2016 Budget Crisis
June 24, 2016
The Legislature wrapped up its business for the years at 11:15 p.m. Thursday by passing a supplemental budget bill that distributes $263 million in new revenue among a variety of programs and services. That’s less than half the money Gov. John Bel Edwards sought when he called lawmakers into a special session.
June 23, 2016
Senate President John Alario announced this morning that he’s giving up on raising an additional $88 million for next year’s budget by eliminating an outdated tax deduction that flows mainly to the wealthiest households. That means the main task for legislators on the final day of the special session is dividing up an estimated $258 million that’s been raised to date.
June 17, 2016
The bad news keeps coming for the state budget. As the Legislature struggles to raise enough revenue to fill a $600 million hole in next year’s budget, now comes news that Louisiana may finish the current year with a $200 million deficit.
June 13, 2016
As if it wasn’t hard enough under normal circumstances to raise revenue in the Louisiana Legislature, the current session is happening amid record levels of mistrust between the House and Senate - much of it related to the tussle over the annual state construction bill.