Associated Press - December 3, 2009 4:34 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Republican on the House Oversight committee on Thursday challenged Louisiana officials about what the state is doing to financially help itself and asked if Louisiana is becoming a "permanent ward of the federal government" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Rep. Darrell Issa said Louisiana's top income tax rate is 6 percent compared with 10.5 percent in his home state of California. He said taxpayers deserve to know what Louisiana is doing to generate revenue.

Alan Levine, health secretary under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, said the state faces unprecedented challenges, particularly from a looming cut in federal matching funds for Medicaid.

"This is something that only Congress can resolve," Levine said.

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