Landry, lawmakers eyeing budget cuts to fill projected shortfall

Governor Jeff Landry didn't get the constitutional convention he wanted. Part of that convention's planned mission was to find ways to fill a budget gap the state will face next year.

Now, Landry and his conservative colleagues in the legislature are resorting to Plan B.

"I think that's going to be a big theme next calendar year for Governor Jeff Landry and the legislature, which is decreasing the footprint of government," LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford said to WWL's Tommy Tucker.

Alford notes that Louisiana conservatives, including Landry, complain that the state government is too big. Alford says Landry and conservative lawmakers are looking for ways to shrink the projected budget hole through government cuts.

"There's a big study under way at the Department of Transportation and Development. There's another study under way at Louisiana Economic Development. There's kind of a third big study under way at the Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with a bunch of smaller agencies," Alford said. "We could see some big mergers. We could see some major cuts. We could see those departments reshaped."

Alford adds that those cuts and mergers could extend to other state departments.

"I think we're going to start seeing the budget committees start to interview other agencies and departments in the coming weeks in anticipation of the regular session next year," Alford said.