Many wonder whether or not Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards and the GOP controlled state House of Representatives will be able to work together. Edwards says he wants to invest more money into education, lower the state’s poverty rate, and stabilize the budget. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it remains to be seen if the Republican controlled House will go with Edwards’ plan or come up with their own…

cut 8 (07) “his agenda”

House Republicans handed Edwards his first political defeat yesterday by electing New Iberia Representative Taylor Barras as House Speaker.

The Governor’s Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they plan to overcome Louisiana’s monumental financial problems responsibly. Governor Edwards says he is going to start today by accepting federal funding to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. Dardenne says they’ll be working on how to implement this in an efficient way…

cut 11 (07) “happens right”

Dardenne estimates the deficit in this year’s budget, which ends July 30th, is between $700-$750 million dollars.

According to the US Army Corp. of Engineers the Morganza spillway will not be opened to divert water from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin, at this time. Spokesperson Ricky Boyett says this is good news for the people who live along the Morganza and the Atchafalaya, but they still expect some flooding in the area…

cut 5 (10) “be prepared”

He says the river is expected to only meet one trigger, which means the spillway won’t have to be used.

As Louisiana has sworn in a new governor, we also have a new Lt. Governor. Republican Billy Nungesser also has budget issues to face. He says it will take creativity and working with the legislature to change laws to create more money within tourism…

cut 13 (10) “welcome centers”

Nungesser says it’s hard to ask for money for tourism when education and other critical needs are being cut.