Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards asked the Republican legislative majority to move around hundreds of millions of dollars in federal pandemic aid to cover operating expenses without cutting state services, plus ensure enough money to give teachers and faculty raises as well as expand Broadband into the rural and low-income communities without adequate access to the internet.

Edwards’ chief budget architect, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, presented the governor’s proposed $36.6 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that usually becomes House Bill 1.