There are more than 1200 bills filed for the regular legislative session which starts today, but the one of greatest concern is undoubtedly House Bill 1 – the budget.
“We have to fashion a budget, with the revenue that’s available, that’s going to be $800-million short,” Governor John Bel Edwards said, following the close of the special session last Wednesday.
Since then, the administration has been working on revisions to the governor’s budget proposal, reflecting revenue changes from the special session. The revised version is being presented today.
The budget bill will be carried by the head of House Appropriations, who is not the Governor’s favorite person right now.
“No doubt, there is a little bit of animosity,” says Minden Representative Gene Reynolds, who heads the House Democratic Caucus. He explains that Appropriations chair Cameron Henry – a Republican – is the leader of an obstructionist group.
“A group over there that I call ‘the disciples of no’ – just no, no, no – for no particular reason sometimes,” Reynolds says of the two dozen or so, mostly Republican, lawmakers.
Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith is a returning member of Appropriations, having served on the committee for the past two terms.
“The Governor presents an executive budget, but it is really the Legislature that has to do the appropriations, in order for that budget to be fulfilled,” Smith says, explaining how ownership of the budget changes today.
And as of today, Cameron Henry is the person actually in charge of the state budget. That worries Reynolds.
“You know, this is not a good start for us, because what we have to do takes both sides working together,” Reynolds says, referring to the apparent dysfunction that plagued the special session.
Smith notes that there are only six Democrats on the 26-member Appropriations committee.
“We may not get the votes, but we can always voice our opinion,” she says, gamely.
And at least a dozen of the other members are part of Henry’s group. Smith says they – not the Governor – are the ones who will have to shoulder the blame for how this turns out.
“And of course with no money, if you don’t raise the revenue needed, you have to own this budget. And you have to own the consequences of this budget,” Smith states.