L’Observateur / May 30, 2000

DEAR EDITOR: I am quite concerned with some groups’ perception that simply cutting fat from various departments can solve the multi-million dollar budget crisis in Louisiana’s state government. Furthermore, we believe it is incorrect toallege the crisis is a result of a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

Of course, voters think government has a spending problem! We’ll be the first ones to agree that government can do a better job of funding its priorities. The problem is determining those priorities, funding themadequately, and finding enough money for the hundreds of projects and services that have a lower priority.

We recently commissioned a statewide poll of Louisiana citizens which shows, for the first time that we can recall, 50 percent of our citizens say they would be willing to pay more taxes to adequately fund education and health care in our state. Only 36 percent say they feel lawmakersshould make further cuts in order to balance the budget. It is becomingapparent that if we want improvements in the essential services offered by state government, we must pay our way. We believe the public is awareof this fact and is now willing to do its part for needed improvements in education and health care.

More than one-third of Louisiana hospitals operated at a deficit in 1999 and the number is growing. Further cuts on top of those made in the pastfour years will add to the deterioration of health care in our state. Pollresults already show that 70 percent of respondents feel the quality of health care has only stayed the same or worsened in the past five years.

Thus, it is no surprise that the majority of citizens don’t want further cuts in health care or education and is willing to pay higher taxes for these essential services.

The 200,000 doctors, nurses and other health care workers throughout our state are prepared to put their support and political clout behind any viable plan that will provide an adequate and sustainable source of funding for our industry as well as the state’s other priorities. We encouragelawmakers and Gov. Foster to continue their efforts to raise fundsnecessary to meet the state’s needs and to resist the option of enacting massive, drastic cuts in the health care programs as a last resort to balancing our budget.

Lynn Nicholas, president Louisiana Hospital Association Baton Rouge

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