Placing the concept of income tax cuts aside, arguably the most popular aspect of Gov. Jeff Landry’s wide-ranging special session will be the opportunity for a substantive change to how teacher pay raises are handled.
The subject matter alone is certainly something no legislator, Republican or Democrat, wants to vote against. Moreover, the teacher pay issue could give comfort to nervous lawmakers who are unsure about supporting the rest of Landry’s tax-heavy package.
On the other hand, if you’re into gaming out all of the scenarios, the House and Senate could carve out the teacher pay proposal and pass it as a standalone reform, especially if lawmakers are unable to reach an agreement on the other 22 items on the governor’s special session agenda.
Teacher pay actually appears as the second item on Landry’s agenda, ahead of personal and corporate income taxes. But supportive lawmakers are quick to point out they’re backing the entire package.
“I’m going to shoot for the moon here,” says Senate Education Chair Rick Edmonds. “I’m going to go for the whole package and try to get all of it passed.”
Landry’s teacher pay proposal is complicated, but it does pull in and address the topic of unfunded accrued liability, which brings smiles to the faces of fiscal hawks.
