[StBernard] Treasury Update

[Westley Annis]

Treasury Update

February 19, 2010

 	  	  	 
Inside This Issue	 

	

	*	. In The News...
	*	. Streamlining Commission Update
	*	. Successes
	*	. Shortcomings
	*	. What's Next
	*	. Treasurer Kennedy Reaching Out to Citizens

 	 
 	 In The News... 	 	 
 	 Shreveport Times - Budget saves higher ed from more cuts
<http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/91350.aspx> 

Town Talk - <http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/91351.aspx>
Kennedy criticizes streamlining panel for rejecting ideas
<http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/91351.aspx> 

News Star - <http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/91352.aspx>
State must rein in contracts
<http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/91352.aspx> 	  	 
Top

 	 Streamlining Commission Update 	 	 
 	 The Louisiana Streamlining Government Commission, of which
Treasurer Kennedy is a member, has made 238 recommendations to the
Legislature and the Governor in the first phase of its work to restructure
and reduce the cost of state government.  The Treasurer points to several of
the Commission's recommendations that have particular merit and deserve the
support of the Legislature and the Governor.

 	 
Top

 	 Successes 	 	 
 	 Proposals that Treasurer Kennedy believes should be implemented
immediately include the following recommendations:  

*	Sunset and start over with statutory dedications 
*	Make roads the top capital outlay priority 
*	Reduce the number of Civil Service job classifications 
*	Manage budget shortfalls without raising taxes 
*	Collect overdue money owed the state 
*	Provide tax credits to attend private schools so students in failing
public schools have a choice in education 
*	Implement the LaHIPP and the Baby Bill programs to save money on
Medicaid 
*	Require co-pays for taxpayer-funded E.R. visits 
*	Maximize Medicare teaching dollars 
*	Practice student-based budgeting 
*	Offer GED opportunities to reduce prisoner recidivism 
*	Enroll potential dropouts in Youth Challenge or Jobs for America's
Graduates 
*	Require state agencies to have no more than one manager per 10
employees   

 	 
Top

 	 Shortcomings 	 	 
 	 There are other necessary and important proposals that the
Commission considered but did not approve.  Treasurer Kennedy re-urges the
Legislature and the Governor to pass and implement them, despite the lack of
support by the Commission.  They include recommendations to:  


*	Reduce the number of state government positions by 5,000 each year
for the next three years by not filling vacancies 
*	Implement a single board of higher education 
*	Eliminate 20 percent of the state's consulting contracts 
*	Prioritize Medicaid services 
*	Require the final business plan for the proposed new Charity
Hospital in New Orleans to be approved by a vote of the entire Louisiana
Legislature 

 	 
Top

 	 What's Next 	 	 
 	 Many of the Streamlining Commission's recommendations are solid and
should be implemented at the first opportunity.  Nevertheless, in critical
instances, the Commission was too timid and too tentative, and as a result,
its efforts fell short.  Treasurer Kennedy says that despite the
Commission's reluctance to embrace all necessary changes, these
recommendations must not be allowed to fall by the wayside at this critical
juncture in the state's history of boom-and-bust revenue cycles and
ever-increasing budgets.    	  	 
Top

 	 Treasurer Kennedy Reaching Out to Citizens 	 	 
 	 Treasurer Kennedy has been talking with citizens across the state
about the work of the Streamlining Commission and the state's budget.
During the month of January, the Treasurer spoke to members of Rotary Clubs
in Natchitoches, St. Charles Parish, Bogalusa, North Ascension Parish and
Lafayette.  He also spoke to the Cortana Kiwanis Club in Baton Rouge, the
St. Bernard Kiwanis Club, the West Calcasieu Association of Commerce and the
Monroe Chamber.

If you are a member of a community organization and would like Treasurer
Kennedy to speak to your organization, please email
comments at treasury.state.la.us <mailto:comments at treasury.state.la.us> .