Recently, a caller to Moon Griffon’s statewide radio talk show asked about the 10 proposed constitutional amendments on the November 2 ballot. He suggested that Moon invite someone on to explain the “worthwhile” amendments.
That was an interesting request.
“Worthwhile” is a subjective term. Surely, any amendment to our state constitution proposed by 2/3s of the leges must be “worthwhile.”
I made a list of major problems that I see facing our state. Amendments that fix those problems would be “worthwhile” to me.
Below is my list of problems facing our state, in no particular order, and how they are addressed by the amendments:
–LA has a dismal state economy, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has an unfriendly to business tax structure where businesses pay a disproportionate share of the revenues to fund government at the state and local level, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–Our unemployment rate is rising, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The Avondale shipyard in Jefferson Parish is shutting down, laying-off over 5,000 employees, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The GM plant in Shreveport is closing, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The Michoud facility in New Orleans is closing, laying-off 3,000 employees, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The quality of our elementary and secondary public schools is poor, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The state is about to go over a $2 Billion fiscal “cliff” which will cause a 35% cut to Higher Ed and Healthcare, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–A prior year budget deficit of $108 Million) means mid-year budget cuts to higher education and healthcare, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–State revenues for the current fiscal year are declining, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–There is an increase in those living in poverty and an increase in the number of Medicaid eligible citizens in Louisiana, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–The state retirement systems have a collective $16 Billion unfunded accrued liability (debt owed by the taxpayers), but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has a vanishing coastline, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has poor roads and bridges, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has the least affordable auto insurance, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has more state employees per capita than other states, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has an on-going out-migration of our “best and brightest,” because of a lack of high-paying jobs, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA will lose a Congressman next year due to low population growth, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
–LA has too much government for the size of the population, but the amendments don’t address the problem.
Suggestion
My suggestion for those who have asked me how to vote on the amendments is to vote for those amendments which address problems that are important to you.
If you don’t understand an amendment, call your state representative or state senator and ask them to explain it to you. Obviously, they understand the amendment because they have already voted on it.
C.B.
1
CB
9:55 am
