One day after LSU officials announced the school’s live tiger mascot has a rare form of cancer, Louisiana lawmakers fast-tracked a bill authorizing the state’s Medicaid program to cover 100% of the animal’s treatments.

In an unprecedented move, legislators in both the Senate and House of Representatives suspended procedural rules to introduce, debate, and unanimously approve the measure in a matter of hours.

House Bill 1295, sponsored by LSU alumnus Rep. Franklin Foil, of Baton Rouge, would immediately expand the state-run health care system to pay for Mike the Tiger’s first-of-its-kind therapy at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Foil said the bill’s expeditious passage was a “political no-brainer” to engender good will with an electorate that almost universally loves the 11-year-old Bengali-Siberian hybrid.

Despite the state’s woeful budget situation, Foil said he and his colleagues insisted they take the necessary action to create the perception they are heroes coming to Mike’s aid in his hour of need.

“Mike the Tiger is arguably the most likable living creature — including people — in the entire state of Louisiana,” Foil told reporters at the State Capitol. “State legislators, on the other hand, are among the least likable. So when we heard Mike has a tumor on his face, and all sorts of people started grieving and praying for him, we all knew right away what we needed to do.”

While treatment costs initially were slated to be absorbed by Mary Bird Perkins, and despite the state’s woeful budget situation, Foil said he and his colleagues insisted they take the necessary action to create the perception they are heroes coming to Mike’s aid in his hour of need.

The strategy already seems to be paying off with some members of the public.

“Thank God our leaders have finally done something right by making sure Mike the Tiger gets the best health care available,” said Ellen McWright, an uninsured, 32-year-old, single mother of three. “My kids absolutely love visiting him. I can’t imagine trying to console them if he dies.”

HB 1295 now heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who said he will sign the bill into law.

“I’ve got at least another three-and-a-half years to work with this legislature,” Edwards explained. “You think I’m going to let them label me as the governor who let Mike the Tiger die while they get to claim they tried to save him? What kind of medical marijuana have you been smoking?”