State lawmakers did not receive good news in terms of higher than expected revenues to help reduce the 600-million dollar budget deficit for next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they will have to stick with the revenue estimate they have….:
cut 10 (07) “going forward”
An economist for the legislature says the state remains in an in-state recession which has led to weak employment and state revenues that have not surpassed projections.

The bill that would expand the number of diseases that could be treated by medical marijuana is moving closer to final legislative passage. It passed the House on a 62-32 vote. Those in opposition say cannabis oil is not FDA approved, but New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says federally legal drugs are not always the best option. The measure is back in the Senate for concurrence on House changes.

The Senate Education Committee rejected a bill that would allow public schools to survey high school students about sexual health. Shreveport Rep. Thomas Carmody told the panel, the survey can help determine which schools are most effective getting the message across about sex education and allow other schools to follow their example.
cut 12 (07) “local levels”
St. Tammany Parish resident Sarah Woods says this survey will not do anything to stop the sex and drugs by students..
cut 14 (10) “intimate questions”
The panel agreed with Woods and the vote was four to two to kill the bill.

One other item from the Capitol, the House has backed a proposal to allow Attorney General Jeff Landry have his own budget, but Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll veto the measure, because it’s unconstitutional.