Post by pavel on May 13, 2016 1:48:59 GMT -6
The Louisiana House set out on a tense debate over the state budget on Thursday — pitting health care versus funding for a popular college scholarship program and provoking a veto threat from Gov. John Bel Edwards.
The most dramatic move came shortly before 9 p.m. as the chamber was finishing up its work when members narrowly voted to shift funding away from the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students to fund the state’s safety net hospitals — a reversal of House budget leaders’ plans.
The House is expected to finish work on House Bill 1 on Friday, after spending more than nine hours on Thursday debating the state’s priorities as it faces a $600 million shortfall for the budget that begins July 1.
After the House passes the budget, it heads to the Senate for consideration. Typically, the two chambers hash out their differences in the final days of the session to craft a final spending plan.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15768946-154/revenue-panel-state-budget-outlook-unchanged
The most dramatic move came shortly before 9 p.m. as the chamber was finishing up its work when members narrowly voted to shift funding away from the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students to fund the state’s safety net hospitals — a reversal of House budget leaders’ plans.
The House is expected to finish work on House Bill 1 on Friday, after spending more than nine hours on Thursday debating the state’s priorities as it faces a $600 million shortfall for the budget that begins July 1.
After the House passes the budget, it heads to the Senate for consideration. Typically, the two chambers hash out their differences in the final days of the session to craft a final spending plan.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15768946-154/revenue-panel-state-budget-outlook-unchanged