Odds are that voters in Calcasieu Parish have already determined who they will cast their ballot for today in the presidential
and Third District Congressional races.
The nine Louisiana Constitutional Amendments may be a different matter.
Judging from the phone calls the paper has received seeking guidance on the amendments, the American Press has decided to
review its recommendations on the amendments that will be on ballots statewide:
• No. 1 — Would constitutionally protect the Medicaid Trust Fund. We
believe that there are already too many funds protected
in the Constitution, which invariably lead to cuts to health care
and higher education when the state faces budget crunches.
Hence, we recommend a No vote.
• No. 2 — Would require that any laws restricting the right to keep and
bear arms be subject to strict scrutiny, the highest
level of judicial review. We believe that the state Constitution
laws regarding Second Amendment rights are more than adequate.
Hence, we recommend a No vote.
• No. 3 — Would require earlier notice on bills that are filed affecting
the state’s public retirement system. We believe that,
because of the importance of retirement bills for state public
employees, setting earlier deadlines for those bills is a worthy
endeavor. Hence, we recommend a Yes vote.
• No. 4 — Would allow a spouse of a deceased veteran who had a 100
percent service-related disability rating to claim a higher
homestead exemption even if the exemption was not in effect when
the veteran died. We believe this benefit should be extended
to the widow of such qualifying disable veterans. Hence, we
recommend a Yes vote.
• No. 5 — Would allow courts to include forfeiture of a portion of a
public retirement benefit as part of a sentence for a
public servant convicted of a felony related to his or her office.
We believe this is a further deterrent for public servants
to avoid corruption. Hence, we recommend a Yes vote.
• No. 6 — Would allow New Iberia to grant city property tax exemptions to any property owner annexed into the city after Jan.
1. 2013. We believe such a narrow proposal has no business in the state Constitution. Hence, we recommend a No vote.
• No. 7 — Would adjust the membership of certain boards and commissions
to reflect the loss of one congressional district as
a result of the 2010 census. We believe this housekeeping measure
is necessary to align the representation with the new six
districts. Hence, we recommend a Yes vote.
• No. 8 — Would allow parishes to permit a local 10-year property tax
exemption for certain non-manufacturing businesses locating
or expanding in the parish. We believe that this is another
necessary tool to compete with other states in enticing businesses
to locate in Louisiana. Hence, we recommend a Yes vote.
• No. 9 — Would require an increase in the number of times that bills to
create crime prevention or security districts must
be advertised and require the specifics of the bills to be listed
the advertisement. We believe that additional public notice
is good in practically every situation. Hence, we recommend a Yes
vote.
Additionally, voters in each parish will also decide the fate of a proposal that would limit school board members to serving
three four-year consecutive terms beginning after Jan. 1, 2014. We believe this proposal would result in more turnover on
school boards and, as a result, more diversity of thought and fresh approaches. Hence, we recommend a Yes vote.
This editorial was written by a member of the American Press Editorial Board. Its content reflects the collaborative opinion of the Board, whose members include Bobby Dower, Ken Stickney,
Jim Beam, Crystal Stevenson and Donna Price.