A Lake Charles chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is one of 20 non-government organizations (NGOs) that have had state appropriations vetoed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
The $125,000 appropriation for the Lake Charles Alumnae Chapter was for community programs. The 20 NGO appropriations totaled $4.32 million. They were among more that 600 NGO and government projects of state legislators in House Bill 782 that became Act 776.
The Advocate reported it appeared that at least 15 of the 20 requests came from state legislative districts controlled by Democrats, many from New Orleans. The newspaper said other governors have also used their veto pen to strike down opposing lawmakers’ favored spending proposals, including former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.
In a letter to House Speaker Phillip DeVillier and Senate President Cameron Henry, Landry said he chose which requests to veto by evaluating whether they “serve an appropriate government function and if the appropriation was an efficient and effective use of state resources.”