johnny” Guinn.

Senators

Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish

    District: 25

Residence: Jennings/Lake Charles

Terms served: Three in La. House of Representatives; One in La. Senate

    Contact: dmorrish@legis.state.la.us
    (337) 274-4759, Cell
    (337) 824-3979, Office

Budget priorities: To make sure that within this new budget, the legislature does as little harm to those individuals, who through no fault of their own, cannot help themselves. I speak specifically of the sight and hearing impaired, the mentally challenged and the elderly.

Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The dramatic number of major issues that will be addressed in an odd-numbered year session (Fiscal Session of only 60 days). The legislature will have last year's $800 million surplus, this year's $350+ deficit, next year's $1 to $2 BILLION deficit, and the Stimulus Package just for starters!

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: The creation of the Cheniere Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority which will include all of Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermillion Parishes. The purpose being, to provide Southwest Louisiana with one voice when bringing coastal projects to Baton Rouge and Washington D.C.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: Yes, but only when those funds are not tied to future expenditures that the State of Louisiana will not be able to afford. I would support one-time spending for highway and bridge projects, coastal protection and restoration projects and support for the agriculture industry.

     Other: This session will involve a long list of controversial issues. It is important     that I stay informed of all citizens' concerns and opinions on these issues. Please     contact my office with your concerns and suggestions as my duty is to represent     you to the best of my ability.


Sen. Willie L. Mount

    District: 27

Residence: Lake Charles

Terms served: Third term

    Contact: lasen27@legis.state.la.us, or (337) 491-2016

Budget priorities: Since the state MUST operate a balanced budget, the governor and the legislature approved state spending reductions to address this year's shortfall. State budget officials now estimate, even with the budget cuts adopted this year, that we face a $1.6 billion budget shortfall for next fiscal year to keep current state services and programs adequately funded and to meet increased costs associated with certain operations. We must balance the budget!

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: Legislators will face two different     kinds of money questions at the regular session - how to deal with the looming     budget deficit for the next fiscal year and how to best invest a sizeable budget     surplus from the last fiscal year. Both money questions are mostly the result of     changes in state mineral revenue collections, at first much higher than expected     and now much lower.

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: Bills under consideration for authoring or co-authoring include health care reform, crack down on child sex offenders, improving the state's education and workforce training programs, addressing the state's dropout rate, DWI law changes and creation of a lung cancer fund for research.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: The stimulus package will afford the state to utilize the federal transportation funds in the bill to initiate shovel-ready projects. The terms of the federal legislation require that half of the funds must be committed within 120 days and the remaining funds within a year.

     Other: Beyond the fiscal issues, debate at the 2009 Regular Session is expected to     center around on-going key issues such as workforce training, health care reform,     education, highway safety and public safety.

Representatives

Rep. Dorothy Sue (Tramel) Hill

    District: 32

Residence: Dry Creek

Terms served: First term

    Contact:  hilld@legis.state.la.us/ 1-800-259-2118

    Budget priorities: My priorities in the budget session this year are my moral     obligations to my constituents and to the people of Louisiana. I believe the     vocational technical colleges will help in training and retraining our workforce. I     am concerned about our infrastructure – highway systems, health care, education,     elderly care. This is my moral obligation to you.

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The legislators face a most     difficult and challenging session beginning April 27, 2009, because of our present     day economy along with all the tax cuts we so graciously granted last year.     Balancing the budget without hurting our elderly (those on fixed income and     retirement), our working poor and our children will be a real challenge. I pray we     can do this with the citizens of Louisiana on our minds.

    Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: At the present time, I am     working on several bills that I am interested in filing.

    Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent     economic stimulus bill: I will vote to take advantage of the federal stimulus funds.     They are jobs - jobs that will boost our economy to help our citizens and     constituents get back on their feet. Our citizens and I pay federal income taxes -     this is our money that is coming back to Louisiana for us to use in an accountable     way to improve our economy. If we use these stimulus funds in the correct way,     our companies, plants, small businesses, and timber industry will be revived and     our citizens will be back to work.
   
    Other: If the legislative and the executive branches work together in a Christian     way, we will have a very productive session.

Rep. Mike Danahay

    District: 33

Residence: Sulphur

Terms served: First term

    Contact: (337) 527-5581, or danahaym@legis.state.la.us

Budget priorities: Being that this a fiscal session and we are facing a $1.2 to $2 billion short fall in the 2009-10 budget, the goal will be to balance the budget without increasing taxes and with the least amount of interruption of essential services provided to the citizens of Louisiana.

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: Of course balancing the 2009-10     budget will take center stage this session. With the downturn in the economy and     declining natural resource revenues, the challenge for Louisiana will be to be     financially prudent with current dollars. We must also address the budget with the     future in mind. There are future financial considerations, such as health care and     education, that if not addressed today may become the crisis of tomorrow.

    Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: There are few bills I will be     filing concerning local matters. These bills will help to clean up some     discrepancies for some local entities. Other bills that will have statewide impact     are currently under consideration. 

    Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent     economic stimulus bill: Yes. I do anticipate that the state will take 
    advantage of most of the stimulus funds. It is important to note that these are     one-time monies and should not be applied to reoccurring expenses. The state     should not become dependent upon these funds.

     Other: Constitutional mandates, protections, and dedications have hampered     efforts to make meaningful changes to reform Louisiana government. There is the     possibility to begin this discussion through legislation that could be brought forth     this session.

    Rep. John E. “Johnny” Guinn

    District: 37

Residence: Jennings

Terms served: First term

    Contact: guinnj@legis.state.la.us, or (337) 824-0376

Budget priorities: The legislature does not draft a budget. The governor submits the budget to the legislature. I understand the governor's staff is still working on the document and plans to submitted it to the legislature sometimes in March.

Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The most difficult challenge this session will be to balance the budget with the projected deficit the state is facing.

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: I am still in the process of receiving request from my constituents for legislation. My legislation is still a work in progress.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: At this time the governor is still studying the rules the state would have to follow in order to accept these federal funds. I feel his decision to accept or reject federal funds will be based on what is best for the state. I will support his decision.

     Other: This session is a Fiscal Session. It is shorter session and legislators are limited to filing only five bills not pertaining to taxing matters. I feel this will serve to concentrate the legislature's efforts on finalizing a budget that attempts to serve the needs of our citizens in the best fashion possible. 

Mayor Roach Meets with President Obama; Announces Bid for Re-election

By Bill Krull






While Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana face major challenges in the coming years, Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach said no doubt exists about the region’s ability to respond. Time and again, Roach said at a news conference announcing his bid for re-election, the people have risen to the occasion and turned crisis into opportunity.

“Hurricanes Ike and Gustav came through almost three years to the day after Hurricane Rita. In the wake of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, we proved to the country that, yes, the people here did a great job after Rita but, guess what? It wasn’t a stroke of luck,” Roach told a crowd of about 200 people.

“It was because of who we were. Who we are. What we accomplished, what we’re doing to rebuild, reshape—that doesn’t just happen. Whatever the future holds, we, the people of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, we’re going to be fine, we’re going to be okay. Our strength comes from our ability to work together. We have proven our ability to accomplish great things in the midst of extreme hardship.”

The next four years will be challenging, due in part to the global economic crisis, Roach said. A prolonged recession may very well affect various phases of the community development strategy currently being implemented—public and private.

“We’ve focused on a vision of not just recovery, but of making things better. We’ve focused on the improvements needed to sustain growth that includes things like roads and water and wastewater and services, better recreation facilities for our children—the infrastructure we must have for a sustainable high quality of life,” Roach said.

Lake Charles people took a major step forward when they approved a $90 million bond issue—a community wide, comprehensive capital improvement program. Planners took extra care to build in responsibility, accountability and sustainability to ensure no barriers are created today that might hinder future growth.

The importance of such care was graphically illustrated when President Barack Obama laid down strict guidelines for the use of stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that he recently signed.

In a White House meeting with Roach and 84 other especially invited mayors from throughout the nation, the President cautioned mayors to use ARRA funds “with unprecedented responsibility and accountability.” The president’s warning was a pre-emptive strike meant to deal with a major concern about so much federal money being pumped into state and local governments in a relatively short time.

Such sustainable projects currently underway in Lake Charles include numerous construction projects for economic and community development and for roads, parks and recreation facilities for quality of life and for children. Many will be complete in 2009 and several others are in the design phase.

What it boils down, Roach concluded, is a simple matter of responsibility.
“It all translates into a very simple thing: When I was in Washington D.C. visiting with President Obama, he acknowledged that our nation is not a nation of government, it’s a nation of people. It’s a nation of people who live in communities, large and small, like Lake Charles. That’s where the real work gets done,” Roach said. “That’s where dreams are fulfilled. That is what this race is about. It’s about our dreams for our community for our children for their future.”