By Paul Anger, JPDEC 2nd vice chair, with many thanks to Julie Schwam Harris.
Amendment #2 on the Louisiana ballot for the Nov. 13 election is a really, really bad idea. You can vote early from Saturday, Oct. 30, through Nov. 6 — whatever you do inside the booth, ignore the cynically sweet, misleading text that describes Amendment #2, and vote NO.
Why? The Jefferson Parish Democratic Executive Committee recommends NO on #2, with reasons detailed in earlier posts. And if you need more convincing, please read the letter to the editor published by NOLA.COM/opinions and in Oct. 28 editions of the Advocate/Times-Picayune. It’s written by Julie Schwam Harris of New Orleans, and it’s the most cogent, succinct analysis you’ll find anywhere. Quoting her:
“I urge everyone to vote NO to Constitutional Amendment 2’s hollow offer of reform on Nov. 13.
“First, it does not permanently fix the main problem that most people agree needs fixing — that Louisiana allows federal income taxes to be deducted from Louisiana state income taxes, causing periodic crises in state revenue. The amendment’s language would allow the Legislature to bring back that widely condemned federal deduction practice anytime.
“Second, it does not at all reform the unfair, regressive sales tax structure that keeps working people and many small businesses paying a higher rate of their income in taxes than wealthy people and businesses.
“Third, the income tax rate deductions it does make are skewed to benefit those with higher incomes. What’s more, on top of it all, Amendment 2 ties the hands of the Legislature with constitutionally lower tax ceilings and automatic triggers so if there were momentum to invest more in education, teacher salaries, child care, health care and other critical needs (I want them to do that), the Legislature might not be able to raise enough revenue to do so.
“This is a bad amendment masquerading as reform — don’t buy it. The Legislature can do a better job next time by focusing on the real solutions to the real problems for all citizens — not a tax swap for the wealthy.”
Remember those words in the voting booth. VOTE NO TO AMENDMENT #2.
JPDEC also urges a NO vote on Amendment #4, another seemingly reasonable ballot question that hides potentially severe consequences down the line, especially in combination with Amendment #2.
As for Amendments #1 and #3, JPDEC recommends a YES vote.