The Louisiana legislature has approved Gov. Jeff Landry’s order to shift $168 million in the state’s school funding formula toward one-time educator stipends. The House vote was 76-8, with one abstention, clearing the two-thirds threshold Landry needs in that chamber. The Senate passed the order unanimously, with one abstention.
Constitutional Authority Dispute
Even with the legislative approval, the fate of the order remains tied up in court. A Baton Rouge judge last week issued a temporary restraining order halting Landry’s plan to reduce the Minimum Foundation Program by $168 million and redirect the money toward one-time stipends for teachers and school support staff. A hearing on whether to keep the injunction in place is scheduled for June 29.
The order would fund $2,000 payments for classroom teachers and $1,000 payments for support workers, plus associated retirement costs. However, the lawsuit challenging the move argues that the governor cannot unilaterally reduce the MFP and then decide where the money goes next.
The court found the plaintiffs had made an initial showing that the executive order may violate the separation of powers by taking over a funding decision reserved for the Legislature. The restraining order also questioned whether the governor’s limited authority to reduce an MFP appropriation allows him to redirect the money to a separate purpose of his choosing.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
