WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - A group of unions, nonprofit organizations and health care advocates are urging Gov. Bobby Jindal and state lawmakers to consider repealing some of the more than $7 billion in tax breaks on the state's books.

The newly-formed organization, called Better Choices for a Better Louisiana, says the administration and legislators need to look at reducing "tax code spending" - not just budget cuts - to close a $1.5 billion budget gap in the upcoming 2011-12 budget year.

Leaders of the organization unveiled their recommendations Thursday. They sent letters to legislative leaders urging them to put a moratorium on approval of any new tax breaks while the state's budget troubles continue and to review existing tax credits and exemptions for possible reversal.