The Edwards administration has presented state lawmakers with a proposed 30-billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year that would give teachers a pay raise and increase funding for education and health care. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says funding remains uncertain, because an official forecast that shows increased revenues coming into the state has yet to be adopted.
Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked efforts to raise the income forecast.
Nobody came in to claim a million dollar winning lottery ticket that was sold in New Orleans for the August 25th drawing. Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the excitement around the lottery headquarters was high as the staff waited to see if anyone would show up in time to claim the prize that now has been put back into the unclaimed prize fund that pays off scratch offs and player promotions.
Cut 14 (06) “…it’s surprising.”
Thousands of Medicaid patients have been told they are no longer eligible for the program after a new computer system showed they no longer meet the income requirements for the government health insurance. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says most of those who no longer qualify are still considered low-wage and income workers, and may qualify for Obamacare subsidies.
Gee says the usual turnover for Medicaid is 18,000 people a month, and after running the entire database, this month was 37,000.
An agreement to begin construction on a $760 million flood protection project estimated to benefit more than 60,000 people in river parish region has been signed. Congressman Garret Graves