JOBS SLIDE, DEFICIT GROWS - Louisiana's Chief Economist Greg Albrecht explained the news yesterday at the state budget conference in Baton Rouge that job loss is what's driving the budget deficit. He added further that the jobs lost were of the higher-paying variety from sectors like manufacturing, professional services - especially from those in the oil and gas industry. These losses can explain the associated drop in taxes collected including income and sales taxes. The losses have continued month after month, "one loss on top of the other, " he explained.