No funeral planned for urban, rural funds
The loss of the urban and rural development funds in the revised budget is either the beginning a historic fight in the capitol or the end of an era – or error, depending on your perspective.
The Office of Urban Development and the Office of Rural Development are two of the most sacred cows in Louisiana state government, and the elimination of their funding by Gov. Kathleen Blanco may be viewed as one of the more “daring and bold” – a favorite phrase of the administration these days – she’s done since taking office.
Although most lawmakers have been generally protective of these funds, saying they are being used for good, most of those same lawmakers will admit the funds have been abused in the past. Most of the time, those admissions are pointed in the direction of the “other” fund.
Labeled by critics as slush funds, the urban and rural funds have been used for pay for food programs and water system repairs, respectively, among other items.
But there’s a hard division between the two. Rural white lawmakers generally get the use of the rural funds, while black lawmakers say grace over the urban funds. When the funds come under attack, the two groups team up for protection in what some lawmakers have dubbed the “Bubbas and the Brothas” caucus.
The elimination of the funds in Blanco’s executive order prior to the session and the elimination of the staff in a Senate committee budget amendment is an admission of recognition of how financially damaged the state is.
But look for those funds to make a come back as soon as the state approaches anything that looks like financial recovery.
The Office of Urban Development and the Office of Rural Development are two of the most sacred cows in Louisiana state government, and the elimination of their funding by Gov. Kathleen Blanco may be viewed as one of the more “daring and bold” – a favorite phrase of the administration these days – she’s done since taking office.
Although most lawmakers have been generally protective of these funds, saying they are being used for good, most of those same lawmakers will admit the funds have been abused in the past. Most of the time, those admissions are pointed in the direction of the “other” fund.
Labeled by critics as slush funds, the urban and rural funds have been used for pay for food programs and water system repairs, respectively, among other items.
But there’s a hard division between the two. Rural white lawmakers generally get the use of the rural funds, while black lawmakers say grace over the urban funds. When the funds come under attack, the two groups team up for protection in what some lawmakers have dubbed the “Bubbas and the Brothas” caucus.
The elimination of the funds in Blanco’s executive order prior to the session and the elimination of the staff in a Senate committee budget amendment is an admission of recognition of how financially damaged the state is.
But look for those funds to make a come back as soon as the state approaches anything that looks like financial recovery.
posted by The Times at 8:14 AM
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