It appears supporters of a constitutional convention in Louisiana are making a final push to have one before the fall election. Republican megadonor Lane Grigsby sent lawmakers a letter trying to persuade them to hold a Constitutional Convention this year. LA-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford tells the Louisiana Radio Network that Grigsby’s letter cites - among other things - changes to the public-school funding formula. “The Homestead exemption that we all have on our property taxes on our homes and a number of other sales tax changes and a host of a few other things, as well; still focusing (on) big questions on the financial section of the constitution.”
During the regular session, Governor Jeff Landry had the full support of the House for a convention, approving House Bill No. 800. But when the proposal went to the upper chamber, Alford says they put on the breaks. “The Senate just kind of put up its arms and said we need to slow down. This is a major undertaking of fundamental law and only a few weeks have passed since it happened. So, I can only assume that the Senate still has that posture.”
Yet, legislators have already spent a lot of time at the state capitol for an organizing session and two special sessions, along the regular session which wrapped-up on Monday, June 3. Nor, would this constitutional convention be the first. Louisiana has had ten state constitutions since 1812. The current document dates back to 1974.
Alford says one reason for the rush is the expected high Republican voter turnout for the presidential election. He says architects of the convention feel that strong conservative support will ensure their initiatives will be approved. But a spokesperson for the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office says a convention would have to end in early September to make the November election ballot.
Grigsby is expected to make his case for holding a constitutional convention when he speaks before the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, July 15. Grigsby set his own deadline of August 23.
