Pat Smith
December 18, 2018
Louisiana spends less on mental health care, per capita, than 43 other states. In the absence of state investment, police are often the first responders for people facing a mental health crisis.
Number of the Day
$6,800,000,000 - Funding lost to Louisiana public schools since the state’s suspended an annual 2.75% inflationary increase in per-student spending, in 2008. (Source: Louisiana Budget Project)August 24, 2018
Shortly after Labor Day, a House-Senate conference committee will meet to debate the two competing versions of the farm bill. The main issue that could derail this important bill is a proposed work requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients contained in the House measure.
Number of the Day
192,000 - Number of Louisianans who would be affected by the punitive work requirements included in the House version of the farm bill. (Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)May 11, 2018
Gov. John Bel Edwards and Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux joined local leaders and hospital officials in a press conference on Thursday to discuss the effects that the pending state budget cuts would have on the local community.
Number of the Day
78.1 percent- Louisiana’s high school graduation rate for 2017, the state’s highest ever. (Source: The Advocate)May 3, 2018
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently keeps more than 400,000 households in Louisiana, including 407,000 children, from going hungry. A recent analysis of the House Agriculture Committee’s version of the federal farm bill lays out why it would increase food insecurity and hardship across the country.