House gives budget bill final passage

In a surprising move, the Louisiana House has given final legislative passage to a budget bill that ties health care and higher education to uncertain financing sources and assures that a series of cleanup measures will be required to fix the spending plan. The 2009-10 budget bill that was sent to the governor today with a 69-25 vote contains $278 million in spending contingent on passage of other legislation. And much of that legislation isn’t expected to gain the full Legislature’s support. That leaves lawmakers to cobble together piecemeal spending plans in other bills, rather than haggling out a compromise in one budget bill. Opponents called that irresponsible. Supporters said it would send a message to the Senate, which has been locked in a battle with the House over how to fund state government next year.