Dive Brief:
-
A move to wrestle decision-making power away from the governor for state construction projects failed in the Louisiana Legislature this week.
-
Lawmakers had hoped to change the way the state allocates its construction dollars by giving themselves more authority over which projects get state funds. A dispute between the state’s House and Senate doomed the effort.
-
For the next budget year, Gov. Bobby Jindal will have the sole say in which construction proposals for funding will advance to the State Bond Commission, which most often approves the governor’s picks.
Dive Insight:
The Associated Press has called Louisiana’s construction budget “a wish list” of projects favored by legislators hoping to divert some of the funding to their home districts. The result: This year's proposals comprise a laundry list of projects that, if funded, would cost the state $385 million more than it has budgeted.
Legislators have complained that the governor uses his authority over construction spending as leverage to win votes for unrelated legislation. AP quoted the state treasurer, who doubles as chairman of the Bond Commission, as saying the state builds based on deal-making rather than on need.