Early voting kicked off Saturday, March 15, across Louisiana. As voters begin to head to the polls in what is expected to be a low-turnout election, newspapers and airwaves were filled with opinions and news coverage of the Constitutional Amendments that appear on the ballot. Unsurprisingly, Constitutional Amendment 2 is getting most of the attention.

If you’ve missed them, never fear. The Pelican Institute team has collected some of the best pieces for you to review:

Amendment 2 gives Louisiana a chance to lead

Pelican Institute CEO makes the case in The Advocate and The Times-Picayune that CA 2 will usher in Constitutional and tax policy changes that will allow Louisiana to flourish:

It’s rare in these polarized political times to find much of anything on which 80%+ of people can agree. Constitutional Amendment 2 presents that opportunity, as evidenced by the fact that it passed overwhelmingly from the legislative process, drawing opposition from only 15 state House members and winning the vote of every single state senator.

That overwhelming legislative support reflects a harsh reality: For too long, our state has lagged behind its neighbors, weighed down by an outdated tax system and a bloated constitution that stifles economic growth, sending our children and grandchildren to states with more jobs and greater opportunity.

No, Amendment 2 does not place taxes on churches

House Ways & Means Committee Chairwoman Julie Emerson dispels myths about CA2 in The Center Square Louisiana:

Politics is an increasingly wild and quite unpredictable sport. By now, you’ve likely seen claims that Amendment 2 (on your March 29 ballot) will somehow place property taxes on our churches. This just could not be further from the truth. Amendment 2 does not place any taxes on properties that are currently enjoying exemptions … and certainly not churches.

Vote Yes on Constitutional Amendment 2 For A Smarter, More Responsible Government

House Natural Resources Chairman Brett Geymann and Senator Bob Hensgens write in The Hayride about an unsung hero of CA 2: the Government Growth Limit:

One of the most significant aspects of this amendment is the Government Growth Limit, which we authored as a safeguard to prevent run-away government spending and get Louisiana’s state budget on a sustainable path for generations to come.

We have both served in the legislature for several terms as leaders of the “fiscal hawks,” a group of legislators committed to fiscal restraint and limited government. We’ve taken hard votes (to the chagrin, occasionally, of both Republican and Democrat governors) to stand up for taxpayers and try to slow the rapid growth of state spending.

For too long, Louisiana’s budget has expanded without clear checks, often growing at a rate faster than our economy or household incomes. In fact, over the last decade, the total state budget has ballooned nearly 90%!  When government spending outpaces the private sector, taxpayers ultimately bear the burden through higher taxes or financial instability. The Government Growth Limit ensures that recurring general fund spending does not grow beyond what our economy can support.

Officials clear the air on religious exemptions and Amendment 2

The Center Square Louisiana explores claims about religious exemptions in CA2:

A lot of noise has been made about a tiny detail in the proposed Amendment 2 to Louisiana’s constitution. That noise has meant a lawsuit and a great deal of what Amendment 2 backers say is misinformation.

The detail in question is the removal of certain tax exemptions for religious nonprofits from Louisiana’s constitution. These exemptions would not be eliminated entirely–they would remain protected in general law. 

Roger Wilder Speaks to the Livingston Parish Council

Representative Roger Wilder took the floor at a recent meeting of the Livingston Parish Council to explain CA2 in a straightforward and compelling presentation.

Amendment 2 would bring significant change to Louisiana constitution; opponents call it deceptive

FOX 8 New Orleans interviews advocates and opponents for CA2:

Louisiana voters on March 29 will decide the fate of a proposed amendment that would significantly change the largest part of the state constitution.

“This is the longest article in the constitution by far, almost the size of the entire rest of the constitution put together,” said Steven Procopio, president of the non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council.

…

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy supports the amendment.

“The Pelican Institute is fully supportive and encourages a yes vote on constitutional Amendment 2, so that we can streamline the constitution, lower the maximum rate of allowed income tax, pay off debt in order to make permanent the teacher pay raise, and institute a government-growth limit,” said Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the organization.

The Case for Amendment 2

Pelican Institute CEO takes to the airwaves to discuss CA 2 with Brian Haldane on Mornings with Brian Haldane on Talk 107.3 FM Baton Rouge:

Early voting for the March 29th election opens tomorrow. Daniel Erspamer from the Pelican Institute joins the show to discusses key ballot items, focusing on Constitutional Amendment #2. This amendment aims to lower the maximum income tax rate, pay off $2 billion in debt, and make permanent the teacher pay raise.

No doubt, there will be further conversation in the coming weeks, as early voting runs through March 22 and Election Day is March 29. Stay Tuned for more!