GOP lawmakers express their concerns to state health officials over audits that show misspent dollars within the Medicaid program. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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An Opelousas man is arrested following the stabbing death of his mother. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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House Republican lawmakers grilled state health officials about the growing Medicaid budget and whether the state is doing enough to prevent waste or misspending. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds is concerned the health department’s budget is set to grow by another billion dollars
Cut 3 (12) “…L-D-H.”
Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says mistakes will be made with a large government program, but they are trying to control spending and pointed to the recent removal of 30-thousand people from Medicaid, because they made too much money…
Cut 4 (09) “…this program”
The House Appropriations Committee is hearing from every state agency as they put together a spending plan for next fiscal year. Edmonds says the health department’s budget is set to grow to nearly 15-billion dollars and they need confidence that the money is spent wisely
Cut 5 (11) “…we have.”
It was revealed during the hearing that 16-hundred people making at least 100-thousand dollars a year were covered by Medicaid, which is way above the income threshold. But Gee says an upgraded computer system should make sure ineligible residents are not receiving taxpayer funded health care
Cut 6 (11) “…very well”
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After failing for five months on recognizing additional revenues, the Revenue Estimating Conference adopted an income forecast that will give lawmakers an additional 110-million dollars in this year’s budget to spend and another 119-million dollars in next year’s budget. House Speaker Taylor Barras “Yes” vote broke the gridlock
Cut 7 (11) “…budget work.”
Four members sit on the Revenue Estimating Conference. Since February, Barras blocked an increase to the income forecast, because he was concerned the state may not collect as much money as projected. The House Speaker relented on Wednesday after hearing revenue projections from two different economists…
Cut 8 (09) “…we can get.”
The extra revenue recognized can help the state pay for raises for teachers and the governor also wants to put more money towards colleges and public safety programs. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is glad the stalemate over revenue projections is over with
Cut 9 (11) “…is gonna be”
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An Opelousas man is behind bars for allegedly stabbing his mother to death. St. Landry Parish Sheriff deputies arrested 28-year-old Cody James Arceneaux after receiving 911 calls from a witness inside the home and from the suspect. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says an argument quickly escalated into violence.
Cut 10 (07) “…out of control.”
The victim has been identified as Vicky Granger.
Thibodeaux says Arceneaux claims his mother tried grab the knife to stab him, slicing the suspect in the process. He then regained the kitchen knife and began to attack her.
Cut 11 (10) “…could stab her.”
Arceaneaux was transported to a local hospital for treatment, then was taken to jail.
Thibodeaux says by the time deputies arrived, they found the suspect curled up on the floor holding his hands in a bloody towel, but were too late to help the victim.
Cut 12 (05) “…we got there.”
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Democrat Charlie Greer of Natchitoches Parish is running for Agriculture Commissioner against incumbent Mike Strain, touting his 20 year career in the Ag Department, and time in law enforcement.
Greer says if elected, he would push hard for the regulated production of industrial hemp, and hemp adjacent products to revitalize the state’s lagging Ag.
Cut 13 (10) “…in it.”
Greer ran for the office in 2015, finishing with 30 percent of the vote.
Greer is blasting Strain for a series of medical marijuana delays, but Strain says he’s just following the law to ensure the product is safe for consumption. Greer isn’t buying it, and says Strain had years to get the program together.
Cut 14 (11) “…in place.”
Strain denies impeding medical cannabis progress, and recently granted approval for the growth of the first crop. Greer says the delays have been unacceptable, and proof that the commissioner is not surrounding himself with competent regulators.
Cut 15 (09) “…put that”