News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

U.S. Senate confirms Russ Vought, a Project 2025 author, to manage the nation’s budget • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

2 months ago

February 6, 2025

Staff Editor

lailluminator.com – Jennifer Shutt – 2025-02-06 19:37:00

U.S. Senate confirms Russ Vought, a Project 2025 author, to manage the nation’s budget

by Jennifer Shutt, Louisiana Illuminator
February 6, 2025

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm Russ Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, giving support to one of the architects of Project 2025 and someone who hopes to erode Congress’ control over government spending.

Vought, who worked as OMB director during President Donald Trump’s first term in office, was confirmed on a 53-47 party-line vote that followed Democrats keeping the chamber in session overnight to highlight their opposition.

Objections to Vought centered around his goal to give the president more authority over federal spending decisions, which Democrats said is a violation of the separation of powers in the Constitution.

“Congress makes laws and appropriates funds, not the president,” New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan said. “At stake is not a legal technicality, at stake is our very notion of self-government, a notion that Mr. Vought appears to disdain.”

Hassan, a Democrat, referenced the Trump administration halting congressionally approved funding for grant and loan programs in late January as one example of OMB overreaching.

“The grant money was never the president’s to cut, freeze, or restore — it doesn’t belong to him or to Mr. Vought, it belongs to the American people,” Hassan said.

She also pointed to the Government Accountability Office finding OMB “violated” a federal law known as the Impoundment Control Act when it withheld $214 million in security assistance for Ukraine during the first Trump administration.

“It was five years ago this week that this body debated President Trump’s attempt to illegally impound funds that were intended for Ukraine,” Hassan said, referring to the first of two impeachments. “An impoundment attempt that was supported and directed by Mr. Vought.”

Obscure office with big clout

The Office of Management and Budget, also called the White House budget office, is responsible for submitting the president’s annual budget request to Congress, but it also has sweeping authority over federal regulations and federal agencies.

Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Vaeth caused considerable confusion in late January when he released a two-page memo calling for a halt to trillions in federal funding for grant and loan programs spread across departments and agencies.

The memo, which was later rescinded, led to two separate lawsuits and two federal judges issuing temporary restraining orders blocking the Trump administration from implementing the proposed funding freeze.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Wednesday that Vought is qualified to become OMB director, in part, because he has already been OMB director.

“There’s no question that he will be able to hit the ground running,” Thune said. “As director of OMB, Mr. Vought will have the chance to address two key economic issues — cutting burdensome government regulations and addressing excessive spending.”

Thune said the United States is on a “dangerous spending track” and that the government should find “ways to reign in our spending and to target government waste.”

“And I’m confident that Mr. Vought will help lead that charge,” Thune said.

Rapid confirmation for Trump nominees

Vought’s confirmation marked the 13th of Trump’s nominees to receive Senate confirmation in the three weeks that he’s been in the Oval Office.

“That’s roughly twice as fast as nominees were confirmed at the start of the two previous administrations,” Thune said. “The Senate will take up additional nominees next week and will maintain an aggressive pace to get the president’s full team in place as soon as possible.”

Senate-confirmed nominees include, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum, Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Eric Turner.

‘Impoundment’ struggle

Vought has spent the past four years leading the Center for Renewing America, a think tank he launched following his tenure in the first Trump administration.

The organization has published repeatedly about the 1974 Impoundment Control Act and impoundment authority, arguing the president should be able to block funding Congress has approved.

The U.S. Constitution gives the legislative branch the so-called power of the purse, putting the authority over how federal dollars are spent in the hands of lawmakers.

Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act more than 50 years ago, after then-president Richard Nixon halted billions in funding the body had approved.

The law gives the president two ways to request that Congress rescind funding it already appropriated — sending a rescission request via a special message, which allows the president to hold onto the money for 45 days, or through a deferral sent through a special message.

“The President, OMB, or a department or agency head or employee may defer budget authority to provide for contingencies, effect savings, or as specifically provided by law,” according to a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. “No officer or employee of the United States may defer budget authority for any other purpose.”

During his confirmation hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Vought testified he believes the president holds the ability to impound funding approved by Congress. Vought has also said repeatedly he believes the 1974 law is unconstitutional.

“The president has run on the issue of impoundment and has reminded the country that 200 years of presidents have used this authority,” Vought said during the hearing. “And we’ll be developing our approach to this issue and strategy once his administration is in office.”

Democrats have sounded alarm bells over the president potentially holding impoundment authority, saying it would make it extremely difficult for lawmakers to negotiate bipartisan agreement on the dozen annual government funding bills.

The president simply ignoring parts of a spending agreement would lead to even more distrust and gridlock within Congress, Democrats say.

Project 2025

Vought also wrote part of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a 922-page document outlining the conservative organization’s goals for a second Trump administration.

In a 26-page chapter on the executive office of the president, Vought wrote the OMB director “must ensure the appointment of a General Counsel who is respected yet creative and fearless in his or her ability to challenge legal precedents that serve to protect the status quo.”

Vought wrote that Trump “should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government.”

“Anything short of that would constitute abject failure,” Vought contended.

Vought also wrote about the management aspect of OMB’s portfolio, pressing for political appointees to have more authority and influence than career staff.

“It is vital that the Director and his political staff, not the careerists, drive these offices in pursuit of the President’s actual priorities and not let them set their own agenda based on the wishes of the sprawling ‘good government’ management community in and outside of government,” Vought wrote. “Many Directors do not properly prioritize the management portfolio, leaving it to the Deputy for Management, but such neglect creates purposeless bureaucracy that impedes a President’s agenda—an ‘M Train to Nowhere.’”

Last updated 6:37 p.m., Feb. 6, 2025

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

Up Next

Doctors seek conscience protections to provide abortion care in new federal lawsuit • Louisiana Illuminator

Don't Miss

Lawmakers press Social Security on lag in paying expanded benefits to public employees • Louisiana Illuminator

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Vicente Fernandez and Freddy Fender join National Recording Registry

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2025

Staff Editor

Vicente Fernandez and Freddy Fender join National Recording Registry

www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-04-18 20:09:34

SUMMARY: This year, Vicente Fernandez’s “El Rey” and Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” were inducted into the National Recording Registry, alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda’s *Hamilton* album. Congressman Joaquin Castro has championed the inclusion of more Latino artists in the registry, noting that Latino representation is only 5%. Over the last three years, with input from constituents, Castro has successfully nominated 30 songs and albums, including iconic Latino tracks. He advocates for more Latino contributions to be recognized, including Selena’s work. Castro will continue gathering nominations for 2026, aiming to better reflect Latino cultural influence in the registry.

Each year since 2000, the Library of Congress has selected influential songs and albums to be preserved in the National Recording Registry. This year, three Latino artists were inducted — two of them with deep roots in Latino culture and South Texas.

Source

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Q&A with University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot on higher education

Published

13 hours ago

April 18, 2025

Staff Editor

lailluminator.com – Piper Hutchinson – 2025-04-18 15:41:00

by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator
April 18, 2025

This is an interview with University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot that took place earlier this month about how the legislative session and federal changes will impact higher education in Louisiana. It has been edited for length and clarity.

You can also listen to a version of this interview on our new podcast The Light Switch.

Piper Hutchinson: What do you think is coming for higher education this session?

Rick Gallot: I think certainly starting with a standstill budget is always better than starting with a proposed cut. So, you know, we’re certainly very grateful for that. I think there’s a lot of uncertainty, coming out of Washington and with the constitutional amendments that did not pass, obviously that has created some angst in terms of what do we do now, right? And so I think there is, again, just an overall level of uncertainty that we’ll see it … kind of play out over time.

I think if you look at the increased revenue from the sales, sales taxes and other things, we’re certainly not in a real bad spot right now as a state in terms of our finances. So I’m still optimistic that we will work through the challenges in the session, and we will come out good on the other side.

Hutchinson: Looking at the bills that we have so far, what do you think is going to be the most impactful for higher education?

Gallot: It’s hard to say, and when you look at what’s filed versus what ultimately makes it through the process; all bills filed on the front end don’t always make it. Rep. (Emily) Chenevert has come back with another diversity, equity and inclusion bill. We will certainly have to see how that plays out. The bill she had last year started one way and ended up another. … Certainly with all other higher ed leaders, she was very receptive to meeting with us and working through some of those challenges last year. At the end of the day, I think the budget is always going to be the main focus that could impact the trajectory going forward.

Hutchinson: There’s one bill that’s going to have a big impact for your system, talking about transferring UNO back to the LSU System. What should we expect on that front?

Gallot: For me personally, it’s a full-circle moment. I was in the house when UNO was transferred from LSU to the University of Louisiana System. You know, I just want what’s best for the students, for the campus community at the University of New Orleans. It is a legislative prerogative. They have the authority to transfer universities from one system to the other. So if this legislation is successful, we will certainly do our part to ensure that it is a seamless transition. We will work with LSU, with Board of Regents and with the legislature to ensure that the transition is as smooth as it could possibly be.

Hutchinson: What’s that like for you [as a former legislator] during the legislative session, being kind of outside the rails?

Gallot: Well, I certainly have a lot of respect for our legislators and the sacrifices they all make in serving. I’m a huge fan of Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits,” and one of those is: “Seek, first to understand then to be understood.” And so I think that’s helpful to understand the pressures that our legislators are under, knowing that there’s a lot that they have to balance. I think it’s helpful, quite frankly. And I don’t think I burned any bridges while here.

I mean, I did oversee redistricting, so maybe I did [burn] one or two. But for the most part, I still have good relationships with many of my former colleagues … who are still there. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the process but from this side.

Hutchinson: There has been a little bit of controversy in the LSU System lately, that’s reignited these conversations about curbing tenure. What are you hearing on that front, and what would that mean for higher education as a whole if they did take an axe to tenure?

Gallot: Going back to COVID, and you think about faculty members, who go through the process of, not only a bachelor’s and a master’s and a terminal degree. You know, they get hired, they’re on a tenure track, they’re researching, they’re writing, they’re building their portfolio, and at the appropriate time they apply for tenure. I think we have to respect that process.

I think it is one that is deeply rooted in higher education, and so I think we certainly have to respect faculty and that they have earned this.

Now, having said that, it’s always one or two bad apples that will spoil the barrel, as they say. I don’t know that simply doing away with tenure is the answer.

If the legislature passes something, then we, as a state system, will certainly abide by whatever changes may be made. I think we want accountability at all levels, that we want our students to be in the best position to learn. We want our faculty to be in the best position to teach, and that our students would graduate and go out and make a difference in society. So we’ll certainly be watching it closely, and hopefully we will see thoughtful debate throughout the process. And again, with whatever the ultimate result is, we will work with it.

Hutchinson: I can’t not talk about what’s going on at the federal level. We’re talking about cutting research funding. There are concerns about immigration and graduate students, and certainly tariffs could increase expenses for higher education. How is the UL System adapting to all of this?

Gallot: Right now there’s so much uncertainty just across the board. Whether it’s the potential loss of research funding and indirect cost, for instance, universities build their budgets based upon what they believe the revenue stream will be from these research grants. I’m hopeful that we will sort of get through this period of uncertainty, and we will see things sort of settle down to be a little more predictable. But you know, at the same time, we will have to adjust if the rules are changed. If the funding formulas are changed, we will just have to adapt. We always have and we always will.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

SUPPORT

The post Q&A with University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot on higher education appeared first on lailluminator.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Audit: Louisiana health department fails to fix financial and compliance issues | Louisiana

Published

18 hours ago

April 18, 2025

Staff Editor

Audit: Louisiana health department fails to fix financial and compliance issues | Louisiana

www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 10:25:00

(The Center Square) — The Louisiana Department of Health continues to struggle with a range of persistent financial and compliance issues, according to a new report released by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Despite some progress, the agency has failed to resolve the majority of its prior audit findings — some of which have gone uncorrected for as long as seven years.

The audit, which reviewed the status of problems flagged in a March 2024 management letter, found that LDH had resolved only one issue: inadequate controls over and noncompliance with National Correct Coding Initiative requirements.

The remaining concerns — ranging from financial misreporting to Medicaid eligibility and provider oversight — remain unresolved and, in some cases, have worsened.

Among the most significant issues: LDH could not provide documentation to show that $248 million in Medicaid expenditures reported to the federal government had a matching state share as required. That shortfall led auditors to identify $168 million in federal questioned costs.

Additionally, the department failed to properly update federal cost-share percentages in state accounting systems for half the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 — resulting in another $87.6 million in questioned federal costs.

In response, LDH management admitted the reporting errors and attributed the failures to staffing shortages and insufficient training.

The department said it has hired a vendor to provide support and training for federal reporting requirements and has launched a broader staff development plan aimed at improving accuracy and compliance.

Other key findings include:

For the seventh straight year, LDH failed to fully enroll and screen all Medicaid managed care and dental providers as required by federal law, leaving gaps in the accuracy and reliability of provider information.
For the fourth consecutive year, the department lacked adequate financial controls and submitted inaccurate federal schedules used to track expenditures of federal awards.
Payroll certification failures also persisted for a third year, with auditors finding LDH had not followed procedures for timesheet approvals or leave requests.
Disproportionate Share Hospital payments exceeded the federally-allocated limit by $4.2 million due to inadequate reconciliation.
Maternity kick payments — lump sum payments made to managed care organizations when a member becomes pregnant—remained noncompliant for the second straight year, increasing the risk of overpayments.
Eligibility determinations for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program remained plagued by internal control issues for the fifth year in a row.
Billing problems in behavioral health services continued into a sixth year, with auditors citing ongoing failures by LDH and its contractors, including Magellan Health Services, to prevent and detect improper claims.
Home and community-based services under the state’s Medicaid waiver programs were also paid without adequate documentation for the second year in a row.