Just like so many things in Louisiana, it’s distressing to see other states doing things the “right” way.This time, it involves budget cuts. Higher education in Missouri will receive the same amount of state funds in the 2009-2010 fiscal year as it did during 2008-2009, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The only condition is those universities cannot increase tuition or student fees.What a concept.Missouri is expecting a nearly $1 billion shortfall in 2010, according to The Chronicle.Maryland is another state not cutting higher education funding.Vermont even plans on increasing higher education funds.We understand Louisiana’s constitution spells out that higher education and health care are the first to take hits during these times. And that’s not really surprising considering some of our past state leaders.But this gives Gov. Bobby Jindal an opportunity to fix something else.Though it probably won’t happen in time to save higher education and health care from big cuts, Jindal needs to push hard to change the constitution. The Legislature needs to back the move, then voters need to back the measure when it comes up for a vote.There have to be other areas where cuts make more sense. Higher education and health care are two huge and important investments. Out of the $341 million in projected cuts, Louisiana higher education needs to axe $109 million. Meanwhile, health care needs to slash $160 million.Athletics knows that to be the best, you have to shell out the big bucks. If the University wants to continue its improvement, it needs to at least have the money to spend to keep progressing.But cutting the budget isn’t a good start. We implore Jindal — and the voters, should this come up in a future election — to make this change happen.Health care and higher education should not be dealt the majority of this budget-cut burden.—-Contact the Editorial Board at [email protected]