Representative Jim Fannin of Jonesboro completed his final session as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee just over a week ago. Now that some of the dust has settled, I asked the term-limited Republican, a former teacher, to grade the session. He gives the Legislature a C+, saying there were some hits—and some misses.
“Higher education was a hit, in that we were able to fund at the level that we did,” Fannin observed. “And, I mean, our health care was funded -- those things that we had priorities for.”
Critics have said lawmakers didn’t really fix the structural problems of state outgo exceeding state income. But Fannin says they laid some foundations.
“Tobacco tax is a structural fix, permanently,” Fannin said in defense of some of the revenue-raising measures that won approval. “I had the internet collection bill. It didn’t have a lot of revenue this year, but it structurally helps fix the budget in years to come.”
Fannin is referring to his HB 555, implementing sales tax collections for internet purchases.
What about the movie industry pushing Governor Jindal to veto the bill capping film tax credits? Fannin says the issue was thoroughly debated for many hours, in several committees, in both chambers. Saying the final decision to cap the program at $180-million per year was rushed is inaccurate.
“We’ve given over a billion dollars in tax credits to the film industry. We’ve cut higher ed by about a billion dollars. I personally think we would have had a greater value for our taxpayer by giving it to higher ed,” Fannin stated.
Fannin continues to plan for Louisiana’s fiscal future. He says lawmakers should debate a do-over of the Stelly Plan income tax brackets, repealed in 2008.
“We had plenty of money at the time. We didn’t know all of the economy was going to fall in ‘08. We didn’t know that oil was going to be half the price,” he says, reflecting the old adage that “hindsight is 20/20”. “Had we known then, it would have been easier to make the decision not to do it.”
If it sounds like Fannin expects to spend some quality time at the Capitol for awhile yet, you’d be right.
So, you’re running for state senate, Jim?
“I am. I am.”
He’s looking to win the seat being vacated by term-limited Sen. Bob Kostelka.