(AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal may run into legislative problems for his plans to roll $128 million in proceeds from Louisiana’s tax amnesty program into next year’s budget.Jindal has said he wants to use that much money to offset health care cuts amid a hefty budget shortfall projected for the state Medicaid program in the 2010-11 fiscal year.But House Speaker Jim Tucker said Thursday he thinks most of the amnesty money should be considered “one-time” revenue. And he doesn’t think that sort of revenue should pay for ongoing programs like Medicaid.Jindal deputy chief of staff, Stephen Waguespack, said there are “creative ways” to use the tax amnesty money to help health care. For example, the state could pay down debt this year with tax amnesty money to free up the dollars that would have been used for debt payments next year.
House speaker questions Jindal’s $128 million tax amnesty plan
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November 12, 2009