Kelly Connelly

Frugal Committee Backs Capital Investment for Community Colleges

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:28:24 +0000

The House Appropriations Committee Wednesday approved $60 million in capital spending for the state’s technical colleges over the next five years — despite the state’s tight purse-strings.

Chairman Jim Fannin insisted that investing in the technical college system will grow the economy and the tax base.

Public School Funding Plan Rejected Twice

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Next year’s method for funding for public schools is a bit up in the air after the Senate Education Committee rejected the proposed formula from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The formula, called the Minimum Foundation Program, or the MFP, was shot down last week because of a clerical error: BESE sent the legislature a draft of the MFP rather the final version.

Lawmakers Weigh Medicaid Options

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

A House bill that aims to secure state health care spending passed out of the Senate Finance committee yesterday.

The measure would create the "Hospital Stabilization Fund," which would utilize some hospital profits to draw down more federal dollars to help with uninsured patients.

Budget Woes Left to Tackle

Kelly Connelly — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Friday, the Senate Finance Committee continued to comb through the budget, and discovered there’s a lot left to fund this session.

To get a summary, Senator Fred Mills asked Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter to detail the five top worries that keep him up at night.

Some Senators Puzzled by Tax Amnesty Solution

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:25:23 +0000

In the Finance committee Thursday Senators questioned the way the House filled the hole it dug in the proposed budget for next year. The House took out one-time money, from selling state property, court settlements, and dedicated funds, and put in a tax amnesty program.

The Legislative Fiscal Office usually considers tax amnesty revenues to be one-time money too.

Voucher Funding in Limbo

Kelly Connelly — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:32:46 +0000

Hundreds of parents, children, teachers and administrators rallied on the steps of the Capitol calling on lawmakers to find a new way to fund private school vouchers, chanting "You promised/ to put kids first."

The old way to fund vouchers was ruled unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court last week because it routed money through a formula -- called the MFP -- that is dedicated to public schools.

Southeast School District Could Cost State

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:21 +0000

A slice of East Baton Rouge Parish, south of I-12 and north of I-10, is a step closer to having its own school district.

The House Education Committee passed the set of bills needed to establish the breakaway district. Approval now falls to the Appropriations committee next to evaluate cost.

Hospital Privitization Costs Still Foggy After Auditor's Report

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:15:28 +0000

Lawmakers that have fought the Administration for more power in the process of privatizing the state’s charity hospitals may get their wish as they consider funding for the cost of laying off hospital workers.

According to a report by the state auditor’s office, the privatization will cost the state 42 million dollar in leave payouts and unemployment payments.

House Overwhelmingly Backs Budget Compromise

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:28:32 +0000

With a 95-3 vote, a nearly $25 billion budget is heading to the Senate for approval after days of negotiations. But it’s not the plan Gov. Bobby Jindal wanted.

Legislators Arrive at New Budget Compromise

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:33:50 +0000

Legislators from across the political spectrum stood on the Capitol steps Thursday afternoon touting their independence and a seeming conclusion to budget negotiations.