The chairman of the committee that controls the state budget says TOPS funding won’t be slashed under his watch, bucking Gov. John Bel Edwards’ recommendation to cut Louisiana’s popular college tuition program.
“My plan is to fully fund TOPS,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry tells Gannett Louisiana. “In speaking to members of the committee TOPS is absolutely the No. 1 priority.”
Louisiana faces a $750 million hole in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget that begins July 1.
Edwards’ plan cuts TOPS funding by $184 million, which would leave about 34,500 students who qualify for the program without funding under current law.
The governor also has recommended deep cuts to health care that would result in the closure of four safety net hospitals and varying reductions to other agencies and programs to close the budget deficit.
Henry, R-Metairie, says the committee would secure TOPS funding by making deeper cuts elsewhere.
“It will require reductions in other agencies members feel are a lesser priority as well as looking at (unlocking) statutory dedications,” he says.
Henry points to the lieutenant governor’s office as an agency that could possibly stand a bigger budget reduction, although Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and his Culture, Recreation and Tourism Secretary Robert Barham say the cuts already announced will result in the closure of some state parks, historic sites and museums.
Henry says the committee also will “look at vacant positions that are funded and annualizing cuts from the last session like advertising, travel and things of that nature” to find money for TOPS.
Nungesser calls Henry’s comments concerning the lieutenant governor’s office “irresponsible.”
“It may help him get re-elected, but it’s not going to help Louisiana,” Nungesser says. “If he wants to continue to cut tourism dollars and we see a 20% reduction in tourism, we’re going to have to cut a lot more than TOPS.”
He notes tourism generated $800 million in state taxes last year.
“I get angry when people say cut tourism,” the lieutenant governor says. “It’s going to affect our ability to attract visitors to Louisiana. Why wouldn’t he call me before saying something like that?”
