The state’s $39-billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st has reached final passage. House members Thursday voted concurrence on amendments made in the Senate; sending the bill to Governor Edwards’ desk. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says lawmakers did a good job of using windfalls of federal money; from the pandemic and the Infrastructure Act passed months ago.
Pinsonat says, “most of it is coming from the federal government; related to COVID, related to Biden’s package he passed late last year. so, all this money is pouring into Louisiana, and of course the taxpayers are getting a free ride because it’s not coming out of their pockets.”
Pinsonat says polling of Louisiana taxpayers indicates they approve of the Governor’s budget proposals and of how legislators dealt with them.
“They wanted the money spent properly. Fix things. Fix bridges. Fix roads…but don’t add revenue to the budget that can’t be paid for next year with existing revenue.”
The budget contains money for road & bridge improvements, $300-million toward a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge and pay raises for teachers and school staff members.
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the budget bill, but will he use his privilege of the line-item veto before he does? Pinsonat says, if Edwards does, he’ll use it sparingly.
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