La. House Backs Separate Budget Bill For AG’s Office

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The House has agreed to split Attorney General Jeff Landry's office into a separate budget bill that will give the governor less oversight over his spending.

Lawmakers voted 69-26 Thursday for the breakaway budget bill, which was requested by the attorney general.

Critics say the move is unconstitutional. Gov. John Bel Edwards has threatened to veto the measure if it passes.

Landry defended the move on the House floor, telling lawmakers that he's a "statewide constitutional officer" who shouldn't fall under the governor's oversight.

The breakaway budget bill would allow Landry's office to shift dollars among programs more easily — and to only seek legislative approval for midyear financing adjustments, rather than going through the Edwards administration.

Other than Landry, no other statewide elected official would get his own budget bill.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.