La. senators push appeal of $80M federal grant loss

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration should appeal a federal government decision to rescind an $80.6 million grant to expand broadband Internet connections to rural and poor areas of Louisiana, state lawmakers said today. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced it was pulling the grant this week. State senators from New Orleans and the northeast Mississippi Delta region urged an appeal, saying the state desperately needs the money to help the poor. “I’ve never seen us lose any grant remotely the size of $80 million. We’re the least of the least. We always get the dregs,” says Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi. “Can we appeal? They can’t deny that we need it.” Jindal’s Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater says he’ll talk to the Commerce Department to determine if the state can attempt to regain the money. But Rainwater also said Thursday he didn’t think the Board of Regents should have applied for the grant in the first place because it could undermine and compete with private businesses.