Jindal budget chief warns of budget cuts

The governor's top financial architect, Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis, is asking cabinet secretaries and agency chiefs to consider policy changes and program eliminations as they suggest ways to trim a 1 billion budget gap projected for next fiscal year.

The administration also is weighing a possible freeze in state government hiring and has asked agencies to look at reductions they could make now to help lessen costs next year, Davis said.

Gov. Bobby Jindal will submit his recommended budget to lawmakers before they return for a regular legislative session in April. He has said he won't consider a tax increase to fill the hole and balance the budget.