Louisiana's Special Sessions On Taxes Cost At Least $1.8 Million

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The two special sessions called by Gov. John Bel Edwards to help stabilize Louisiana's finances cost taxpayers at least $1.8 million.

During the two sessions on taxes held this year, lawmakers raised about $1.5 billion to shrink holes in the current year budget.

WAFB-TV says the House and Senate ran up costs of about $1.3 million for the first session, much of it for the $157 paid daily to lawmakers.

House members received about $418,000 and Senate lawmakers received $153,000 during the first session. Among other charges, legislative staff overtime and extra hours cost $228,000. Printing carried a price tag of $32,000.

The shorter second session cost the Senate $196,000. The House was still adding up its costs, but WAFB says the daily per diem will cost around $300,000

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(Information from: WAFB-TV, http://wafb.com)