Louisiana House Passes $24B Budget Proposal For Next Year

BATON ROUGE (AP) — The Louisiana House has agreed to a more than $24 billion budget proposal for next year that contains fewer cuts than lawmakers had feared but still leaves some public health care programs short.

         Lawmakers voted 65-37 Thursday for the spending plan to finance government operations in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

         After starting the legislative session with a hefty budget shortfall, the House passed a series of tax changes to raise more money for state coffers. That, combined with money from improved income forecasts and other patchwork financing, would close about $850 million of the gap in the House version of the budget.

         Lawmakers estimate they need another $150 million to address the remaining list of financial needs, including money to pay for the LSU hospital privatization deals.

         – by AP Reporter Melinda Deslatte