State Lawmakers are back in Baton Rouge as a special session to repair a $304 million dollar budget hole gets underway at 6:30. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says the big question is whether the legislature will agree to use the rainy day fund…:
Cut 5 (07) “it seems”
It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate for the legislature to use the rainy day fund. Governor John Bel Edwards is proposing to use 119-million dollars from the state’s savings account. But Republican Monroe Representative Jay Morris supports cutting the budget deeper than what the governor recommended …
cut 29 (10) “…year over year”
The special session must end by midnight on February 22nd.

A resolution has been filed for the special session that seeks to expel Napleonville Senator Troy Brown from the legislature, because of two recent domestic abuse convictions. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt filed the measure along with Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor. Hewitt says anytime an elected official breaks the law, it erodes the public’s trust in all elected leaders.
cut 7 (08) “…Senator Brown”
It will take 26 out of 39 votes to expel the senator. Brown issued a statement last month saying expulsion is the political equivalent to execution. He went on to say that only 8 states have ever expelled a Senator, and it was always over more serious matters.

And Covington Representative John Schroeder says you can now report wasteful state spending to a website called Stop-Louisiana-waste-dot-com. Schroeder says he will personally view and investigate every entry.