As is often the case, this year’s legislative session is a roller coaster ride for our state’s most vulnerable citizens, especially women and children. The best evidence of that can be found by tracking House Bill 1, which comprises Louisiana’s annual operating budget.
Budgets start with the governor, who submits a proposed spending plan that gets wrapped into HB 1. From there, the House Appropriations Committee conducts hearings and begins the process of moving the bill toward passage — typically with some tweaks along the way.
For example, Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposed budget included $87.7 million to maintain the current level of day care subsidies for children under 4 years old.
That was good news, but that amount still would have kept about 6,500 kids on waiting lists, according to Libbie Sonnier, executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.
The bad news came when Appropriations Committee members made some initial adjustments to Landry’s proposed budget on April 23. Among other tweaks, they cut $24 million from the day care subsidies. If that cut is not restored, Sonnier said, it will affect more than 1,900 infants and toddlers currently in day care — in addition to the 6,500 on waiting lists.
Sonnier said it’s disappointing that “the young children of Louisiana are first on the chopping block.”
There’s still hope, however.
Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Winnfield, said the early childhood money could be added back into the budget if the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes extra revenues at its next meeting. By law, lawmakers can only spend money recognized by the conference, which meets several times a year.
Meanwhile, committee members added $6.9 million to the budget of the state Department of Children and Family Services' foster care programs, which also are in dire need of additional funding.
The committee also added $3.5 million for a federal summer food program benefitting children of low-income families. Landry had rejected the federal program earlier this year (after former Gov. John Bel Edwards declined to request the funds for this year prior to leaving office), even though the state money would leverage more than $70 million in federal matching funds.
It’s not too late to turn the tide, but time is short.
The deadline to notify the feds of a state's intent to implement the Summer EBT program for this summer was Jan. 1 — but states can request a waiver, a United States Department of Agriculture spokesperson said last week.
On yet another front, Landry cut $7 million for additional domestic violence shelters in his proposed budget, but the Appropriations Committee worked it into the supplemental budget bill, HB 782 — proving that there’s more than one way to get critical funding.
Legislators funded additional shelters in the current budget, but another $7 million will allow advocates to continue meeting the need for more shelters. Louisiana has led the nation in domestic violence homicides for decades.
The entire House was scheduled to consider HB 1 at press time. The Senate will get its turn in the coming weeks, presenting more opportunities for restoring — and cutting — funds.
