LA. BUDGET LEGISLATION - Louisiana’s Special Session is scheduled to end on June 4th and with less than a week to go, lawmakers in Baton Rouge are attempting to move towards resolution on the state budget. Yesterday, during the House Appropriations Committee meeting, Rep. Cameron Henry (Republican from Metarie) introduced a state operating budget that cuts higher education by $26 million dollars and funds 90% of the TOPS tuition Program. Rep. Patricia Smith (Democrat from Baton Rouge) took issue with that.
"You can have the students all you want, but if you don’t have the places and the disciplines and the
instructors - if you’re gonna reduce their funding then you’re actually working against TOPS," said Smith.
Smith also commented on Henry’s proposal that protects funding for nursing homes and safety-net hospitals, but cuts about $70-million in State General Funds from the La. Department of Health.
"Oh wow," exclaimed Smith, "you’re really trying to put poor people out." Henry responded "When the bill gets on to the floor I promise you there’s gonna be amendments to move things around as things go and that’s how the process works."
The House Appropriations Committee advanced five spending measures to the House floor, where they are likely to be taken up Thursday. If a budget isn't adopted by Monday another special session will be held to finalize state spending by July 1st. Special sessions cost Louisiana taxpayers about $50,000 to $60,000 a day.