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Louisiana House leaders steer millions of dollars in pet projects to their home parishes
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:11 pm
quote:
Courthouse repairs in Gonzales costing $1.8 million, $1 million for the Youngsville Sports Complex in Lafayette, and another $1 million for the Bayou Country Sports Complex in Houma.
Approximately 30% of state funding earmarked for legislators’ 197 personal pet projects in the budget plan the Louisiana House has approved goes to just three of the state’s 64 parishes – the same three parishes where the House’s legislative leaders personally live. The three projects listed above are just part of that list.
House members voted to spend $43.8 million on local pet projects in their communities in the budget proposal they passed earlier this month.
But $13.2 million of that funding — nearly a third of that total — is going to the home parishes of House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, House Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerome “Zee” Zeringue and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Stuart Bishop.
The committees Zeringue and Bishop lead handle the state budget and tax measures.
Terrebonne, where Magee and Zeringue live, would receive more pet project money — $5.8 million — than any other parish in the state under the House plan. Lafayette Parish ($3.8 million), where Bishop resides, and Ascension ($3.6 million), home to Schexnayder, would have the second and third largest allocations overall, according to a Louisiana Illuminator analysis.
Schexnayder also represents Livingston Parish ($3 million), which is receiving the fourth largest amount of money.
Pet projects are items that don’t go through the state’s normal budget-vetting process and mostly benefit local communities more than the state as whole. Legislators began adding hundreds of them annually to the state’s spending plan two years ago, when Louisiana saw an influx of cash related to the federal COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts and hurricane recovery.
Although more pet project funding goes to House leaders’ home parishes, individual lawmakers can’t be easily linked to specific project requests. Legislators develop the list of projects through a secretive process that leaves it unclear who requested each item.
quote:
Bishop said he personally asked for $1 million for the Youngsville Sports Complex in Lafayette because it’s a statewide destination for youth sports. Requests for the other projects in Lafayette Parish, a community seven other House members also represent, did not come from him, he said.
When it comes to the Ascension pet projects, Schexnayder said it is wrong to assume he is responsible for all the money designated for the parish. Three other House members also represent Ascension, including Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, who also gets a say over pet project money as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
quote:
This year’s pet project spending comes as House leaders push for austerity in the state budget beyond early childhood programs. House Republican leaders did not include a teacher pay raise in the budget proposal, which would have cost approximately $200 million, because they said the state could not afford it.
Critics of the pet projects said the spending reveals what lawmakers consider the state’s priorities. The state shouldn’t be directing money to local governments, nonprofits and other programs that haven’t been vetted publicly, they say.
quote:
The amount of money going into pet projects is also expected to grow by tens of millions of dollars over the next three weeks before the budget plan is completed. The Louisiana Senate is currently revising the state budget proposal and expected to add dozens of items to the overall pet project list.
LINK /
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:17 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
Bayou Country Sports Complex in Houma.
It's going to be huuuuuuuge.
Braaxton and Paxton are going to rake all summer and travel ball teams from as far away as Pointe à la Hache will visit and boost the economy.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:18 pm to ragincajun03
There’s a reason Louisiana is a shithole
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:18 pm to ragincajun03
Well, we do need a new Veterinarian Clinic in my parish. Maybe a farm also. A dog park wouldn’t hurt either. I like pets so I think this is a good idea
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:19 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
Louisiana House leaders steer millions of dollars in pet projects to their home parishes by ragincajun03
What's new?
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:29 pm to ragincajun03
Usually politicians like to steer money back to their districts and neighborhoods as a campaign tool to attract voters to ensure their re-election.
Legislative leaders in Louisiana are entrenched in Baton Rouge, and don’t need help getting re-elected.
In Louisiana, Legislators blatantly steer money back home to line the pockets of their friends, family, and business associates. If you complain, then your district gets nothing. If you play ball, then one day you can be in a leadership role, or even transition to a lobbyist role that gets you a cut of those funds.
Legislative leaders in Louisiana are entrenched in Baton Rouge, and don’t need help getting re-elected.
In Louisiana, Legislators blatantly steer money back home to line the pockets of their friends, family, and business associates. If you complain, then your district gets nothing. If you play ball, then one day you can be in a leadership role, or even transition to a lobbyist role that gets you a cut of those funds.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:30 pm to ragincajun03
Thats how politics has worked forever? People are elected to be the voice for their home district. Not for someone else…
This post was edited on 5/22/23 at 7:31 pm
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:34 pm to ragincajun03
Don't keep voting straight ticket guys. Your local sphere matters just as much (more) as national elections.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:37 pm to ragincajun03
Yall need to quit complaining and celebrate this progress. Back in the day the politicians would use half the money to “pay” one cousin to dig a bunch ditches and then use the other half to “pay” their BIL to fill them in.
At least jaxxxsyn gets a new world series venue out of the graft now.
At least jaxxxsyn gets a new world series venue out of the graft now.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:46 pm to Sao
quote:
Your local sphere matters just as much (more) as national elections.
This.
But unfortunately, people rarely pay attention to their own backyard. Look at the re-election rate of State Legislators and US Reps.
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:51 pm to Sao
Shocking that suburban parishes are getting the big bucks from Republicans. Does this make up for two hundred years of New Orleans getting the lions share of the graft?
Also remember that much of the money Congress sent last year was directed at urban areas almost exclusively. They already have all the money they need for community centers, midnight basketball and other “priorities.”
Also remember that much of the money Congress sent last year was directed at urban areas almost exclusively. They already have all the money they need for community centers, midnight basketball and other “priorities.”
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:54 pm to TT
quote:
a new Veterinarian Clinic
What’s the veterinarian being treated for?
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:56 pm to ragincajun03
Whatever happened to that sales tax that was passed in BR for all of the infrastructure improvements?
shite wasn't that 3-4 years ago? Why is Old Hammond still 2 lanes? It needed to be widened in 1994
shite wasn't that 3-4 years ago? Why is Old Hammond still 2 lanes? It needed to be widened in 1994
Posted on 5/22/23 at 7:59 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
Courthouse repairs in Gonzales costing $1.8 million
They just built the fricking thing
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:14 pm to ragincajun03
Guess you didn’t look past the clickbait or didn’t look for a non biased article that included the fact that most of what they considered “pet projects” are infrastructure recovery items from ida like new roofs for hospitals
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:26 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
Terrebonne, where Magee and Zeringue live, would receive more pet project money — $5.8 million — than any other parish in the state under the House plan.
And both legislators want you, the taxpayers, to know that no one named Magee or Zeringue will be awarded contracts or any work associated with these projects.
But a brother- in-law may get some work
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:30 pm to ragincajun03
Better than being wasted at the state level
Posted on 5/22/23 at 8:40 pm to tigerinthebueche
quote:Autism
What’s the veterinarian being treated for?
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