Louisiana’s infant mortality crisis
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revenue
Louisiana Needs a More Equitable Approach
On March 26, 2010 the Shreveport Times published “Louisiana Needs a More Equitable Approach,” an opinion editorial by the Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) Director, Edward Ashworth.
The paper describes the increased need for state services, during a time when there are major budget cuts in state spending. The article acknowledges that the state’s fiscal issues are not due to out-of-control state spending. Revenues are insufficient to pay for the state’s growing needs, due in significant part to two of the largest state tax cuts in Louisiana history. The projected five-year cost of these tax cuts totaled $2.2 billion, including $583 million this fiscal year and $619 million next fiscal year.
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Another View of State Needs and Cutbacks
The March 25, 2010 Advocate’s Inside Report, “Another View of State Needs and Cutbacks,” focused on the Louisiana Budget Project’s recently released research paper, Louisiana’s Fiscal Crisis.
In his article, the author notes that “it’s helpful to remember—despite the protestations of the current leadership—that [Louisiana’s current fiscal crisis] is not caused just by reckless spending . . . .” The article then highlights LBP’s findings that there are insufficient state revenues to meet the state’s growing needs and that the state’s loss of revenue is exaggerated by previous cuts in income taxes, Louisiana’s large number of tax exemptions and tax breaks to businesses, and reductions in federal aid.
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Deficit Demands New Look at Taxes
LBP Director, Edward Ashworth was featured in the New Orleans Times Picayune op ed section on Thursday November 26, 2009. In the article, Mr. Ashworth argues that the state needs to take a more balanced approach to solve its estimated $2 billion budget shortfall. Rather than relying exclusively on spending cuts, the state needs to consider new sources of revenue.
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Eliminating State Income Tax
Several bills introduced in the current regular legislative session would eliminate Louisiana’s state income tax, without mandating any replacement revenues. Adoption of any of these measures would be detrimental to the state’s future.
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