This week's Third Place features Steve Spires of the Louisiana Budget Project and the looming Louisiana state government fiscal crisis. Steve and host David Brown cover what's expected from Louisiana governor Jindal's proposed budget, the $1.6 billion deficit, and massive cuts proposed to higher education and public health care. They discuss the negative impact on state revenues of the repeal of the Stelly tax plan, low energy prices, huge corporate tax breaks, and the limits of governor Jindal's "gimmicks" to patch over past budget shortfalls in recent years. The interview also addresses possibilities for raising revenue through reforming tax breaks, the threat of shutting down entire universities, and the chances of changing Louisiana's fiscal priorities from the tax cut-and-slash services status-quo.
