Watch Gov. John Bel Edwards Special Address On the Budget [VIDEO]

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to the the citizens of Louisiana Thursday night. In his twelve plus minute speech, the Governor addressed the state's budget deficit of nearly $1 billion dollars...and he told Louisianans it's worse than he - and we- thought.

On the day he stopped TOPS funding for state college students, Edwards spoke in dire terms:

"I will also tell you about cuts we are facing that, without your support to fix, will close down higher education institutions all across our state. 

Then he said the cash crisis even threatens the upcoming LSU football season and more:

"...the LSU main campus in Baton Rouge will run out of money after April 30th, as will the Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and LSU Eunice. There is no money left for payroll after those dates."

He also addressed Louisiana's healthcare system:

"Our health care system is on the verge of imploding. The Department of Health and Hospitals is already facing severe cuts. And without new revenue, those cuts will be catastrophic."