Louisiana Has A Budget, But It Cost More To Get It

Originally appeared in The Independent

On June 15, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the 10 bills at the heart of the Justice Reinvestment Task Force criminal justice reforms.

The bills, which ultimately drew the support of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, were the work of a broad, if unlikely, coalition of criminal justice reform allies. Supporters included the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Pelican Institute, Right on Crime, Louisianians for Prison Alternatives and the Louisiana Family Forum. The broad support of the reforms across the political spectrum was in stark contrast to the highly partisan fighting over the budget and tax issues during the session.