The full senate passed the budget bill on a 26 to 9 vote. Jeff Palermo has more on the state’s spending plan that heads to the governor’s desk…
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The University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson calls this legislative session the most successful for higher ed in nearly a decade. Don Molino has more…
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The Louisiana Legislature finally passed a budget for next fiscal year. The spending plan, which fully funds TOPS and gives thousands of state workers a small pay raise, received final legislative approval in the Senate on Friday morning. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur of Ville Platte calls it a smart and reasonable spending plan that adequately funds the state’s biggest priorities.
The 28-billion dollar spending plan goes to the governor for his signature. Most state agencies are not cut, TOPS is fully funded and 38-thousand state workers receive a 2-percent pay raise. LaFleur says for the first time in nearly a decade, public colleges will not receive a cut
But Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt voted against the budget, because it uses 100 percent of the money that’s available. She would rather hold back a small portion in case of a mid-year shortfall.
Metairie Senator Conrad Appel also voted against it, because this budget plan does nothing to address the loss of over a billion dollars in temporary taxes next fiscal year.
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Arguments were heard today in a federal courtroom over state abortion laws passed last year. The Center for Reproductive Rights challenged the laws’ constitutionality, saying they violate women’s right to an abortion. Attorney Zoe Levine says they filed a motion to dismiss 7 laws that impede women’s access to safe and legal abortions.
The laws extend waiting periods, ban certain procedures and restrict what doctors can perform abortions. Executive Director for the Louisiana Right to Life, Ben Clapper, defends the pro-life laws.
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Doctors remain encouraged over the progress Congressman Steve Scalise is making as he recovers from a gunshot wound to the left hip. Director of the Trauma Unit at MedStar Washington Hospital, Dr. Jake Sava, says Scalise says the bullet did substantial damage to bones, internal organs and blood vessels.
Sava says when Scalise arrived after being shot, he was in imminent risk of death but now there is a good possibility he’ll have an excellent recovery.
Crystal Griner, a member of the Capitol Police Department, was also treated at MedStar. Sava says Griner was shot in the ankle while protecting Scalise but is now in good condition and good spirits.
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UL System President Doctor Jim Henderson says this is one of the most successful legislative sessions for higher ed in nearly a decade. Henderson says he’s thrilled lawmakers approved a budget that fully funds TOPS, after failing to do so for the first time in the program’s history last academic year.
Cut 11 (09) “shouldn’t consider”
The spending plan approved by both the House and Senate is also the first in nearly a decade that did not reduce funding to higher education. Henderson says they’re grateful to all involved in passing this budget.
Cut 12 (12) “students deserve it”
But Henderson says improvements can still be made in terms of funding public colleges. He says Louisiana is the lowest funded higher education system among southern states, and it’s not even close. He says we’re a long way from making Louisiana universities truly competitive.
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As Father’s Day is this Sunday, many families will be outside grilling steaks with Dad this weekend. Executive Vice President of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association Robert Joyner says beef prices have been declining over the past few years and the beef industry has rebounded in a big way.
Joyner says while the demand for beef is up this weekend, prices will still be affordable given the large supply of cattle.
Joyner says beef is more affordable than in years in the past and grilling up beef with Dad this Sunday is also a good source of iron and zinc. He says it looks like most families have steak on the menu this year as their Father’s Day meal.
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