Bad News for State Government

A tight state budget has forced the Governor to take action.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has ordered a partial freeze on state spending for travel, supplies, contracts and other spending. The order, announced late Friday, covers the remaining seven months of the budget year. It comes as the state has been borrowing money to meet expenses because state general fund revenue has been slow to arrive.

The governor's order stops spending on expenses considered nonessential. It includes two pages of exemptions and allows Jindal's commissioner of administration to give exemptions on a case-by-case basis. It doesn't cover legislative or judicial spending or many of the functions overseen by statewide elected officials.

Similar spending freezes have been issued in tight budget years. Jindal also ordered a limited hiring freeze earlier this year.