INDReporter

All eyes on Jindal's Friday budget proposal

by Leslie Turk

Lawmakers are anxiously awaiting Gov. Bobby Jindal 's plan to address the state's $1.6 billion shortfall in next year's operating budget. Lawmakers are anxiously awaiting Gov. Bobby Jindal 's plan to address the state's $1.6 billion shortfall in next year's operating budget.

The governor will announce his proposed budget at a 9 a.m. meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. The fiscal year starts July 1.

The Advocate spoke with committee members Wednesday who said they have no idea how the governor will propose tackling the problem.

"I am looking forward to seeing it. I think it's anybody's guess. I think the only rational thing we can do is, you're going to have to make the cuts," said state Rep. Eddie Lambert, R-Prairieville and vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

State Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro and chairman of the legislative budget committee, said he expects to be briefed on the governor's proposal Thursday night. "They've been pretty quiet so far," Fannin said. "I hope he keeps the one-time money equal or less than (what) the growth in revenue is expected to be next year."

Read more of The Advocate story here.