Representatives Approve New State Budget

The state House of Representatives has
approved a $30 billion budget proposal for next year.
The 268-page budget bill for the new year that begins July 1
increases state spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over
the current year. But it is slightly less than what was proposed by
Governor Bobby Jindal.
During the debate Thursday, House members turned away a $26
million proposal to restore education dollars cut by the House
budget committee, but they added about $50 million in spending. The
biggest addition was to give public school support workers a $1,000
bonus that will cost nearly $49 million.
The House also agreed to cut the salary Jindal wants for
Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret. The governor wants
Moret to receive $320,000 a year, but House members refused to
raise it beyond the $245,755 paid to Moret’s predecessor.