Judge sides with Louisiana governor in feud with treasurer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana district judge has ordered state Treasurer John Schroder to transfer more than $32 million in unclaimed property money to cover government operating expenses, siding with Gov. John Bel Edwards in a lawsuit over the money.

Judge Richard “Chip” Moore said the Republican treasurer improperly withheld the money from the state general fund after lawmakers appropriated it in the budget for spending on state programs and services.

The Edwards administration hailed the decision Thursday, as the Democratic governor has been feuding with Schroder over the money for months.

“Treasurer Schroder’s unprecedented action to withhold these funds clearly violates the law, and we are grateful for Judge Moore’s decision,” Edwards' chief lawyer, Matthew Block, said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.americanpress.com/news/state/judge-sides-with-louisiana-governor-in-feud-with-treasurer/article_e07b940c-5f81-50f5-8b3f-8a0b8e2448c3.html
(Lake Charles American Press)