Bucking the wishes of the Senate and Edwards, the House advanced a budget package that stripped out the teacher pay raises Edwards wants, plus a number of his other priorities, and pitched using the extra money to pay down state pension debt instead.
That plan has faced questions since fiscal analysts from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration last week said they believe the House-approved budget actually exceeded the spending limit, contrary to the lower chamber’s intentions.
Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue, R-Houma, said the House would need to see what changes the Senate makes to the budget before members can decide how to vote on the expenditure limit. Zeringue chairs the House Appropriations Committee and played a leading role in shaping the House’s version of the package of budget bills.
Leave a Reply