Republican state lawmakers grilled the Department of Health about irregularities in the Medicaid expansion population, but it appears the policy is popular as 73 percent of Louisianans support the expansion according to the fourth installment of the 2019 Louisiana Survey.
Manship School Dean Martin Johnson says before you preface the question with any background information about costs, the policy has bipartisan backing.
Cut 12 (07) “…expansion”
The survey also found 74 percent of Louisianans support protections for pre-existing conditions in health insurance.
The survey shows support for the expansion increases even further when respondents were informed about how many people were covered by it, but Johnson says GOP support begins to collapse when the cost of the program is mentioned, something gubernatorial candidates are sure to notice…
Cut 13 (12) “…counting on”
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The Revenue Estimating Conference’s updated revenue forecast gives lawmakers 110 million dollars extra to spend for this fiscal year, and 119 million dollars more for the next fiscal year.
Everyone at the Capitol appears ready to back a 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise, and 500 dollar support personnel pay raise, which could eat up most of these newly surplus funds. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if the raise passes, funds will be tight.
Cut 11 (10) “…today.”
The forecast showed a 308 million dollar budget surplus from the fiscal year ending on June 30th.
The governor was away from the capitol addressing the arrest of 21-year-old Holden Matthews in the St. Landry Church arsons. The governor says the crime was shocking, and almost impossible to comprehend.
Cut 6 (12) “…evil acts”