Budget The Top Worry As Legislative Session Reaches Midpoint

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers have reached the halfway mark of their regular session, with financial decisions in limbo and the budget still the session's focus.

Only six bills — out of more than 1,600 filed for consideration — had received House and Senate passage and reached the governor's desk by Friday. Those named a Calcasieu Parish highway after a slain state trooper and made largely technical changes to insurance laws.

The session that must end by June 6.

Louisiana's budget problems remain front and center, with the state facing a $750 million shortfall in the financial year that begins July 1.

The House Appropriations Committee will vote on its version of next year's budget during the week of May 9, with the full House planning to debate it later that week.

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