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We keep hearing that state government in Louisiana is on the brink of going off of a financial “cliff.”  Yet, The Rhodes Scholar-in-chief remains disengaged from the efforts to address what we are being told is looming budgetary revenue shortfall of $1 Billion for the fiscal year beginning next July.

The crux of the financial problem is a result of an increase in the state match for Federal Medicaid money.  The problem for next fiscal year is near $1 Billion and will increase in future years as costs and numbers of people on Medicaid grow.

The only public official who seems to be the least concerned about such a huge problem is State Treasurer John Kennedy.

Recently, we got a clue of what some suspected — the fiscal problem is not as immediate as we were led to believe.    In a story ( here) in Wednesday’s Baton Rouge paper are these comments:

[Charles Castille, undersecretary of the state Department of Health and Hospitals] said the federal government may come through with a two-year reprieve on increased state costs in the Medicaid program.

Based on reports from D.C. the “reprieve” will be a part of the deal to secure the favorable votes of Congressman Joseph Cao and Senator Mary Landrieu on the national healthcare legislation.

The Scholar is not concerned because a “two-year reprieve” will get him through the final two budget years of his administration.   Apparently, that is the only thing that matters to The Scholar.  Kennedy, on the other hand, is looking at our state’s future beyond The Scholar’s administration.

Now, we know why The Scholar is not worried.

C.B.