Voters who go to the polls for the federal primary
on Nov. 5 will find local propositions galore on the ballot, including 12 proposed
amendments to the state Constitution. We make the following recommendations:
Amendment 1. This proposal will move
fiscal legislative sessions from even- to odd-numbered years, giving newly elected
governors and lawmakers the chance to act on campaign pledges immediately. Vote
FOR Amendment 1.
Amendment 2. The so-called Stelly Plan
is essentially an income tax/sales tax swap. The nonpartisan Public Affairs
Research Council says 84 percent of Louisiana tax-filers would get a tax break
right away and 96 percent of our tax structure would remain unchanged. Specifically,
the plan would permanently remove state sales taxes on food for home consumption,
residential utilities and prescription drugs. The plan also would lower the
income tax bracket for lower incomes and raise it on some middle and all higher
incomes. While not a wholesale reform of Louisiana's tax structure, the Stelly
Plan is a step in the right direction in that income taxes are a more stable
source of public revenue. Vote FOR Amendment 2.
Amendment 3. Currently, two-thirds
of the state budget is protected from budget cuts by the constitution or state
law. Meanwhile, state health care gets it in the neck. Amendment 3 would allow
the governor and legislators to spread the deficit pain over a broader range
of targets. Vote FOR Amendment 3.
Amendment 4. This amendment would require
the termination of any state or local public employee convicted of a felony
during employment after all appeals have been exhausted. Vote FOR Amendment
4.
Amendment 5. This amendment would give
tax breaks for up to 10 years to developers of retirement communities. The breaks
will help attract retiring baby-boomers, an economically powerful group not
expected to draw heavily upon public services. Vote FOR Amendment 5.
Amendment 6. Created by the Legislature
for cops in 1956, a state-funded monthly supplement of $300 now totals $70 million
and includes firefighters, deputy sheriffs, constables and marshals. Justices
of the peace and their constables get $75 monthly. The amendment would give
constitutional protection to a minimum of $300 per month in supplemental pay.
We support cops and firefighters, but this should be handled by statute -- not
by the constitution. Vote AGAINST Amendment 6.
Amendment 7. This proposal would require
that owner-occupied homes of seniors (65 and older) meet an income eligibility
test only once to receive a special property tax break. Annual filings are currently
required. Vote FOR Amendment 7.
Amendment 8. This proposal would authorize
public colleges and universities to invest up to 50 percent of their endowment
and other funds in stocks. Vote FOR Amendment 8
Amendment 9. This proposal would allow
the state to invest up to 35 percent of the recently created Medicaid Trust
Fund in stocks. Vote FOR Amendment 9.
Amendment 10. This cart-before-the-horse
proposal is designed to relieve demand on Louisiana's four underwater aquifers
by creating a trust fund to pay farmers for not using groundwater during droughts.
It also would remove current prohibitions to donating public funds or loans
to private entities. But no trust fund, guidelines or incentives for the proposed
program have been developed. Vote AGAINST Amendment 10.
Amendment 11. Louisiana needs this
tax break for the repair, conversion or storage of offshore drilling rigs to
become more competitive with Texas. Vote FOR Amendment 11.
Amendment 12. The constitution bans
non-physicians from running for coroner if a physician seeks the job. Amendment
12 would exempt the incumbent coroner of Livingston Parish, who is not an M.D.
Vote AGAINST Amendment 12.
Familiar Fingerprints
The move to privatize sewerage and water
operations of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board had lots of detractors.
We count ourselves among those troubled by parts of the plan. However, the board's
hurried 6-5 vote last week to reject all bids without debate -- and, more importantly,
without any backup plan -- smacked of precisely the kind of back-room political
machinations that critics of privatization have leveled at proponents. Clearly,
somebody stacked the deck, no doubt hoping to embarrass Mayor Ray Nagin, who
by law chairs the S&WB.
There are plenty of familiar fingerprints
at the scene: former Mayor Marc Morial appointed a majority of the board; his
ally, Councilman Marlin Gusman, an S&WB member, voted with the Morial majority
to deny citizens the right to speak on the proposals. So did Councilman Oliver
Thomas, who conveniently deferred his own ordinance doubling sewer rates at
the council's meeting the next day.
But the day of reckoning cannot be postponed
forever. New Orleans faces nearly a billion dollars in federally mandated upgrades.
One way or another, we must make the improvements and pay for them. Privatization
could bring efficiencies that would cushion citizens against rate shock.
As the mayor ponders his next move, we suggest
broadening the scope of possible changes -- starting with the structure of the
board itself. Perhaps it's time to seek legislation further removing politics
from the board by establishing a brand-new S&WB, one modeled after the Dock
Board, whose members are nominated by leading community organizations, serve
one term only, and do not include elected officials.
Meanwhile, the board should improve, not abandon,
the privatization process and offer citizens alternatives to doubling the rates.
