BARRAS BLOCKS REVENUE FORECAST - Louisiana House Speaker Taylor Barras refused to budge on boosting state income projections in a continuing stalemate with Gov John Bel Edwards' administration, even after economists proposed smaller, more conservative adjustments.
Yesterday, the Republican House leader voted against the other three members of the Revenue Estimating Conference, a move that blocked the changes because forecast modifications require a unanimous vote. The projections determine how much money lawmakers and the governor can spend each year. Barras said oil price fluctuation and revenue uncertainty was behind his decision.
Monday's vote was the second time in two weeks that House GOP leaders stymied the Democrat Edwards' push to increase the forecast to pay for a $43 million list of spending items, mainly on, corrections, local sheriffs departments and teacher pay-raises. Lawmakers approved the list earlier this year — but only if the state's tax collections come in better than expected.
Economists for both the Legislature and the administration say that's exactly what's happening.
