NOLA government money coming from disabled people
The Senate Finance Committee used an improved revenue forecast to reverse across-the-board cuts the House had planned for contracts, overtime pay and vacant positions in the 2014-15 spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
"We used everything that was available," said Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, committee chairman.
In addition to restoring dollars to areas the House slated for slashing, senators also refused many of the add-ons and spending adjustments sought by lawmakers in the House.
House-backed changes to education spending plans were undone. New dollars the House added to programs for the disabled were taken out. Cuts to the economic development department were reversed. A planned pay raise for state troopers got cut in half.
The Finance Committee approved 48 pages of changes in a matter of minutes, with only one vote of opposition, from Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge.
Claitor objected to removing dollars the House had added to health care services and pouring $4.5 million into covering Louisiana's commitment to IndyCar, which plans to start racing in New Orleans next year.
"We're taking money away from the disabled community and giving it to motor sports?" Claitor asked.
"The answer to your question, Sen. Claitor, is yes," Donahue replied.
Funding for disabled services still is slated to increase by $26 million next year, but larger increases added by the House were removed.
Gov. Bobby Jindal had promised the state incentive for the IndyCar race, but hadn't included it in his original budget proposal, so lawmakers were left to find a way to pay for it.
"There are commitments made when they get those things to come down here. I wouldn't want to renege on it," Donahue said. AP Story