2nd special session looms as 2 sides far apart

State lawmakers remain stuck in a partisan fight that appears certain to drive the Legislature into a second special session.

While legislators technically have until midnight Tuesday to pass a state operating budget, no one expects that to happen, given the lack of progress in negotiations.

“The governor said at the end of (regular) session that we were light years apart. I would say we’re still out in space,” House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, said Monday.