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BATON ROUGE — In the litany of gripes lodged during annual debates on Louisiana’s budget, one criticism has remained constant.
Lawmakers repeatedly complain that they face too many restrictions on how they can budget and where they can cut, that too many dollars are locked up, protected and dedicated to programs, unable to be reshuffled elsewhere.
“Because we can’t unravel it all, we just Band-Aid over it. I find it very difficult to prioritize funding, when we don’t really know where it all goes,” said Slidell Sen. Sharon Hewitt, a Republican in her second year as a state lawmaker. “What we’re doing right now isn’t working.”
But so far, like in previous years, legislators don’t appear on track to do much about that, to loosen the statutory and constitutional limits that give them less room to maneuver in financing plans.
Nearly all the bills that would unlock some restrictions have been shelved amid fierce opposition from groups who would lose their preferential treatment in the competition for state dollars. One bill is advancing to remove some protections, but its chance of passage appears low.
What seems most likely to emerge is a study group to review the restricted dollars — and similar, previous attempts at review did little to scale back the spending protections.
The protected dollars, called “dedicated funds” in Louisiana Capitol parlance, are locked up by either the state constitution or state laws that dictate how certain dollars must be spent. The dedications were determined by lawmakers in deals over bills, to persuade the public to support spending plans or to protect fees or taxes that people pay for specific services.
In many instances, those decisions often made decades ago haven’t been reviewed or debated again. Louisiana has about 380 dedicated funds created by statute, and another 13 funds protected by the constitution.
“I have been here for about 5 ½ years, and we keep hearing how we are in handcuffs or hamstrung to have any wiggle room for how to address things from year to year. Why would we not have people come to the table periodically to explain why they are entitled to (a protected) flow of funds every year,” said Rep. Rob Shadoin, a Ruston Republican.
Shadoin’s proposal to eliminate constitutional protections for more than $900 million squeaked out of the House Appropriations Committee on a 10-9 vote. Winning final passage would require support from two-thirds of the House and Senate and backing from voters statewide. Shadoin’s suggested that “reading the tea leaves,” he’s not expecting that to happen.
Senators have jettisoned a similar proposal.
Each one of the dedicated or protected funds has a constituency that doesn’t want to lose its favored status and risk the threat of cuts amid Louisiana’s constant financial instability and repeated budget gaps.
Rep. Pat Smith, a Baton Rouge Democrat, opposed Shadoin’s bill, saying voters chose to add the protections in the constitution: “I’m really concerned about opening all of it up.”
Hewitt ran into similar concerns about her proposal aimed at eliminating 176 protected funds in state law and freeing up $830 million for lawmakers to decide how to spend.
“Many of these decisions, these statutes were passed 30 years ago and the landscape has changed quite a bit,” she told the Senate Finance Committee. “I don’t necessarily agree that we should live with those decisions.”
She spent months reviewing each of Louisiana’s dedicated funds against a set of criteria to determine which ones should stay or go. Supporters included business groups, a tea party organization, Louisiana’s higher education commissioner and a government watchdog organization.
Senators said they appreciated the work — but made it clear the bill was doomed.
Senators worried about individual funds that assisted an industry or program in their areas. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain spoke in opposition, along with representatives of the state’s racing industry and an organization for the blind that benefits from the fund protections.
“Sometimes change is not easy,” said Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Ville Platte Democrat.
Hewitt voluntarily scrapped her bill amid the opposition, but said she’d like to continue the discussion. That seems to be likely all that will happen. The House has agreed to create a budget subcommittee to review the protected funds and recommend whether to make changes. That bill awaits debate in the Senate.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

March 3, 1929 -May 16, 2017
Silas Peter “Blackie” Armond Sr., 88, a resident of Patterson, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma.
Blackie was born March 3, 1929, in Houma, the son of George and Irene Malbrough Armond.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda Ratcliff Armond of Patterson; three daughters, Belinda Remedies of Ricohoc, Pauline Armond of Patterson, and Joy East and fiancé Ragon LeMaire of Kaplan; two sons, Alex Armond and wife Carolyn of Morgan City and George Armond and fiancé Nicole Robinson; 20 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Also surviving is John Parker III of Centerville whom Mr. Blackie thought of as a son.
Blackie was preceded in death by his parents, George Armond and Irene Malbrough Armond; three children, Susan Irene Armond, Silas P. Armond Jr. and Samuel Armond; two brothers and two sisters.
A memorial visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, May 22, 2017, at Twin City Funeral Home with a memorial service being held at 7 p.m. conducted by Monsignor J. Douglas Courville.

LSU graduated its largest and most diverse class at the university’s 292nd commencement exercises on Friday, May 12.
At the spring commencement ceremony, a total of 4,163 degrees were awarded – the largest amount of degrees awarded at a single commencement surpassing last year’s 4,043 degrees awarded in the spring. The overall class of 2016-17 – students receiving degrees in previous summer and fall commencements combined with the current spring commencement – is also a record-breaker for the university, with 6,562 students receiving degrees.
Assumption Parish
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Emily Michelle LeBlanc, Pierre Part
Hannah Marie Martines, Napoleonville
E. J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Luke Matthew Landry, Perre Part
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Erik A Mabile, Pierre Part
Trey Michael Prejean, Belle Rose
COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES & EDUCATION
Falen Simone Johnson, Plattenville
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Treovr Gilmore, Napoleonville
St. Martin Parish
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Caitlin Claire Blanchard, Breaux Bridge
Brittney Lane Olivier, Breaux Bridge
Briana Nicole Trosclair, Breaux Bridge
E. J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Aline Elizabeth Migues, Broussard
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Austin Jared Rabalais, Arnaudville
COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES & EDUCATION
Morgan Jade Angelle Angelle, Cecilia
Lani Jane Huval, Breaux Bridge
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Madison Elizabeth Alford, St. Martinville
Brian David Anderson, St. Martinville
Alex Grant Cormier, Cecilia
Hannah Rose Dugas, Cecilia
Adeline Elizabeth Owens, Cecilia
Cydni Rai Poirier, parks
MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Zachary Noah Dupuis, Breaux Bridge
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Taylor Elizabeth Curry, Broussard
Jenney Sonehuang Vongprathoum, St. Martinville
SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
(DOCTORATE)
Maggie Castille Buller, Breaux Bridge
Callie Jean Mitchell, Breaux Bridge
Renee Ashley Poche, Breaux Bridge
Ali Cherie Robin, Cecilia
St. Mary Parish
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Amber Tuyet Nguyen, Morgan City
Kayla Michelle South, Patterson
Gabrean Caris Stansbury, Franklin
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Bradley Cole Lemoine, Berwick
David Xuan Vu Tran, Morgan City
COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES & EDUCATION
Abigail Jo Bergeron, Morgan City
Mollie Frances Duhamel, Patterson
Carly Renee’ Gowan, Morgan City
Khang Thanh Huynh, Amelia
JulianQuynh Van Nguyen, Morgan City
Beccca Lea Robison, Franklin
Rebecca Michelle Taylor, Patterson
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Alexis Nicole Kates, morgan city
Rachel Michelle Lemoine, Patterson
Hannah Marie Pitre, Berwick
MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Caroline Sauce Byrne, Berwick
Elizabeth Claire Hover, Berwick
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Kelly Devon Bowers, Baldwin
- See more at: http://www.lsu.edu/commencement/lists/graduates/2017-05.php#sthash.duhOm...

Submitted Photo
Cayla Wiggins of Patterson High School is the first person to receive the 2017 Joan Faye Perry Schexnayder Technical College Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Joan Faye Perry Schexnayder, who earned a bachelor's degree from Southern University and a master's degree from Nicholls State. She began her teaching career at Sumpter Williams and went on to teach 36 years at Morgan City, three years at Central Catholic, and five years at Young Memorial in Morgan City and Franklin. Founders Robert and Michelle Schexnayder said the scholarship will be an annual award to a Pattersono High senior meeting all the necessary requirements with plans to attend college.