The 2022 Legislative regular session begins Monday and even though it’s not a fiscal session, money will dominate the discussion over the next three months. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says lawmakers have 2.8 billion dollars in one-time revenue to spend.
“A major part of the session is going to be deciding where they spend it, savings, investments, roads, highways,” said Pinsonat.
The extra cash on hand is the result of federal pandemic aid and leftover money from previous state budgets.
Last year the governor vetoed an anti-transgender bill that would have prevented biological males from competing on female sports teams. Pinsonat says Republican legislators are determined to pass this bill and the governor may not veto it this year.
“There’s a pretty good chance that he may look at it and say let’s modify the language and let’s let it go, because you are going to stop that, all of the southern states are going to do that,” said Pinsonat.
Also back for the 2022 session is the bill that would have allowed the carrying of concealed handguns without needing a permit, safety training, and background check. The governor vetoed this legislation last year.
There are also several bills to expand the state’s medical-marijuana program. But Pinsonat says many conservative voters are still leary that this expansion is moving the state closer to the approval of recreational marijuana use.
“You may think you are voting for something that’s overall popular in Louisiana, but when you run for re-election you find 40 to 50% of the Republicans will not vote for you because you are involved in marijuana legislation,” said Pinsonat.
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