It’s the first full day of the 2019 legislative session and for the first time since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, state lawmakers are not dealing with a significant budget deficit. Edwards says a two-billion dollar budget deficit has turned into a surplus.
“You won’t hear me talk about a fiscal cliff,” said Edwards. “Funding for higher education is stabilized. TOPS is fully funded and health care services aren’t on the chopping block.”
But the state republican party says Governor Edwards eliminated the budget deficit by signing the largest tax increase in the state history, just so the state can now spend it all.
Edwards says the state is much stronger and in a better place than just a few years ago. He points to recent data that showed personal income in Louisiana is the highest it’s ever been.
“More people are working and our businesses are doing better,” said Edwards. “It means that the state is producing more than ever before.”
But Republican gubernatorial opponent Ralph Abraham points to a U-S News and World report that says Louisiana was ranked as the worst state for economic opportunity last year.
However, Edwards says a recent survey out of LSU found that more people say the state is heading in the right direction compared to last year and he looks to keep the momentum going during this legislative session.
“Now, there’s still lots of work to do, but we are putting this state back on a path to more prosperity, more opportunity,” said Edwards.
