The Louisiana House Republican leadership states in a statement that it helped formulated a plan to solve the current year budget while a Koch-based conservative organization expressed its anger at members who voted for taxes. However, at this point, the State still has a budget deficit for next year of roughly $800 million.Here is the statement from the Republican House:
Louisiana House Adjourns Sine Die, Solves Mid-Year $1 Billion Deficit
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives adjourned from the 2016 Special Session Sine Die after formulating a balanced plan to solve the state's $1 billion dollar midyear deficit.
The House Republican Delegation worked to solve this budget deficit with a mixture of cuts, revenue, and some shortterm budget solutions. This mixture was created to be a bridge to permanent reform.
The cuts to this fiscal year's budget touched many different aspects of the state's budget, including the legislative branch, statutory dedications, and multiple state departments. The House Republican Delegation also began the process of eliminating contracts. This process will continue in the 2016 Regular Session.
The revenue measures passed by the House will help protect middleclass families and small businesses. These measures were meant to be broad so they could be spread as thinly as possible in order to protect the electorate from large increases. The House Republican Delegation led the effort to have the major business groups come to the table to discuss these revenue measures. These groups have worked with us to create temporary business revenue measures in order to fill these budget gaps.
"The House Republican Delegation was able to bring all groups to the table in order to solve this budget deficit," State Representative Lance Harris (RAlexandria) stated. "We have solved this problem and have helped mitigate most of the $2 billion deficit for next year, while saving our higher education and healthcare institutions."
State Rep. Cameron Henry, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, oversaw the budget process in the House of Representatives.
“In the upcoming session, the members of the House Republican Delegation will be working to enact permanent reforms which will structurally change how government operates — including a lower, flatter tax rate, a more transparent government, and a more sustainable approach to government pensions,” Henry said. “These proposals will help put Louisiana on a strong path toward longterm financial solvency, while making our government more citizendriven.”
The Governor has agreed to work with the House Republican Delegation on these issues.
“The House Republicans remain convinced Louisiana can emerge from this special session with unprecedented reform including budget and tax restructuring, pension reform, transparency enhancement measures, and others,” Harris said. “We will also continue our work to cancel government contracts which will save the state money. We have challenged the Governor and all members of the Legislature to remain committed to these reforms in the 2016 Regular Session.”
Here is the statement from the conservative group, Americans for Prosperity:
