From the Desk of Jeremy Alford March 16, 2021 — Issue 263
[email protected] / www.LouisianaTracker.com _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 27 DAYS Money Session taking shape _____________________________________________________________ Ready or not, there’s less than a month to go until lawmakers convene their 2021 Money Session. When the big gavel drops, representatives and senators will spend 60 calendar days (April 12-June 10) coming up with ways for the state to spend and collect billions of dollars. Among other tasks and priorities, lawmakers will be charged with: • Slicing up billions in federal stimulus dollars • Developing a framework for a $100 million oil settlement • Debating substantive tax changes that could alter our rates • Passing judgment on requested budget increases from agencies and departments When it comes to Louisiana politics, it’s always about the money. This go around the Capitol, however, it really is all about the money. In particular, there’s a lot of action surrounding the $3.2 billion that Louisiana is in line to receive from the American Rescue Plan Act. As reported in last week’s issue of LaPolitics Weekly, conservatives in the House are pushing hard to confine most of the federal dollars to one-time expenses while awaiting a final proposal from the Administration of Gov. John Bel Edwards. According to Center Square’s David Jacobs, the administration will suggest using portions of the money to “pay for infrastructure improvements, promote tourism and replenish the fund that pays for state unemployment benefits.” Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told Jacobs the federal government has not yet released guidelines for how the money can be expended.