January 30, 2017 •
Louisiana Gov. to Call February Special Session
Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to issue a call this week to bring the Louisiana Legislature into a special session to try and close the state’s $304 million deficit. The special legislative session will run from February 13 to February […]
Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to issue a call this week to bring the Louisiana Legislature into a special session to try and close the state’s $304 million deficit.
The special legislative session will run from February 13 to February 23, 2017, but could wrap up earlier if a solution is reached. Edwards met with the joint House and Senate budget committees last Friday and faces no direct challenges to his plan.
He is in favor of using the state’s rainy day fund to bridge the budget gap and has stated there will be no proposals to do so by raising fees and taxes. However, no specifics on where cuts are intended have been announced.
An official list of proposed cuts is to be announced February 6, 2017.
January 16, 2017 •
Louisiana Special Session Likely
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Friday a special session of the legislature is likely necessary to remedy a $313 million deficit in the state’s budget. Gov. Edwards stated last week that any deficit beyond $300 million would automatically […]
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Friday a special session of the legislature is likely necessary to remedy a $313 million deficit in the state’s budget. Gov. Edwards stated last week that any deficit beyond $300 million would automatically trigger a special session as it would exceed the amount he can cut from the budget on his own.
Due to Louisiana’s legal framework, a special session will allow budget cuts to be balanced for agencies across the board while higher education and healthcare would be the target if the cuts are done while the Legislature is not in session. Gov. Edwards is also considering making use of the state’s rainy day fund to close the budget gap. No date for the special session has been set but mid-February is being discussed as the target date.
May 31, 2016 •
Louisiana Governor Calls Special Session in June
On May 27, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for a second special session of the Louisiana Legislature. The special session will convene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 6, and must adjourn by midnight on June 23. […]
On May 27, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for a second special session of the Louisiana Legislature. The special session will convene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 6, and must adjourn by midnight on June 23.
The governor wants the Legislature to address the state’s budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. The Legislature is currently in session and is schedule to adjourn no later than June 6, the same day the special session is scheduled to begin.
Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol Building by Chrismiceli on Wikimedia Commons.
March 10, 2016 •
Louisiana Special Session Adjourns
On March 9, the Louisiana Legislature adjourned its special session sine die. Gov. John Bel Edwards had called the special session of the Legislature to convene on February 14 for the purpose of focusing on fiscal issues concerning the state. […]
On March 9, the Louisiana Legislature adjourned its special session sine die. Gov. John Bel Edwards had called the special session of the Legislature to convene on February 14 for the purpose of focusing on fiscal issues concerning the state.
The regular session of the Legislature is scheduled to begin on March 14.
February 8, 2016 •
Special Legislative Session Called in Louisiana Before State’s Regular 2016 Session
On February 5, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards called a special session of the Legislature to meet on February 14. The purpose of the session is to focus on fiscal issues concerning the state, including a call for reductions in […]
On February 5, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards called a special session of the Legislature to meet on February 14. The purpose of the session is to focus on fiscal issues concerning the state, including a call for reductions in the state’s ordinary operating expenses, new legislation affecting rates and brackets for state income tax, new legislation with regard to state contracts, and new legislation addressing the state sales tax on telecommunications services. Additionally, the governor is asking for a state constitutional amendment relating to deductible items in computing state income tax. In all, the session will address 36 items.
The regular session of the Legislature is not scheduled to meet until March 14. The governor’s proclamation specifies the special session is to extend no later than March 9.
Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol by Bluepoint951 on Wikimedia Commons.
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