It looks like the Governor’s education budget and teacher pay raises are back on track now that a house committee has passed the measure which includes the $39 million dollar increase in block grant money for school districts. Before House Republicans opposed the block grant funds for K-12.
The Governor’s budget would give pay raises to teachers and school support workers, while also increasing discretionary spending to K-12 school districts. The measure now needs full House approval and the session end on Thursday.
Judges will see a 2.5 percent pay raise on July 1st, with potential for more raises over the next five years as a result of bill that received final passage. Despite ultimately voting for it, Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is frustrated that Louisiana chases the southern regional average for state salaries for judges, but not for vital services.
A bill to prohibit handheld cellphone use will be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee C today. Opponents to Beaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill say there are other distractions like eating. But Huval says statistics show cell phone use is a factor in many accidents.
Cut 5 (11) “…causing multiple accidents.”
The bill requires full Senate approval before the session ends Thursday.
AAA estimates there will be a 17 percent increase in teen driver fatalities on the road over roughly the next 100 days as summer means more teens on the road.