By refusing to boost Louisiana’s income projections, House Republican leaders threaten to spoil Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ push to include a public school teacher pay raise in his budget proposal for next year.
House Speaker Taylor Barras and House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry say they haven’t blocked the forecast changes to disrupt Edwards’ plans, but are taking a conservative financial stance.
The move potentially damages a promise the governor, who often clashes with the House GOP leadership, has been making to his teacher union supporters as Edwards enters the year that he’s seeking re-election to a second term.
At two meetings of the Revenue Estimating Conference, Barras and Henry rejected the advice of economists who said tax collections and economic modeling support an increase in the state’s income forecast for the budget year that ends June 30 and the next budget year. Those projections determine how much money lawmakers and the governor can spend each year. Modifications require a unanimous vote from the four-member panel.
The two House Republican leaders talked of uncertainty in corporate tax collections, questions about the federal tax changes and a plunge in oil prices.
