Jeremy Alford: New session has a focus on education

Yogi Berra, who passed away just prior to last year’s gubernatorial primary, would have been a welcome addition at every entrance to the State Capitol on Monday.

"It's déjà vu all over again,” Berra could have said repeatedly to those walking into the building. To which he would have heard replies like, “Ain’t that the truth, Yogi.”

Another legislative session got underway on Monday — this time a regular session, which convened just days following the adjournment of a bitterly-fought special session. And it’s more than just the politics and personalities that are returning.

Unresolved issues are lingering, like the new dependable revenue streams lawmakers failed to create during their special session to fully address two budget shortfalls totaling $2.9 billion. In particular, for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, there’s still an $800 million gap. That’s for the budget lawmakers will be crafting during the recently-convened regular session.

Among others, colleges and universities will be fighting for their lives. Following years of historic budget cuts, and a campaign season last fall that promised a different approach, higher education is going to see some startling numbers (revised downward) in the budget lawmakers are just starting to put together.

Due to the Legislature’s operational structure, the House and Senate cannot increase taxes during an even-numbered year’s regular session, which means lawmakers will likely be back in a special session in early- to mid-June to create some cash. Presumably, that’s when higher ed’s budget gaps will be bridged. Until then, boosters, chancellors, students and professors will have to plan for worst-case scenarios.

In the meantime, there are already enough bills filed by lawmakers to reform matters related to colleges and universities to suggest that the regular session will in part be an education session. With vouchers, scholarship funding, local control and teacher evaluations expected to be part of his official agenda, Gov. John Bel Edwards will likewise have eye on education in general, and not just higher ed, during the next three months.

On the sacred cow front, there are roughly two dozen bills or so that target the popular TOPS scholarship program. There are bills that would attempt to grab gaming revenues for the program, reduce payments, enhance eligibility requirements, create a new award for tech training and increase the GPA threshold.

When Edwards said in February that TOPS may not be fully funded next fiscal year, it sent shockwaves across the state. Lawmakers reported record levels of engagement on social media and in text messages, phone calls, emails and written correspondence. It’s an issue that resonates — a new third rail in Louisiana politics — that will get people visiting the Capitol this session in droves.

Money chairmen in the Legislature are already saying TOPS will likely have to be cut in the budget, and will have to remain that way unless lawmakers return in the anticipated second special session to generate the money needed to keep it afloat. Talk about building up pressure.

There are also three bills to abolish the Board of Regents and others that pop the hood on its operational structure. For university management boards, there are bills that allow them to increase tuition and change the qualifications for appointments to the boards.

In many respects, this special focus in the regular session will serve as another referendum on former Gov. Bobby Jindal and his changes to primary and secondary education. Many of his policy hallmarks are on the table, including proposals to scale back charter schools and prohibit new school vouchers. These bills have the political gunpowder to launch mini-wars that would pit the right against the left and business against unions.

As for the personalities, two Republicans are in charge of the education committees, with Sen. Blade Morrish of Jennings overseeing the Senate Education Committee and Rep. Nancy Landry of Lafayette chairing the lower chamber’s counterpart. They may not be in favor of all of Gov. Edwards’ proposals, but they’ll be the floor leaders and pressure points for all of the important education bills this session.

For a state like Louisiana, education rightfully belongs at the heart of the regular session. And if the cuts continue, we’ll be able to fall back on yet another Yogi Berra quote: “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

Then again, old Yogi probably wasn’t thinking about the problems the Bayou State would be facing today, from sluggish oil prices and flat tax collections to unemployment and structural budget dilemmas. Yet he was right when said, “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” Still, lawmakers got the job they wanted last fall, for good or ill. So they better find a few nickels and dimes to rub together — or it’ll be a long, hot summer come sine die in June.