Cut 23 (12) “…without objection.” (gavel tap, followed by applause that fades out)
With that, the 2026 legislative session draws to a close, but not before lawmakers approved a 47-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st. Legislative leaders say they have allocated money to attract private industry, improve state roads and infrastructure and they continue to invest in K-through-12 education. But Erin Bendily of the Pelican Institute questions the millions of dollars that are known as legislative pet projects.
Cut 10 (09) “…things like that.”
Bendily says she’s also disappointed that the Louisiana Senate did not approve additional dollars to expand private school vouchers and teacher pay raises.
Cut 11 (09) “…on different things.”
The big story of the legislative session was the redrawing of the congressional map that eliminates a majority Black district. The chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, Edmond Jordan, had this message for his Republican colleagues before they voted on a map that will give the GOP the ability to represent five of the state’s six congressional districts.
House Governmental Affairs Chairman and New Iberia Republican Beau Beaullieu says race was not a factor in the drawing of the map.
Cut 13 (05) “…maximizes partisan advantage.”
The Advocate’s political reporter, Tyler Bridges, says Democratic Congressman Cleo Fields is the big loser in this, because he will likely lose his seat in the U.S. House.