Voucher lawsuit delayed until Legislature settles public school budget
by Bill Barrow - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Federation of Teachers has promised to file a state lawsuit challenging the legality of Gov. Bobby Jindal's newly enacted plan to use the public-school financing formula to pay for private school tuition vouchers. But they are being held up, President Steve Monaghan said this week, by the Legislature's inaction on the Minimum Foundation Program formula itself. Often a routine matter, the Legislature is required each year to vote on an MFP formula as approved by the state school board. The board approved an MFP plan, with Jindal's voucher idea included, shortly before lawmakers convened March 12. But legislative leaders have given no indication when they will vote on the matter - or whether they will approve it in its current form. The Legislature must vote up or down on the board-approved version. If either chamber rejects it, the formula returns to the state school board tinkering. The session must adjourn by June 4.