'Contentious session' expected

At the Acadia Parish Legislative Luncheon Monday at the LSU AgCenter, Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, Rep. Jack Montoucet and Sen. Jonathan Perry each expressed deep concern over the state’s $1.6 million deficit that awaits them when the their session begins April 13.
Morrish, talking tongue in cheek, delivered the one bit of good news.
“By June 11 it will be balanced,” he said. “We’re not the federal government. We have to get this done.”
Morrish stated that in his 19th year as a legislator that the upcoming session “may be the most contentious I’ve ever experienced.”
“The issue we need to look at is how we got there,” he added. “Four years ago our deficit was shrinking. Now it’s growing and out of control. We need to find a method where the legislators and the governor’s administration agree.”
Morrish also mentioned the controversial Common Core curriculum.
“It seems to be more of a concern in Calcasieu Parish than it is in Acadia, Cameron and Jeff Davis,” he said. “But it still affects the entire state.
“My question is, what do we have to replace it with?”
Perry spoke next and reminded the gathering that with this being an election year, people shouldn’t expect a large number of bills that may be viewed by some as “strange.”
“Any strange bills will be filed by term-limited legislators,” he quipped.
“The business leaders who elected us did so because they want us to bring them their piece of the pie,” he said.
Perry then discussed parts of the budget that feels will be cut.
“If any of you have any money invested in the state’s film tax credits, I’d sell those now,” he said. “If I had to decide on giving money to the Council on Aging or to some guy from California, that’s easy for me. Our state is third in the country behind California and New York in film production. They save money by coming here, but at whose expense?”
Perry also discussed Common Core which he described as being the “most toxic issue in my eight years as a legislator.”
“I’ve been against it throughout my term,” he said. “They are trying to develop a nationalized education system. (If this happens) there will one day be legislation to do away with local school boards.
“If I sounds like a conspiracy theorist it’s because I am,” he said to the laughter of those in attendance. “But education needs to stay local.”
Montoucet was the final speaker and the frequent Jindal critic stated that he had just received a copy of the governor’s budget.
“I’m going to buy a new Webster’s dictionary,” he said. “Because I no longer know what the term ‘no new taxes’ means. Tax programs put in place to help our business economy grow aren’t doing it. The governor wants to do away with inventory taxes, but what will the effect be on our businessmen?”
Montoucet then urged people to make their opinions known and to make their leaders aware of their positions.
“It’s important today to take part,” he said. “These decisions affect your businesses. We are all in this together.
“We’ve been giving this state away.”
Following the speeches a short question and answer session was held.
Dr. Bill Nunez asked about the contining cuts for the state higher education.
“You cannot starve us into excellence,” he said. “When will this stop?”
Prior to answering, Morrish complimented the retiring Nunez’s commitment to education during his career.
“I am not going to vote to lower higher education funding,” said Morrish. “Our Speaker of the House, Chuck Kleckly, has pledged to do the same. Our former governor, Kathleen Blanco, fully funded higher education and that money has been squandered.”
The possibility of raising the cigarette tax was also discussed.
“Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi all have a cigarette tax over a dollar,” said Perry. “In Louisiana our tax is only 30 cents. This will not solve the budget issue but it is one small way to take some of the burden off of higher education.”