There were sighs of relief as the special session ended promptly at 6:00 Wednesday night.
“We leave here tonight being able to defend what we’ve done, and being able to explain to the people of Louisiana that we did what we were asked here to do,” House Speaker Taylor Barras told the lower chamber.
Senate President John Alario, though, sighed with frustration at the end.
“I want to apologize to you for what happened here tonight,” a tearful Alario told the upper chamber. “That’s not the way to conduct the people’s business.”
Governor John Bel Edwards was inclined to agree with Alario. Speaking of the flooding across northwest Louisiana and then the special session, Edwards said, “There was a disaster declaration in 16 parishes, and somewhat of a disaster here today as well.”
No one is totally sure what was accomplished, as there was a flurry of conference committee reports put through in the final few 15 minutes. Though, as Senate Finance chairman Eric LaFleur stated, what was done wasn’t nearly enough.
“It’s hard for us to get a real fix on what the shortfall will be, but we estimate that the shortfall is approximately $30-million for ’15-’16, and about $800-million for ’16-’17,” LaFleur told the Senate. Those are the same numbers given by the Governor at his press conference following final adjournment.
What is known is that several parts of the revenue-raising measures don’t hang around long enough to be considered “recurring revenue”, as they only last till June 30th.
“It doesn’t even meet the definition of recurring revenue under our own rules,” Governor Edwards said.
State law says recurring revenue is that which lasts three consecutive fiscal years or longer.
The governor said failure to abide by the rules is part of what has made the last three and a half weeks so difficult.
“It’s hard to work well with a group that doesn’t want to follow its own rules.”
And one thing is for certain: there will be fallout from what was -- and wasn’t -- done in the special session. Some will happen within the legislature itself:
“We’re going to have some serious conversations with the other body on how this is supposed to be conducted and the people’s business is supposed to be conducted,” Alario said of the House.
And there will be fallout for Louisiana’s credit rating.
“I have to imagine that when Moody’s takes a look at what happened here, they’re not gonna be impressed,” Governor Edwards said.