I’ve lived in Louisiana for 65 years, save for a summer job in New Jersey, and a USAF tour of duty in Thailand. In all that time, Baton Rouge has NEVER had enough money. NEVER.
No matter if its an oil boom or bust, it ain’t never enough. The roads need fixing. The pore ‘ole schoolteachers aren’t up to the “southern average,” whatever the hell that is. The government retireds need a COLA. College professors will leave for other states if they don’t get paid more.
And on, and on, and on, and on.
Well, I don’t believe the bastards. They are PLENTY well paid, especially when their retirement and medical bennies are added in. And also when you figure they can retire on average 5 to 10 years younger than their contemporaries in the private sector.
And they damn sure are well paid when their work output is measured and compared.
Jindal’s made his share of mistakes, but trying to put the government beast in Baton Rouge on a fiscal diet ain’t one of them.
“I’ve lived in Louisiana for 65 years, save for a summer job in New Jersey, and a USAF tour of duty in Thailand. In all that time, Baton Rouge has NEVER had enough money. NEVER.”
The state budget had a billion dollar surplus when Jindal took office. However, Louisiana has the same problem as most states; corrupt politicians who overspend for personal gain and to stay in office. One of the things you mentioned, roads, is a prime example. Louisiana has the worst roads in the nation. Politicians use the tax money for their own purposes. The state group insurance plan had a five hundred million dollar, or more, surplus. Jindal did some reconfigurations and spend every bit of it. Log on to C.B. Forgotston’s site.