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In calling state lawmakers back into yet another special session just 30 minutes after the annual regular session adjourns this week, Gov. John Bel Edwards seems to have adopted the jocular admonition, ?Beatings will continue until morale improves.?

The beatings, in this case, are the painful choices that legislators must make these days: raise taxes or cut critical (and popular) programs such as public hospitals and TOPS college scholarships. Edwards is determined to keep them in session until they improve the state?s fiscal morale by raising taxes.

The governor has been accused of holding the beloved TOPS program hostage to get lawmakers to raise taxes, and that?s a fair criticism.?