Governor John Bel Edwards has issued the call for the year’s third special session that will kick off June 18th, at 4PM, and must wrap up by 6PM on June 27th. The Governor also signed transparency legislation. One of the transparency bills is Louisiana Checkbook, which would create an online resource that allows Louisianans to drill deep into agency budgets, and track every expenditure.
Edwards also put pen to a legislatively passed budget that, if not funded, would result in a 30 percent cut to TOPS, a 96 million dollar reduction in higher ed, and cuts across the board to state agencies.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections is warning that unless additional tax revenue is raised by June 30th, thousands of inmates will be released. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc:
A CDC report reveals Louisiana has seen a massive spike in suicides since 1999. Connor Ferrill has more.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Connor Ferrill”
Congressman Graves says Their close to passing the 2018 Water Resources and Development Act that would allow local governments to take over funds for the execution of protection projects from the Corps of Engineers. Congressman Graves says it’d be big for the state.