Why the Furor Over State Budget Is Like Chili [VIDEO]

Lawmakers are struggling with approving a budget while facing a shortfall of more than $600 million. The House has passed a budget that would trim spending on health care and the safety net hospitals across the state.  After the House passed that budget, the Governor announced letters would be going out to nursing home recipients telling them medicaid funding cuts could force them from those nursing homes.

The Senate Finance Committee has passed a budget that would cut TOPS to 70%, but it would restore funding to nursing home patients. The Senate measure would also require all state agencies to cut their budgets by 25%.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Finance Committee this budget will mean layoffs of 2,000 state workers and the end of the SNAP Food Stamp Program in the state.

Dardenne will participate in a town hall meeting on Tuesday in Shreveport to talk about the impact of the budget on LSU Health Shreveport. This meeting begins at 11am at 915 Margaret Place (former Christus Schumpert Hospital). Dr. G.E. Ghali, the Chancellor of LSU Health and several others will be at this meeting.

All these meetings around the state about cuts got me to thinking about what this reminds me of. In my own twisted way, it makes me think of a big pot of chili and here's why: