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Earlier this year, LSU-Baton Rouge began an initiative to look into methods to make its operations more effective and efficient.

Today, LSU announced the closure of university’s in-house printing services January 3, 2011.  ( See press release here.)

Apparently, LSU has just discovered that technology has reduced the demand for traditional printing.  Also discovered was that the LSU printing services has been operating at “an annual loss for several years.”

In yet another revelation, LSU has discovered that printing services are available from the private sector in Baton Rouge.

What took so long?

LSU and other institutions of higher education of Louisiana have had their budgets reduced for the last couple of years.   Before that the higher education community complained about their lack of funding.  Yet, the LSU printing operation continued to operate at a loss.

This is but one minuscule savings is one very large state institution, but it begs the question of whether LSU would have made these discoveries if it hadn’t experienced an reduction in its revenues from the taxpayers.

The same question needs to be posed to every unit of state government, especially those which demand higher taxes on US to support THEM.

Folks, such an effort by LSU to make it more efficient and reduce costs isn’t rocket science.   It’s something we mullets do every day.   The only problem is that government doesn’t seem to think it should have to do it.

C.B.

1 CB 2:21 pm

When running for governor in 2007 Bobby Jindal made the following statements about transparency in government:

Provide citizens on-line, easy-to-understand access to all sectors of state government. We should upgrade Louisiana’s sunshine laws to improve access to public records and meetings by expanding Internet-based access to filings, reports, and announcements in all departments. Source: Jindal Campaign brochure: Ethics Reform: Ending Corruption

On Wednesday, a joint lege committee heard testimony on the need to modernize LA’s Public Records Law by allowing public access to documents in electronic form. ( See story here.)

Despite agreeing with the “principle” of electronic access the only negative testimony on the idea reported was offered by “The Scholar’s” deputy executive counsel. She stated: “…[I]ts more problematic in its execution.”

In terms of government-speak such a statement is a “wink and nod” sign to the leges that “The Scholar” is not keen on the idea of the public having easier access to the public’s information.

What has happened since 2007 when “The Scholar” first proposed the idea of upgrading access to public records and today? Did “The Scholar” not think through his original idea?

This is an effort that should have been led by “The Scholar.” Instead, he seems to be trying to slow it down.

Despite the above campaign statement, the “Roads Scholar” has made the governor’s office the least transparent in the United States. That is a fact not mentioned by “The Scholar” when he travels American promoting himself.

C.B.

1 CB 1:38 pm

According to those who should know and even those who don’t know (the leges), the state is facing a “fiscal cliff” for the fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2011 in the neighborhood of $1.5 Billion.

Cliff’s beginning

What seems to be missing from the discussion is the real cause of the problem. No, it was not the repeal of the “Stelly Tax” that caused the alleged gapping hole.

It was a result of a decision by the “Roads Scholar” and the leges in the third month of their current term shortly before the 2008 Regular Session.

At the urging of the governor, the leges by a two-thirds vote raised the state’s constitutional spending “cap” ( HCR 1, 2nd E.S. 2008) by almost $1.1 Billion. Having done that, they set about bloating the 2008-09 state budget by an additional $1.1 Billion in surplus funds. (To see how your lege voted in the House go here and Senate go here to raise the spending cap.”)

The purpose of the constitutional “cap” was to insure that state spending did not grow faster than the state’s economy. That safeguard was removed. As a result government grew faster than our economy could afford.

I’m often asked, on what was the money spent. I don’t know. That’s a question for your leges. All I know is that I don’t see any improvement in the quality of life in our state. If anything the overall quality of life has gotten worse.

But for the extra $1.1 Billion in state spending, the “fiscal cliff” would be around $400 Million.  That should be easy to manage in a $29 Billion budget starting with eliminating all “earmarks” for non-state responsibilities.

Solutions?

The solution to the “cliff” from those who created it is to cut the areas of government that will cause the greatest public outcry. The proposed cuts to Higher Ed and Healthcare are NOT a result of anything in the current state constitution. Anyone who tells you so, is either ignorant or lying.

It’s time for the current governor and leges to stop blaming past governors, leges and the state constitution and start looking in the mirror.

My suggestion is to start with the state budget for 2010-11 fiscal year as proposed by the governor in February of this year. One has to assume that the budget proposed by the governor fulfilled his constitutional responsibility of funding the necessary operations of state government.

The governor’s budget contained $2.8 Billion less in spending than is in the adopted budget. That budget had NO cuts to Higher Ed and Healthcare.

You may ask on what was the extra $2.8 Billion spent. Again, I don’t know. Ask your leges; they spent it.

No public official in Louisiana has proposed a solution to the “fiscal cliff” other than State Treasurer John Kennedy.   Even if only half of his recommendations are enacted (No constitutional changes are required.) the $1.5 Billion “cliff” is eliminated.

While you are reading and hearing about the gloom and doom about the “fiscal cliff” start asking your leges some hard questions.  Don’t stop asking until you get specific answers and not just political rhetoric.   Don’t let them tell you “It’s not that easy.”   It IS that easy!   What they are really saying is that they lack the political courage to do it.

Always remember, these people work for YOU.

Change the thinking

Finally, as Albert Einstein said: “Significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

It’s time to change the current level of thinking at the Capitol. If not, it’s time for all of those responsible to resign.

C.B.

1 CB 8:00 am