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Gov. Bobby Jindal’s School Voucher Plan Gets An ‘F’ For Accountability

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

A new report by the Louisiana Budget Project finds that Gov . Bobby Jindal’s plan to dramatically expand the state’s private school voucher program is lacking the strong accountability and transparency requirements that parents need to make informed decisions about their children’s educational needs.

“Private schools receiving state vouchers should be held to the same accountability standards as public schools,” says Jan Moller, director of the Louisiana Budget Project.

“Assessment tests allow parents, as well as Louisiana taxpayers, to see what results they are getting for their money.”

The report recommends that voucher schools should be required to test all their students, and that students from the worst-performing public schools should be given first priority for vouchers.

Read the full report and press release.

Posted in Budget, Education, Health Care, News/Updates, Press Release, Report | No Responses »

Statement From LBP On The Governor’s Executive Budget

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Contact:
KAREN MILLER
225.929.5266, x220
JAN MOLLER
225.929.5266 x224
225.819.7715 (cell)

STATEMENT FROM LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT ON THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE BUDGET

“This is an unbalanced budget that would kill jobs, raise payroll taxes on hard-working state employees and cut services essential to protecting the middle class and building a strong economy.

“We are disappointed that the budget continues the irresponsible pattern of meeting ongoing needs by raiding state funds set aside for specific purposes.

“Selling and privatizing state assets to meet the state’s obligations is a short-sighted approach that won’t provide the resources we need to invest in schools, transportation, public safety and other necessities for long-term growth.”

-Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller.

For more information on the Louisiana Budget Project, visit www.labudget.org.

Posted in Budget, Education, Health Care, Media Citation, News/Updates, Press Release, Revenue and Taxes, Workforce Development | No Responses »

Medicaid Supports Economic Growth, Creates Jobs in Louisiana

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Louisiana’s Medicaid program is more than a critical source of health care for families, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities. It also plays a key role in creating jobs and building a strong economy, according to a new report by the Louisiana Budget Project.

The report looks at Medicaid’s impact on Louisiana’s economy and is the second of two papers highlighting the program’s vital role in protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

Medicaid pays for 20 percent of all health care in Louisiana, and supports an estimated 57,000 jobs—from doctors, nurses and pharmacists to home-health aides and ambulance drivers. Health care is the largest single source of jobs for the state, employing 286,000 Louisianans in 2010.

“Cutting Medicaid would be terrible policy for Louisiana,” said Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller. “It would harm Louisiana’s most vulnerable citizens and put the brakes on economic growth at the worst possible time.”

Read the full report and press release and for more information on LBP, visit www.labudget.org.

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Posted in News/Updates, Press Release, Report | No Responses »

Medicaid in Louisiana: Improving Health, Protecting Children

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

It is hardly a secret that Louisianans, on average, are poorer and less healthy than other Americans. But Louisianans would be even worse off without assistance from Medicaid, the federal-state program established to expand access to medical care.

As Louisiana’s Medicaid program prepares for an era of rapid change, a new report by the Louisiana Budget Project highlights the importance of the state’s health-care safety-net for children and families, as well as the state’s economy. It is the first in a series of two papers highlighting the key role Medicaid plays in protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

Medicaid provides vital health care services to nearly 30 percent of Louisianans. In 2010, three out of five children in Louisiana received Medicaid. This means nearly 775,000 kids relied on Medicaid for everything from routine checkups to specialty care for serious health conditions.

Read the full report and press release.

Posted in Budget, Health Care, News/Updates, Press Release, Report | No Responses »

In The News

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

On November 17th, The Advocate published “Group Raps La. Tax On Poor,” a front page article highlighting a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The article gives statements from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s spokeman, Kyle Plotkin, and director of the Louisiana Budget Project, Jan Moller regarding their views on the state-level Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax credit that benefits families with low incomes.

Here is an excerpt:

A new study directs criticism at Louisiana for being among states taxing the incomes of families living below the federal poverty line. . .

. . . The study found that:

Louisiana was one of 11 states in which a single-parent family of three living at the poverty line still owed state income taxes. The poverty line for a family of three in 2010 was $17,374.
Louisiana was also one of 15 states in which a two-parent family of four living at the poverty line still owed income taxes. The poverty line for a family of four in 2010 was $22,314.
Louisiana is among 22 states where a family of three living just above the poverty line (125 percent of poverty, or $21,718 per year) pays income taxes, and one of 23 states that tax families of four earning 125 percent of the poverty line ($27,893). . .

Read the full article here.

For more information on Louisiana taxing its working poor, read “Louisiana Among Few States That Tax Incomes of Poor Working.”

Throughout last week, the Louisiana Budget Project was also cited in several media outlets throughout the state including The Town Talk, Times-Picayune, Shreveport Times, WBRZ, Baton Rouge Business Report and The Advocate.

Posted in News/Updates, Press Release, Revenue and Taxes | No Responses »

Commentary: Constitutional Amendment No. 1 Is the Wrong Prescription for Louisiana

Friday, November 11th, 2011

A proposed constitutional amendment on Louisiana’s November 19 statewide ballot to prohibit taxes on the sale of homes or businesses would damage the ability of state and local governments to provide revenue needed to support health care, education, and other essential services.

Here is an excerpt:

Real estate transfer taxes (RETTs) are charged on the sale of immovable property, such as homes or businesses, and are generally paid by buyers. Louisiana is among 37 states and Washington, D.C. with some form of real estate transfer tax, either at the state or local level. . .

. . . While there is currently no movement to establish RETTs outside Orleans Parish, a Constitutional prohibition against all such taxes would unnecessarily tie the hands of future policymakers at the state and local level as they grapple with budget challenges. . .

. . . As state government continues to retrench, it has been asking parishes and municipalities to shoulder an ever-increasing share of the cost for public education, transportation and other critical services. Parishes need more flexibility, not less, as they cope with these challenges. Amendment 1 is a step in the wrong direction.

To read the full commentary, go to www.labudget.org and read “Constitutional Amendment No. 1 Would Make It Harder To Provide Essential Public Services.”

Posted in Budget, Education, Health Care, News/Updates, Outreach/Advocacy, Press Release, Report, Revenue and Taxes | 1 Response »

Amendment No. 4: A Sensible Solution to Stabilize the Rainy Day Fund

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

A recent commentary by the Louisiana Budget Project urges voters to approve Amendment No. 4 on the October 22nd primary ballot. The measure is sound fiscal policy that will both strengthen the Rainy Day Fund and allow for greater flexibility in future budget shortfalls.

Amendment No. 4 institutes a more specific repayment schedule for Louisiana’s Rainy Day Fund, a savings account that can be used to fill in temporary budget shortfalls in tough economic times. The proposed amendment solves an unintended flaw in how the fund is replenished. Currently, when the Legislature withdrawals money from the Rainy Day Fund, the Fund is automatically replenished with oil and gas revenues during the same fiscal year. This requirement worsens the fiscal situation it was meant to solve.

The proposed amendment would prevent money from automatically flowing into the Fund for two years after money is taken out. After that, the money taken out of the Fund would be paid back over the next three years.

“Amendment No. 4 is a prudent solution that strikes a balance between fiscal flexibility and fiscal responsibility,” says Edward Ashworth, Director of the Louisiana Budget Project. “This amendment will make it easier for the Legislature to use the Rainy Day Fund for its intended purpose to prevent cuts to critical services such as education and health care.”

Read the full commentary and press release.

Posted in Budget, Education, Health Care, News/Updates, Press Release, Report, Revenue and Taxes | 1 Response »

Leadership Transition at LBP Advances Mission, Builds Momentum

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Contact:
KAREN MILLER
225.929.5266, x220
EDWARD ASHWORTH
225.929.5266 x224
225.907.3035 (cell)

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT ADVANCES MISSION, BUILDS ON MOMENTUM

(Baton Rouge – October 4, 2011) Edward Ashworth, Director of the Louisiana Budget Project since 2009, announced his planned retirement in November and the appointment of his successor, Times-Picayune Capitol Bureau reporter, Jan Moller.

“The timing is perfect,” said Ashworth of the pending LBP leadership transition. “The Louisiana Budget Project has earned its place among the advocates for our state’s least-advantaged citizens. I’m proud of our vigorous work to encourage fair tax policy and of the very fine staff our new director will inherit.”

Begun in 2006 by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations, with guidance from the DC-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, LBP is one of more than 40 State Fiscal Analysis Initiatives that together provide research and analysis of budget issues and how they affect low- and moderate-income residents.

“Eddie’s contribution over the past two years has been transformative,” said Ann Silverberg Williamson, President and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations. “As a direct result of his leadership, LBP has become a ‘go-to’ source for independent and intelligent analysis of state fiscal issues. His work has consistently pointed our elected leaders toward economic policies that promote prosperity for all Louisianans.”

Jan Moller, who will replace Ashworth as Director in November, is an award-winning journalist with the New Orleans Times-Picayune Capitol Bureau, where he covered the state budget, health-care, higher education and races for Louisiana Governor and U.S. Senate seats.

Moller’s resume includes influential reporting and editorial posts across the country, including co-authoring with Jack Anderson the syndicated “Washington Merry-Go-Round” column that appeared in more than 300 newspapers nationwide, and Assistant Washington Bureau Chief for Parade Magazine, a weekly publication with a circulation of 20 million. As an investigative reporter, Moller’s work led to reforms in Louisiana’s nursing home regulation and to ethics violations for city officials in Nevada.

“We are fortunate to engage someone of Jan’s caliber and considerable talents,” said Ashworth. “His in-depth knowledge of state budget issues and the often opaque process of government will prove immediately beneficial. Jan has the ideal experience, professional expertise and vision to lead the Louisiana Budget Project.”

Prior to heading the Louisiana Budget Project, Ashworth was Undersecretary of the Louisiana Department of Social Services, President and CEO of the Louisiana Technology Park, and Executive Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Budget Project provides independent research and analysis of Louisiana fiscal issues and their impact on low- and moderate-income residents. For more information on LBP, visit www.labudget.org.

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