Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed executive budget drew sharp criticism from several members of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget on Friday morning.
Jindal’s proposed budget cuts more than $1 billion from the state budget, draws on countless proposed efficiencies and reductions to programs throughout the state and includes no new general fund cuts to higher education and no new taxes. Jindal presented his proposal to the press Thursday afternoon, but today’s meeting marked its official unveiling.
The unveiling drew so many people that several backup rooms had to be used to accommodate the crowds in addition to the main meeting room.
Several committee members grilled Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater and his aides during the four and a half hour-long meeting. They argued that Jindal’s budget assumes passage of several pieces of proposed legislation, most notably a constitutional amendment that would shuffle money to fully fund TOPS.
“I think this budget is unconstitutional,” said Rep. Karen Carter Peterson.
Peterson was among several legislators who criticized the budget for using what they called “contingencies” to balance the budget.
“What happens if [the Legislature] or the people don’t pass this amendment?” Peterson demanded. “You won’t have TOPS fully funded.”
Rainwater argued that, if the amendment doesn’t pass, other efficiencies and cuts will be found to fully fund TOPS.
“This administration is committed to fully funding TOPS,” he said.
Committee members also raised concerns about a host of other issues, including Jindal’s plans to raise money by selling and privatizing several state prisons and proposed tuition and fee increases for students.
Chancellor Michael Martin said in a statement that administrators are “optimistic” about what Jindal’s budget proposal could do for the University, but “we have a lot of work to do over the coming days and weeks to understand exactly how the University’s budget will be affected.”
Martin also encouraged faculty, staff and students to attend the Chancellor’s Forum at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Shaver Theater. Martin said he would update the campus community with any new details administrators may have about the proposed budget.
For more in-depth coverage of the meeting, read Monday’s edition of The Daily Reveille.
 
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Contact Matthew Albright at [email protected]