BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — People who rely on the state for health care services and education programs are getting their turn to tell lawmakers their concerns about the threat of deep budget slashing next year.
The House Appropriations Committee has done its department-by-department review of Gov. Bobby Jindal's spending and cut recommendations. On Tuesday, it's the start of public testimony, two days set aside for the state's citizens to talk about their budget worries.
The governor proposed a $24 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
To close a $1.6 billion budget gap, Jindal proposes cuts across state agencies. He also relies on more than $500 million in tax break changes that are uncertain to pass. Even then, higher education would take a more than $200 million reduction.