Record $29.7 Billion Budget- 1200 New State Jobs, Slew of Pay Raises
by Jan Moller - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- A record $29.7 billion state operating budget that creates nearly 1,200 new state jobs and includes a slew of pay raises is on its way to Gov. Kathleen Blanco's desk after the House agreed Wednesday to changes made by the Senate.

The 79-22 procedural vote in favor of House Bill 1 ended months of partisan skirmishing and sends Blanco a bill that brings teacher pay to the Southern regional average, increases the budget of most state agencies and sets aside millions of dollars for legislators' pet projects.

In most years, differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget are worked out in a compromise committee and voted on during the final hours before the session adjourns for the year.

The fact that this year's spending plan won final approval without such a committee is a reflection of the partisan tensions surrounding the spending debate, and a desire by House leaders to minimize the chance of something going awry in the closing days.

The session must end by June 28 at 6 p.m.

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The Louisiana legislature has never done this before, fully passed it's final spending bill more than a week before the session closes. It's also a record budget, 11% fatter than last year's. Lawmakers gave final approval to the new spending budget of $29.7 billion, Wednesday.

House members passed House Bill 1, which is the bulk of the state spending. It passed through the Senate Tuesday after a full evening of debate, but over on the House side, the budget passed with no changes. It goes now to the governor's desk for signature.

It calls for pay raises for teachers and law enforcement, money for education, and many law makers pet projects.