HOUSE APPROVES BUDGET BILLS, NO MONEY FOR SAINTS
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ An $18.4 billion spending plan for 2005-2006 that would continue most health care services, boost education spending and pay for dozens of lawmakers' local wants has been approved by the full House.

The budget bill made no mention of the $15 million that the state owes to the New Orleans Saints, due by July 5. Rep. Troy Hebert of Jeanerette noticed that, and asked about it.

“We haven’t addressed it yet, Mr. Hebert, I haven’t seen instruments yet, but I imagine before this process is over, we’ll figure that out,� responded State House speaker John Alario.

The Superdome commission is looking at refinance Superdome debt to come up with the cash.

The budget for the year that begins July 1 would grow by another $300 million if lawmakers approve the proposed cigarette tax and a proposed tax hike on private hospitals, to cover health care costs.

With Governor Kathleen Blanco watching from the side of the House chamber for part of the debate, lawmakers narrowly rejected an attempt to pay for teacher raises out of the state's current dollars instead of with the tax increase Blanco wants. The governor proposes a one dollar-per-pack tax that awaits debate in the House to fund pay raises for teachers, college faculty and school support workers.