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Louisiana’s latest special session cost taxpayers $1.1M

Senators talk as they await final bill debates on the Senate floor on the final day of the special session on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The fall special session held by Louisiana lawmakers to debate COVID-19 rules and hurricane recovery issues carried a taxpayer-financed price tag of more than $1.1 million.

That’s according to spending information provided by the House and Senate to The Associated Press. Data provided by Secretary of the Senate Yolanda Dixon shows the Senate’s cost was about $517,000.

Information provided by House Clerk Michelle Fontenot shows the House’s cost for the 26-day session came in at more than $620,000.

Those tallies include the daily per diem given to state lawmakers for each day in session, mileage costs to lawmakers, legislative staff pay and overtime, printing charges and office supplies.