Edwards expects support to build for second special session

To deal with the remaining shortfall in next year's budget, Edwards proposes steep reductions to the TOPS free college tuition program, safety net hospitals for the poor, K-12 public schools and college campuses.

Plans to debate new financing for a multibillion-dollar backlog of roadwork and to do a widespread rewrite of state criminal sentencing laws will wait until 2017.

In the current session, Edwards' efforts to give local school boards more control over the growth of charter schools have struggled to gain traction.

The governor's drew national attention — but risked irritating GOP lawmakers — when he issued an executive order last week banning discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The order's timing, Edwards said, was about ensuring it contained a workable exemption for state contractors that are religious organizations.

The governor said he's not certain if he'll back proposals to enact a state law protecting Louisiana's LGBT residents from discrimination, saying he supports the concept but needs to review the language in the specific bills.