With four minutes to spare before the Louisiana Legislature's final deadline to pass bills, lawmakers approved a sweeping spending package Thursday in a series of chaotic votes marked by angry yelling at the House Speaker, confusion in the Senate and accusations of backdoor deal-making.
The approximately $45 billion bundle approved Thursday includes the state's main spending bill, a budget for major construction projects and a supplemental spending measure dealing with a $2.2 billion glut of extra cash the state hauled in over the past two years. The bills move next to the desk of Gov. John Bel Edwards, who put his stamp on the session by pushing for higher teacher pay and funding for early childhood education.
Read more: Louisiana Legislature approves budget in chaotic vote marked by yelling, confusion
