It’s budget day, as the full House considers HB 1. Opinions on the current position of the bill are varied.
“HB 1 as it stands right now is an absolute disaster,” says Minden Democrat Gene Reynolds.
Monroe Democrat Marcus Hunter concurs.
“I think it’s a deplorable piece of legislation,” he says.
Baton Rouge Republican Barry Ivey thinks it’s just fine.
“I believe that, at the end, the solutions and the funding – everything’s going to work out,” Ivey said.
One of the many crucial issues is funding for the public-private partner hospitals. The Governor’s budget proposal defunded four of the nine, then House Appropriations spread the cuts around — giving each some money, but none enough.
“Obviously the pain has been spread out across the board, which I believe is a good way to do it,” Ivey says. “You’re not trying to saddle any one particular provider with a major burden there.”
But the Baton Rouge area hospital was one of those the Governor’s proposal had protected from cuts, and the private partner has been clear about walking away from the deal if there’s not enough money allocated.
Alexandria’s Chris Hazel, also Republican, is relieved his regional hospital now has some funding, rather than losing the partnership entirely.
“That would decimate us, because we don’t have another alternative,” Hazel explains, noting that the partnership contract in central Louisiana resulted in the closure of the former charity hospital building – much as happened in Baton Rouge.
Hunter, on the other hand, views the reallocations of funding as jeopardizing the entire public hospital system.
“I think it’s aimed at cuts that are to the least of us, to the people who can least afford to take care of themselves,” the Monroe Democrat states.
How will the voting go?
“Unless something changes, my vote will be no,” Reynolds says, unequivocally.
Ivey seems confident it will change – with more money available.
“There are other funds that are not currently recognized that could be used. Because the Governor and Legislature is wanting to present an honest budget, we can’t include those monies.”
And more than a few lawmakers sum up the budget bill the way Hazel does.
“We all know that it’s not a finished product, whatever we leave here. It’s going to the other side and it’s going to be eventually in conference.”