state legislature

Dust Settled, State Lawmakers More Measured On Education Reforms

Amy Jeffries — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:00 +0000

Earlier this month, Louisiana's Supreme Court ruled that the way the state's private school voucher program was paid for was unconstitutional. It can't be paid for through the Minimum Foundation Formula, or MFP -- the pool of money that supports public education.

Rep. Kirk Talbot, a Republican from New Orleans who voted in favor of the education overhaul Gov. Bobby Jindal pushed hard for last year, says the missteps in the funding of the voucher program gave some in the legislature, " a little bit of heartburn."

Frugal State House Committee Backs Education Spending

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:36:00 +0000

The House Appropriations Committee Wednesday approved $60 million in capital spending for the state’s technical colleges over the next five years — despite the state’s tight purse-strings.

Chairman Jim Fannin insisted that investing in the technical college system will grow the economy and the tax base.

La. Public School Funding Uncertain

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:33:00 +0000

Next year’s method for funding for public schools is a bit up in the air after the Senate Education Committee rejected the proposed formula from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The formula, called the Minimum Foundation Program, or the MFP, was shot down last week because of a clerical error: BESE sent the legislature a draft of the MFP rather the final version.

State Lawmakers Weigh Medicaid Options

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:33:00 +0000

A House bill that aims to secure state health care spending passed out of the Senate Finance committee yesterday.

The measure would create the "Hospital Stabilization Fund," which would utilize some hospital profits to draw down more federal dollars to help with uninsured patients.

State Legislature Continues Its Session This Week

Kelly Connelly — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:30:00 +0000

The Louisiana state legislature continues its session this week. Kelly Connelly from our partner WRKF brings us this update from Baton Rouge.

On Friday the Senate Finance Committee continued to comb through the budget, and discovered there’s a lot left to fund this session.

To get a summary, Senator Fred Mills asked Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter to detail the five top worries that keep him up at night.

More State Budget Woes Left To Tackle

Kelly Connelly — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Friday, the Senate Finance Committee continued to comb through the budget, and discovered there’s a lot left to fund this session.

To get a summary, Senator Fred Mills asked Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter to detail the five top worries that keep him up at night.

Some State Senators Puzzled By Tax Amnesty Solution

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:34:00 +0000

In the Finance committee Thursday Senators questioned the way the House filled the hole it dug in the proposed budget for next year. The House took out one-time money, from selling state property, court settlements, and dedicated funds, and put in a tax amnesty program.

The Legislative Fiscal Office usually considers tax amnesty revenues to be one-time money too.

School Voucher Funding Up In The Air

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:32:00 +0000

Hundreds of parents, children, teachers and administrators rallied on the steps of the Capitol calling on lawmakers to find a new way to fund private school vouchers, chanting "You promised/ to put kids first."

The old way to fund vouchers was ruled unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court last week because it routed money through a formula -- called the MFP -- that is dedicated to public schools.

Firearms Manufacturing Bill Advances In State Senate

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:38:00 +0000

A bill that would allow gun buyers and sellers to circumvent any federal firearm ban if a gun is manufactured in-state has advanced in the Senate.

La. Hospital Privitization Costs Still Foggy After Auditor's Report

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:41:00 +0000

Lawmakers that have fought the Administration for more power in the process of privatizing the state’s charity hospitals may get their wish as they consider funding for the cost of laying off hospital workers.

According to a report by the state auditor’s office, the privatization will cost the state 42 million dollar in leave payouts and unemployment payments.