State legislators have approved a supplemental budget bill that contains 22-million dollars for 113 projects that some say is old-school pork-barrel legislation. HB 39 contains funding for lighthouse improvements in Madisonville, construction of a sports complex in Central, and other small-ticket items. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says it’s disappointing.
“It is sort of an old-school pet projects bill where they put it on a list of 113 different items, all pet projects for local governments,” said Scott.
Other items included $500,000 for the Louisiana Leadership Institute, $639,000 for fire hydrants in Assumption Parish, and $500,000 for Opelousas parks.
Scott says the bill didn’t receive a public hearing and most lawmakers only had minutes to review it after it was presented on the House and Senate floor.
“In a state where we have such uncertain economic times ahead, uncertain revenue for the state ahead why would we be spending 22 million dollars on these types of projects?” said Scott.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the House on a near-unanimous vote despite some concerns that lawmakers had no idea what was in the legislation. House Appropriations Chair Jerome Zeringue says those criticisms are not accurate and the bill funds crucial services.
“I think it is a gross mischaracterization to call these pet projects. Do you call COVID testing a pet project or recovery work for Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes pet projects?” said Zeringue.
Zeringue also highlighted the bill sends millions of dollars in funding to various entities to help them pay for their COVID response, and three million dollars to help address public defenders’ current budget woes.
Governor Edwards says he’ll take a look at the appropriations bill before signing it and he could use his line-item veto pen.
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