PAR Releases “Guide to the Constitutional Amendments”
Click here to download a copy of the “Guide.”
The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) today released its “Guide to the Constitutional Amendments” for the ballot on Oct. 2, 2010.
The “Guide” explains the potential impact of the two amendments that the public will consider in the upcoming election. This neutral analysis of each amendment will help voters develop their own positions on each proposition. Voters will be presented with 10 additional amendments in the Nov. 2, 2010, election. PAR will publish a second report explaining the amendments on the ballot in that election.
“The propositions on the ballot for the October election are fairly simple but they do raise some fairly big questions about government. Should the lawmaking calendar be changed? And, who should be a part of state civil service?” said Jim Brandt, president of PAR. “The ‘Guide’ gives voters the context they need to answer these questions.”
The amendments would:
- Make regular legislative sessions begin earlier each year and change the date legislation would go into effect;
- Exempt from classified civil service all employees in the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
The “Guide” provides background for each amendment, describes the current situation regarding the issues and provides a commentary on each proposed change. Arguments of proponents and opponents also are provided.
Excluding the proposals to be considered this year, Louisiana voters have considered 221 amendments and approved 153 of them since the 1974 Constitution was adopted.
PAR “Guide to the Proposed Constitutional Amendments” is available for free download on PAR’s Web site at www.la-par.org. The Web site also has a complete listing and explanation of all amendments that have been proposed and adopted since 1974.
The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan public policy research organization focused on pointing the way toward a more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable Louisiana government. PAR was founded in 1950 and is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. PAR has never accepted state government funds.