Louisianans will vote on four constitutional amendments on March 29. Ange Toussaint of KATC spoke with Invest in Louisiana’s Jan Moller about these proposals, including a comprehensive rewrite of the section of the state constitution that governs taxes and spending (Amendment 2) appearing on the ballot in a month not usually used for state elections.
“There are four amendments on the ballot, and none of them address issues so critical that I think they have to be addressed in March,” said Moller. “If the legislature wants to rewrite the most important, longest section of the Constitution, they certainly should do so, but they should do so in a much more deliberative, drawn-out fashion, where the public has much more chance for input.”
Moller outlined serious issues with the way Amendment 2 is being sold to the public:
Moller argues that the language used on the ballot is misleading, presenting only the positives of the amendment while leaving out key details. “There are a lot of things in this amendment that the amendment would do that are not mentioned in the ballot language. The ballot language itself is misleading,” said Moller.
Our new fact sheet explains why Amendment 2 would take Louisiana in the wrong direction. Click here to learn more.
Join us for a webinar on March 12 at 12 p.m. to learn more about Amendment 2 and its implications. Click here to register.
States could face impossible decisions
Congressional Republicans are proposing spending reductions that could total upwards of $2 trillion, including an $880 billion cut largely to Medicaid and $230 billion cut to food assistance. Suzanne Wikle of The Center for Law and Social Policy lays out the tough decisions states will have to make if these cuts are enacted:
No state can absorb that level of cuts and maintain their current Medicaid program. But it will be state legislators – not Congress – making the tough decisions of whether to reduce eligibility, slash provider reimbursement rates, and reduce benefits (non-mandatory Medicaid benefits for adults include dental, vision, and prescription coverage). … The disappearance of federal dollars doesn’t make hunger go away, but it’s not feasible for states to fill the void these cuts will create. The result is that people will go hungry and food-related businesses, including truck drivers and packing plants, will take a hit. The downstream economic damage will hurt state revenues through less income and sales tax collections.
Trump administration layoffs hit NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fired hundreds of weather forecasters and other workers on Thursday. The terminations, which came at the behest of the Trump administration, occur just months before the next Atlantic hurricane season. NPR’s team explains the potential impact:
NOAA monitors and forecasts the country’s weather and hurricanes, manages oceanic fisheries, protects coastal resources and creates and updates maritime maps critical to global shipping. TV meteorologists rely on NOAA data for local forecasting, as does the weather report many Americans read on their phones. Disruptions in NOAA’s employee base could, among other outcomes, result in less accurate weather forecasts, experts warn, or delays in updating maritime maps key to safe passage within the U.S.’s oceanic waters.
Consumer protection agency retreats
A federal consumer watchdog agency dropped five Biden-era lawsuits against financial institutions on Thursday. Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the aftermath of the Great Recession to protect consumers from predatory activity. But as Axios’ Emily Peck explains, the CFPB is being dismantled by the Trump administration:
Since Elon Musk posted “CFPB RIP” on X on February 7, hundreds of CFPB employees have been fired. The agency’s acting director, Russell Vought, ordered nearly all work stopped. Its headquarters are shuttered. The CFPB’s X account is gone, and its homepage shows a 404 message, though other parts of the website are working.The administration said in a court filing earlier this week it does intend to keep the CFPB around, albeit in a more streamlined way.
Number of the Day
72% – Percentage of Louisiana nonprofit organizations that would be at risk of a financial shortfall under President Donald Trump’s attempted federal funding freeze. A federal judge indefinitely blocked the administration’s move on Tuesday. (Source: Urban Institute)