Regarding the collapse of the second special session in the Louisiana state capitol, Governor John Bel Edwards said, "This was a sad night for the great people of our state. You saw a minority in the House let politics take priority over people. Our state deserves better."

And it does. US News ranks states in order from best to worst each year, taking into account each state's health care, education, and infrastructure, among other things. In 2018, US News ranked Louisiana #50.

The most recent House of Representative budget that was authored contained plans to cut TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) by 10-20%, following cuts made in prior years. TOPS is a scholarship program that provides an incentive for Louisiana students to receive higher education inside the state of Louisiana.

I'm one of the students that Louisiana's deteriorating higher education budget has affected. It was cheaper for me, as it has been in recent years for many students in Louisiana, to pursue an education out-of-state.

The young, educated population is slowly being drained from the state of Louisiana, and with them goes the potential for economic redemption. The slashing of the budget for higher education is causing an overt and never-ending cycle of financial hardship that can only be solved by, as Governor Edwards said, making our representatives prioritize the people of Louisiana over the politics.