The state Senate approved a $30 billion budget for next fiscal year and the controversy over the fetal heartbeat abortion bill spilled into the debate. New Orleans Senator and chairwoman of the state Democratic Party , Karen Carter Peterson, tried to steer more money towards the state’s foster care system, because getting an abortion will be more difficult in Louisiana.
“So the twelve-year-old child that is fifteen weeks pregnant, now has to go through with the pregnancy, give birth, then raise the child,” said Peterson.
Governor Edwards has signed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills into law. If the federal courts uphold a similar law in Mississippi, than abortions would be outlawed in Louisiana once doctors detects the heartbeat of a fetus, usually six weeks into a pregnancy. Peterson says foster care will need more money.
“Why shouldn’t we put more money in foster care, if we are dictating to a woman what she should do with her uterus,” said Peterson.
Peterson also proposed to increase state dollars for prenatal care for woman and sex education, but those amendments were defeated by both Republicans and Democrats. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says the legislature is getting close to passing a budget the can be proud of.
“We provided additional to funding to higher ed. The cuts in the Department of Education, most of those were restored and we’ve spent the money we have in the right places but we still have a ways to go,” said LaFleur.
The House and Senate still have to settle their differences with the spending plan. The Senate supports an additional $39 million for public schools, but the House seeks a higher teacher pay raise than the one proposed by the governor.
