Baton Rouge, La. ? Gov. Kathleen Blanco warned lawmakers Sunday that the tremendous amount of work needed to help Louisiana recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina will require tough choices as they start their 17-day special session.

In a speech from the House chamber, the governor said the challenges would “test what it means to be public servants.”

Louisiana is asking for federal money and assistance, but the state must help itself, Blanco said. “Recovery will involve tough choices.”

Blanco set the tone on Saturday by cutting the state budget by $431 million, slicing from state agencies almost across the board, including a $222 million hit to health care services and a $71 million cut in spending on public colleges.

The agenda for the 17-day special session runs the gamut, from the oversight of levees to tax relief. But overshadowing everything will be the gaping hole in the state budget – a deficit estimated at nearly $1 billion in an $18.7 billion spending plan for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Legally, the session must end by Nov. 22.