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Glut of new state money larger than expected

By Jessica Williams | Capitol News Bureau Editor​ ​ ​

More money, more...: Louisiana has $323 million more than it expected to spend this year, James Finn reports – and the largesse is complicating the fight between the House, the Senate and Gov. John Bel Edwards over the state's spending plan. 


Montoucet scandal: Sam Karlin has the latest on the ties between embattled former Wildlife and Fisheries chief, Jack Montoucet, and the business owner who agreed to bribe him, Leonard Franques. Though a federal probe is ongoing, neither Franques nor Montoucet has been charged with a crime. 


Slavery ban: An effort to ban slavery in Louisiana sparked confusion last year after lawmakers added exemptions for prison labor and the bill's sponsor disavowed it. The Legislature is trying again this year but is sticking with the prison labor exemption – which could set the measure back a second time, Finn reports. 


Political Buzz

The return of a Fiscal Hawk: Brett Geymann is back in the House and wants to cut spending

Brett Geymann kept a low profile after returning to the state House in 2021. Read more

Bill to let people carry concealed guns without permits advances in Louisiana House

People in Louisiana would be able to carry hidden firearms without a permit under a bill advanced Tuesday by a House criminal justice pane… Read more

Numbers to Know

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$323M: Extra tax collections revealed this week by Revenue Estimating Conference 

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$1.2B: Excess cash this year the state had already recognized

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$726M: Surplus tax collections from last year that the state has recognized

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$2.2B: Total glut of extra cash to spend in Louisiana  

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Source: Louisiana State Legislature

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