The Nation - News from Dec. 21, 1986

Louisiana’s Legislature admitted its failure to balance the state budget and gave Gov. Edwin W. Edwards unprecedented authority to cut $275 million in spending anywhere he wants. Near the end of a 16-day special session, the Senate by a bare minimum threw into Edwards’ hands authority to deal with the $188-million deficit. He could restore funds cut from some programs. Opponents said it would be better to do nothing than to give the Democratic governor such authority. The two chambers had deadlocked over whether to use taxes or spending cuts to offset the deficit brought on by declining oil revenues.