05.15.12 Members of a state Senate panel got a stark picture Monday of the impact of the Louisiana House's budget tinkering.

From layoffs at LSU to closing two Southern University campuses to shutting three prisons to reducing Medicaid provider rates, state officials told the Senate Finance Committee what would happen if the cuts to the state budget made last week by the Louisiana House remain.

Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater, the governor's chief budget aide, said he would have no choice but to cut health care, higher education, prisons and other critical state expenses despite the House's contention that the reductions could be managed by trimming travel, supplies and other costs.