![Budget Woes At The Forefront As Legislative Session Begins](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/11/Louisiana-State-Capitol-Photo-by-Chris-GraythenGetty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Budget Woes At The Forefront As Legislative Session Begins
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — With a hefty budget shortfall in an election year, lawmakers return Monday to the Louisiana Capitol to sift through difficult scenarios: slash spending to colleges and health care, or find ways to raise revenue.
They'll have to maneuver around the national political ambitions of term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is expected to announce a presidential bid after lawmakers wrap up their work in mid-June.
The two-month legislative session is expected to focus heavily on Louisiana's finances, with the state facing a $1.6 billion gap for the budget year that begins July 1.
Legislative leaders haven't coalesced behind a plan yet.
Lawmakers have pre-filed a hodgepodge of proposals to scale back tax breaks, temporarily suspend tax breaks, raise cigarette taxes, increase college tuition rates and hike fees for state services.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![WATCH: Would This Viral ‘Texas Gumbo’ Pass a South Louisiana Inspection?](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/12/attachment-Texas-Gumbo-Pepper-Belly-Pete.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Breaux Bridge Man Drowns After Car Plunges into Pond](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-16-copy.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana to be Prominently Featured at Republican National Convention](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-RNC-LOGO.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Left Lane Open, but Miles of Congestion on I-10 in Crowley After Tractor-Trailer Overturns](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2023/01/attachment-DOTD-Accident-crash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Drivers Pay More for Auto Insurance Than 48 Other States](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2020/09/traffic-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Man Indicted On 7 Counts in Murder, Kidnapping Case](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Screenshot-2024-07-12-at-4.10.22-PM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Viral ‘Boudin’ Recipe Should Have All of South Louisiana Outraged](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/08/attachment-boudin-ball.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana’s Culinary Gems: Specialty Meats Revealed](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2010/12/Meat-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Residents Have to Stand Back If a Police Officer Asks You To](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/04/attachment-GettyImages-1465558158.jpg?w=980&q=75)