Posted on 02/12/2016 6:02:27 AM PST by Ebenezer
Gov. John Bel Edwards laid out an absolute worst case scenario Thursday night (Feb. 11) for Louisiana if state lawmakers refuse to go along with the package of tax increases he has proposed.
In a rare statewide televised address, Edwards told viewers that the state would be forced to take extreme action -- such as throwing people with off of kidney dialysis and shutting down hospice services -- if new taxes didn't go into place over the next few months.
"The health care services that are in jeopardy literally mean the difference between life and death," Edwards said during a live address carried on several television stations.
The governor didn't stop at health care services, but also detailed catastrophic cuts to higher education. He said new revenue was needed to prevent universities from running out of money before the semester ends. LSU, the state's wealthiest higher education institution, would only be able to pay its bills through April 30, unless some tax increases went into place.
The governor went so far as to say that LSU football was also in jeopardy. He said the state would no longer be able to afford one of its most popular programs with middle class residents -- the TOPS college scholarship -- without tax hikes.
"Student athletes across the state would be ineligible to play next semester," Edwards said. "I don't say this to scare you. But I am going to be honest with you."
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Paging Dr. Weiss, you have an urgent telephone call.
Gerald LK Smith likely hit Kingfish in an attempt to take out Weiss.
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