BATON ROUGE - Facing resistance to more taxes, Gov. John Bel Edwards says he believes lawmakers will determine Louisiana needs additional money to protect critical programs as they struggle to craft next year's budget.

Edwards, a Democrat in office since January, reaches his 100th day as governor Tuesday still grappling with deep financial troubles.

He's trying to rally support for a special legislative session to begin in June, for lawmakers to raise additional taxes to bail out the budget for the year that begins July 1.

The governor told The Associated Press he expects once lawmakers understand the steep cuts needed to close a $750 million shortfall, they'll decide "in sufficient numbers that more revenue is necessary."

Otherwise, he says, cuts will hit the TOPS tuition program, safety net hospitals and public schools.