Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White regrets signing off on a budget that slashed state funding to the Louisiana Department of Health by 100-million dollars. On the final day of the session, budget negotiations went right up until a six o’clock deadline and White admits he paid too much attention to the clock and not what was missing from the 45-billion dollar budget plan
Cut 10 (11) “…should not have.”
Among the cuts in a loss of services for Medicaid recipients who need outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says a mental hospital in his district would also see a cut…
Cut 12 (14) “…no sense”
Governor Edwards is expected to act next week by using his line item veto authority to remove the budget cut so the funding can be restored.

State Treasurer John Schroder says it’s time for state agencies to accept digital payments such as Venmo and Paypal. Schroder says it’s more convenient for the public…
cut 5 (11) “…tot he bank”
Schroder is working with the Cash Management Review Board on a plan for shifting to statewide agency electronic payment acceptance. He hopes to get this done before his term ends.

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed 29-year-old Donovan Bailey in St. John the Baptist Parish in 2013 has been increased to $17,500. Bailey was gunned down on East 13th Street in Reserve. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans president Darlene Causanza says those with information can and will remain anonymous…
cut 9 (12) “….the arrest”