Trust Fund Raid Attempt Monday (Opposition from LABI, PAR and Tea Party of LA)
by JOHN MAGINNIS - LAPolitics (excerpt)

Senate to Begin Moving Trust Fund Bills

The Senate Finance Committee will hear a package of bills by Senate President Joel Chaisson II, which are keystones of the governor's agenda, to make it easier to tap into trust funds holding $3 billion.

The key bills, SB 1 and 2, would allow the Legislature to take up to one-third of the so-called Rainy Day Fund when either federal or state revenues fall by 1 percent from the previous year. Currently, only a reduction of state money can trigger using the fund. That change could give the governor and Legislature about $260 million more to appropriate in 2011-12, when state revenue will rise slightly but federal funds will plummet. Chaisson and Jindal also want to change the constitution to increase what can be cut from most dedicated funds from 5 percent to 10 percent.

Besides opposition from LABI, PAR and the Tea Party of Louisiana, the recent Southern Media polls showed 74 percent of respondents opposed changing constitutional rules to make it easier to spend money in the trust funds.

COMMENTARY: Despite being voted down 18-2 in House committee this week. The Senate Finance Committee is going to take up the Trust Fund Raid bills on Monday.

Please contact your Senator: (See 'Contact Elected Officials' in right hand column of this page to email ) or call them at 225-342-2040.