Judge blocks Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to cut school budgets to fund teacher stipends

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A Louisiana judge halted Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to pay for teacher stipends by cutting public school funding by nearly $170 million after advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday arguing that Landry lacks the legal authority to order the cut.

Judge Richard “Chip” Moore of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge granted the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order to stop the governor from enacting his executive order, which calls for a $168 million reduction in state education funding this school year to pay for $2,000 stipends for teachers and $1,000 for school support staff.

The 11-day restraining order also forbids Landry from continuing to collect ballots from the Legislature, two-thirds of which must approve his plan for it to take effect. The court-ordered delay is likely to push the vote past the deadline for the governor to veto budget items. Some lawmakers have expressed concern that Landry could slash funding for projects in their districts if they opposed his plan, according to people who have spoken with them.

The lawsuit argues that Landry overstepped his constitutional authority by effectively reallocating education funds, which the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education controls under Louisiana’s constitution. It also says Landry circumvented the proper legal procedure by issuing the order on June 2, a day after the legislative session ended, and asking lawmakers to vote remotely without a public hearing or debate.

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