Lawmakers hopes to avoid vetoes

By The Associated Press | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, July 2, 2009

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Most of lawmakers’ pet projects escaped the veto pen of Gov. Bobby Jindal this year, but legislative leaders say they still were disappointed with some vetoes.

Jindal cut $3 million in legislative earmarks from the budget, leaving another $31 million in tact. He also stripped a $14 million funding plan that would have allowed the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital to remain open.

Senate President Joel Chaisson says he was upset about the governor’s decision to shutter NOAH, saying lawmakers made it clear they didn’t want to close it.

Chaisson and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin both said they also had hoped to keep the legislative earmarks in tact, thinking they had followed the guidelines set by the governor. But Jindal disagreed, saying some didn’t make the cut.