There’s been plenty of talk recently about a potential Constitutional Convention (“Con-Con”) in Louisiana. This topic has some strong detractors in the local establishment media, so it’s been difficult to get past some of the spin coming from The Advocate and the Louisiana Illuminator.
In recent weeks, Governor Jeff Landry has become a huge proponent for revising the state’s outdated 1973 state constitution. The governor hosted a press conference a few weeks ago outlining his desire to revise parts of the state constitution. He pointed out the current constitution’s obvious flaws—from its budgetary constraints to the mishmash of over 200 amendments added over the last 50 years. For context, the US Constitution possesses only 27 amendments over a period of 235 years.
If you don’t want to watch the whole press conference, then you can check this infographic from Governor Landry’s office about a potential
“Con-Con.” The infographic provides eight arguments in favor of a new state convention, but I plan to focus on primarily one of those reasons today.
#lalege pic.twitter.com/YItOFRStre
— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) May 7, 2024
Earlier this week, the idea of a “Con-Con” started picking up some steam in the Legislature. Rep. Beau Beaullieu’s bill for a limited Constitutional Convention (HB 800) received overwhelming support in the state house. The bill passed the House 75-27–with most Democrats and RINO Joe Stagni voting against.
As Scott McKay pointed out earlier this week, the Louisiana far-left has thrown an absolute tantrum over Beaullieu’s bill. While there are legitimate concerns about a Constitutional Convention, what we heard from Democrat legislators during the debate of HB 800 was bordering on fear-mongering.
I decided to do my own digging to learn more about the 1973 Constitutional Convention from the people who were actually involved in the last “Con-Con.” My belief is that we need to go “straight to the horse’s mouth” when it comes to understanding our current situation.
Fortunately, I found an enlightening video on YouTube from Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) on this very topic. Back in 2013, LPB hosted a panel with several delegates from the ’73 convention for the convention’s 40th anniversary. A key part of the panel came around the halfway point (the 32:20 mark in the video below) with former Governor Edwin Edwards:
Typically, I would take anything that a huckster like Edwin Edwards would say with a grain of salt. The former governor was notoriously corrupt and went to prison for racketeering and corruption. That being said, he did share some valuable insight in this 2013 panel.
During the panel, Edwards mentioned that Louisiana’s 1973 constitution possess a major issue regarding the state budget:
“In the event of a shortfall, he [the governor] is restricted to two very sensitive areas—higher education and healthcare, and the other agencies are protected from interim cuts, and, therefore, a governor faced with an obligation to balance the budget has to take from those two areas, and that’s not a popular thing to do as the present governor [then Governor Bobby Jindal] has found out.”
Straight from the horse’s mouth indeed.
This excerpt from Edwin Edwards is probably the strongest argument for a new state constitution in Louisiana. Our state possesses little fiscal flexibility when the only cuts to the state budget can come from two areas–higher education and healthcare.
With a looming budgetary shortfall likely on the horizon, Governor Landry clearly wants more fiscal options at the Legislature’s disposal in the 2025 fiscal session. With that information in mind, a constitutional convention would need to take place in 2024. That way, voters can decide on the new state constitution this coming November.
Now, let’s not forget that the 1973 state constitution is very much Edwards’s proverbial “political child.” Revising the state constitution was one of Edwin Edwards’s major policy initiatives in his first term as governor. However, the delegates for the 1973 “Con-Con” apparently ran afoul of the then-Governor’s wishes at times–leading even Edwards to remain critical with parts of the current constitution.
Despite its obvious flaws, Edwards did share his overall support for the 1973 state constitution by the end of the 2013 panel. After all, the 1973 constitutional convention remains an inextricable part of his political legacy. A shrewd politico like Edwards knew better than to overtly criticize one’s accomplishments, as flawed as they might be.
Going forward, I plan to explore the idea of a new constitutional convention if the LA Senate decides to pass Rep. Beaullieu’s HB 800 this session. The writers here at The Hayride will serve an important role in sharing valuable information about the potential “Con-Con” to the public without the spin from The Advocate and others.
Overall, we will have to see if a new state constitution will become a part of Governor Jeff Landry’s political legacy in Louisiana. Passing a new state constitution could bring major structural change to the state that Governor Landry promised during his gubernatorial run last year. We sure could use it.
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Nathan Koenig is a frequent contributor to RVIVR.com, a national conservative political site affiliated with The Hayride. Follow his writing on the Louisiana First Standard Substack, on Twitter (X) @LAfirststandard, and on Instagram @tincanconservative. Email him here: [email protected]
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Author: Nathan Koenig
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