Legislative briefs for June 14, 2007
By CAPITOL NEWS BUREAU

Iberia parish projects gone from construction budget The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs approved a nearly $7 billion proposed state construction budget late Wednesday night but only after stripping projects slated for Iberia Parish.

Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete, complained that Sen. Craig Romero, R-New Iberia, had taken borrowing power from a $38.3 million multi-use center in New Iberia project to fund 12 other projects in Iberia Parish. The projects included planning a conference center at the Acadiana Fairgrounds, widening to La. Hwy. 675 and an unspecified Eagle Point Park construction project.

Marionneaux said the maneuver basically set up a situation in which the New Iberia multi-use center developers would have to return to the Legislature for more money to complete construction that had already begun.

Romero did not attend the hearing and could not be reached for comment at his Senate offices.

The committee agreed to strip a dozen projects, then passed House Bill 2 without objection.

The measure now goes to the Senate Finance Committee which will review cash spending in the bill.

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