The Louisiana Legislature sent Gov. Bobby Jindal a $29.9 billion state operating budget Saturday that includes extra pay for teachers and school support workers.
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Jindal initially proposed a $30.1 billion budget that emphasized workforce training, a literacy program and other initiatives.
His plan was larger than the budget his predecessor, former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, proposed for the current spending year.
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The state’s portion of the spending through the general fund actually increased 12 percent.
The budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30 wound up being $34.4 billion once federal recovery money was added in throughout the year.
For example, state general fund spending actually is expected to be $1 billion greater in the upcoming fiscal year than in the current year.
State Rep. Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans, warned lawmakers to be truthful, noting that next year’s budget is less because of the reduction in federal hurricane aid.
“Don’t misstate the facts,” she said.
As if on cue, Gov. Bobby Jindal-- who invited voters to join him in a "war against out of control government spending"-- is now celebrating "a new era in fiscal discipline". In his piece, published in the Louisiana Weekly, Jindal doesn't mention the legislative pay raise elephant in the room, which makes it a very entertaining read.
For decades, Louisiana has been subject to out-of-control spending - looking for ways to spend your hard-earned money to create new programs, waste it on pet projects, and dedicate other monies to put a future burden on taxpayers.
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In the New Louisiana, we are introducing a new era of fiscal discipline by eliminating wasteful spending that does not address our state's priorities.
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We have focused on six areas of fiscal reform that are getting our state spending under control and giving us more flexibility to invest in priorities for our state's future. As a result, we submitted a budget that reduces spending by $4.2 billion - or 12 percent less - than the current budget, eliminates 1,465 unnecessary state jobs, cuts wasteful spending, and uses surplus dollars to fund necessary one-time spending projects throughout the state.
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The importance of fiscal discipline and saving has never been of greater importance to the future of Louisiana. Despite recent increases in state revenue from record oil prices and recovery-related income and expenditures, economists expect that these conditions will soon level out, resulting in a projected deficit by the year 2010.
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As Governor, I recognize that one of my greatest responsibilities is to ensure that our money is spent responsibly and in a way that promotes short and long-term economic growth. By doing so, our New Louisiana truly will become a place where our children can pursue and realize their dreams.
Conservative commentator Jeff Crouere isn't fooled:
Republican leaders should take a closer look at what is happening [in Louisiana]. On the major planks of fiscal conservatism, less government spending and lower taxes, Jindal has not governed as a conservative. The initial budget he submitted to the Legislature was larger than his liberal predecessor. Even though the state budget is surging, fueled by rising oil and gas royalties and a large surplus, Jindal had to be dragged "kicking and screaming" to the bargaining table to give taxpayers a minimal income tax reduction. While the small [Stelly] tax cut will not take effect until 2009, the legislative pay raise will begin July 1, 2008.
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The reality is that this Governor has no conservative clothes. His admirers from afar can tout his conservative credentials all they want, but the citizens of Louisiana, who have witnessed his fumbling of the pay raise issue, know the truth.
The truth is that his conservative accomplishments are really not there, just like the emperor’s clothes.
On July 31, 2007, I invited conservative pundits to be disappointed over Jindal's hypocritical Farm Bill vote, but was almost totally ignored. Jindal described the monstrous $300 billion corporate farm welfare bill as "the most important piece of legislation" in 2007. Yet he held his vote back until the very end, after the issue was decided.
I guess that wasn't enough of a clue.
