"These subcommittees are charged with the responsibility of examining all aspects of government to determine how we can continue to ratchet down the cost of government and focus on the delivery of services to the people at a reduced price to the taxpayers," Senator Dardenne (R-Baton Rouge) said. "We have to prepare for the reality that we just don’t have the revenue to do the things we have done in the past. I don’t see further tax increases on the horizon and our most recent budget projections show that we may have a $200 million plus budget shortfall next year."

The intensive cost cutting effort comes after a difficult series of legislative sessions where lawmakers had to raise revenues, eliminate state jobs and cut state spending to avoid devastating reductions in state health care, higher education and public safety services. With that in mind, members of the cost cutting subcommittees are being asked to commit the time, effort and political discipline to take the next step.