La. Senators Rework Next Year’s $25B Budget Proposal

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — State senators have rewritten the $25 billion budget proposed for next year, stripping most cuts and changes the House made to the governor's spending recommendations.

The Senate Finance Committee used an improved revenue forecast Sunday to reverse across-the-board cuts the House had made to contracts, overtime pay and vacant positions.

House-backed changes to education spending plans were undone. New dollars the House added to programs for the disabled were taken out. Cuts to the economic development department were reversed.

Senators added $4.5 million to cover Louisiana's commitment to IndyCar, which plans to race in New Orleans next year. Funding for the LSU Shreveport hospital privatization deal was boosted.

The full Senate is expected to debate the budget Wednesday. The spending plan would cover the 2014-15 year that begins July 1.

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