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The Department of Education is asking the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to spend another $750,000 on non-bid legal contracts to defend the landmark reform laws ushered in by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Most of the money, or $500,000, represents a contract amendment for the Cooper & Kirk law firm to defend the state against a lawsuit from U.S. Justice Department. The feds are suing Louisiana in federal court in New Orleans over its decision to move forward with vouchers in public school systems that are under desegregation orders.

Cooper & Kirk has already been paid $150,000 in taxpayer money, a fee that was negotiated in October when the firm was initially hired.

A source familiar with such proceedings tells LaPolitics that it's customary to lead with an arbitrary, reasonable-sounding figure on a contract and then extend it when billings get close to or exceed the threshold.

In an earlier interview, Barry Landry, the Department of Education’s spokesperson, said Cooper & Kirk had quoted the state a rate of $495 per hour. "The contract can be amended as more work is done," he added.

BESE’s Administration and Finance Committee was expected to approve the contract amendment this morning, as well as another for Alexandria attorney Jimmy Faircloth, the governor’s former executive counsel.

Faircloth’s contract amendment is for $250,000 and meant to help bankroll the defense of Jindal’s voucher law and the use of public money from the Minimum Foundation Program.