Dem
47
GOP
53
If you need some more evidence that special and off-season elections are wonky, we present to you what happened in Louisiana this past Saturday. There, voters shot down all four Constitutional amendments they were offered. It is a big loss for Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA), who supported them and campaigned hard for them.
Amendment 1 would have given the state Supreme Court the power to punish out-of-state attorneys who provide services to people in Louisiana. Sarah Whittington, of the Louisiana ACLU, said: "It's really just enabling legislators to undermine our judicial system and empowering them to create kangaroo courts that are in their own best interests." It lost 35% to 65%.
Amendment 2 was a sprawling revision of the part of the state Constitution dealing with taxes and budgeting. It would have reduced the top marginal state income tax rate and corporate taxes and raised the state sales tax to make up for the loss of revenue. The basic idea was that rich people should pay less tax and poor and middle class people should pay more tax. Sounds like a good deal for some people. Another part of the amendment would have limited state spending, even if the money is available. Yet another part was to use the one-time rainy-day fund to cover the recurring loss of the recent corporate tax cut. Still another part would have eliminated three state trust funds created by the voters when the state received settlements from lawsuits against oil and tobacco companies. The money would have gone to a one-time injection of $2 billion to the teachers' retirement fund. And more. It lost, with 35% for and 65% against.
Amendment 3 would have given the legislature the power to determine the list of crimes committed by minors that would have them tried as adults. The legislature is just itching to have minors be tried as adults for more crimes. Especially Black minors. It failed 34% to 66%. In Orleans Parish (county), which is almost 60% Black, it got 9% of the vote. People there understood what it was intended to do.
Amendment 4 would have changed the timeline for special elections. This is somewhat inside baseball, but opponents said that election schedules should be made by the legislature, not locked down in the Constitution. It lost 36% to 64%.
The "No to them all" coalition was pleased with the results, namely all four being defeated in landslides. The governor was unhappy, as he had tried his best to get all of them to pass and all were crushed. He blamed the results on George Soros and the far-left liberals. Soros did not actually contribute any money to the "No" coalition, but it is possible that some money he gave to some other group in the past might have gotten into the election. What Landry didn't mention is that the remaining Koch brother, Charles, was actively involved in the election, funding a group that knocked on doors, ran phone banks, and sent out direct mail urging a "Yes" vote. It didn't work. Sometimes the side with the most money still loses. This election will surely weaken Landry's clout with the legislature and with the voters.
Is this an omen that something spectacular might happen in all the elections tomorrow? Check back on Wednesday and we'll let you know. (V)