Louisiana's House has been deadlocked during budget talks, which many Democratic legislators blame on Republican efforts to tie unrelated Medicaid reforms to the budget, according to the Bossier Press-Tribune.
Conservative and liberal factions within the state House have been battling over a number of budget issues, but Rep. Joseph Bouie, D-New Orleans, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said a major part of the acrimony is a result of Republican efforts to tighten Medicaid eligibility that are unrelated to the fiscal cliff the state is facing.
"In our opinion, as Democratic Caucus and as Black Caucus, we felt the so-called reforms were just ways to really punish those who are the least of us," Mr. Bouie said, according to the Bossier Press-Tribune. "You know to have Medicaid recipients have to jump through hoops to receive healthcare is unconscionable, so we did not want to do that."
While Democratic legislators are looking to increase state revenues, Republicans seek to cut spending. They will convene a special session March 12 to try and reconcile these differences.