On the Louisiana House of Representatives’ last day to pass revenue-raising measures in order to close a $147 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, panelists met in the University Journalism Building’s jam-packed Holliday Forum Monday to discuss budgetary solutions.

With two days left in the current special legislative session, a substantial fiscal gap for this year and an even bigger $900 million gap for next year bode poorly for the University’s budget next year.

If the legislature fails to fill the $147 million gap, higher education and hospitals — the only two unprotected budget areas in the state’s constitution — will take on the brunt of the deficit in cuts.

“Now, there is no more time for us to express anything,” Mass communication freshman Caroline Kokenge said. “If we would have learned more about it sooner, we would have had a better chance to speak to the people working on [the budget]”

Under Gov. John Bel Edwards’ original proposal to solve the budget, higher education would receive a $42 million cut, and healthcare would endure a $64 million cut. These cuts will increase unless additional revenue is raised.

Students directed discussion from the panel,consisting of University professors Jim Richardson and Belinda Davis, Louisiana Budget Project, former director of the Louisiana’s executive budget office Steve Windham, and lobbyist Scott Kirkpatrick.

Panelists discussed the problems leading up to the state’s largest budget crisis in 30 years and the solutions before  the Legislature.

Kokenge said the forum helped her gain a better grip on the origin of the state’s fiscal problems, but she wished it would have come sooner.
Mass communication junior Zachary Barnett agreed with Kokenge, saying the forum should have occurred in February at the outset of the session.