The Louisiana Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, has ended a lawsuit challenging a misleading tax amendment (Amendment 2) on the March 29 statewide ballot. Attorney General Liz Murrill had asked the high court to intervene after a state judge refused to halt the legal challenge last week. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Alyse Pfeil reports on the dissenting views of Chief Justice John Weimer and Justices John Michael Guidry and Piper Griffin:
Weimer said the decision of the Supreme Court served to effectively “upend the normal judicial process,” the absence of which “erodes the respect for the fairness and impartiality of the system of justice.” “Louisiana has a system of justice that allows for public hearings, the right of review by a court of appeal, and then and only then, a request to this court by way of a writ of certiorari to hear the matter,” Weimar wrote. “I strongly disagree with the majority that the proposed ballot language is sufficient and transparent to accurately summarize and put voters on notice concerning what they are being asked to vote for or against,” Guidry wrote.
The bill that created Amendment 2 is more than 100 pages long, but what voters will see on their ballots contains less than 100 words. The proposal also contains misleading language, the most glaring of which involves the prospect of a “permanent” pay raise for teachers and school support workers. You can learn more about Amendment 2 by reading our fact sheet and issue brief or listening to the Invest in Louisiana podcast.
Tax breaks for NIL earnings is hypocritical
Louisiana college and high school athletes earning income through name, image and likeness (NIL) deals would be exempt from the state income tax, under legislation being prepared by Rep. Dixon McMakin of Baton Rouge. A Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate editorial explains why supporting this effort would be a hypocritical move by the Louisiana Legislature:
This is the same Legislature that late last year lowered tax rates in return for, among other things, significantly dialing back tax credits and special-interest deductions. The dial-backs were a recognition that state government should be providing a level playing field, not picking and choosing economic winners and losers — and also that abundant special-interest credits create economic inefficiencies the state should avoid. Having just done that, how does it make sense to offer a huge exemption to an extremely small group of people who already are commanding large incomes at a young age?
Superintendents talk federal budget cuts
Some school superintendents in Louisiana are growing concerned about the impact that federal budget cuts could have on their districts and students. The Pelican State is heavily reliant on Washington for education funding, with 1 in 5 dollars for public schools coming from federal sources. Grace Thompson and Gracelyn Farrar of LSU Manship School News Service report on the limited options that superintendents would have if these crucial funds are eliminated:
“We don’t have any backup for the funds if they were cut,” said Johnnie Adams, the school superintendent in Catahoula Parish. “Anything they cut, there’s a very slim chance we would have any other way to continue that program. Or if we did, we would be cutting money from something else.” “I’d just like to share that our schools are in need,” Adams added, “and any financial help they can give to help us be more successful for our students would be greatly appreciated.”
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an order on Thursday that would begin the dismantling of the Department of Education. Thompson and Farrar explain how this move would affect Louisiana:
Educational programs in Louisiana, especially those helping low-income and disabled students, depend significantly on federal support. Cuts to the state education budget could endanger crucial services to schools in Louisiana, including special education programs and free meal programs, since the state would have trouble coming up with the money itself.
Uncertain future for broadband expansion
Louisiana has a plan to use $1.36 billion in federal funding to expand broadband internet access to 140,000 locations – including homes, schools, libraries and hospitals – where it’s currently lacking. The state used those federal dollars to create programs, such as the Granting Underserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO), to help provide this crucial technology. But as Camden Doherty of The Current explains, the Biden-era broadband initiative faces an uncertain future in the Trump White House:
Once completed at the end of this year, GUMBO 1.0 will have brought improved or more affordable internet options to roughly 65,000 homes, businesses and community partners in 48 of Louisiana’s parishes. Funds for the state project were allocated by the federal treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. But GUMBO 2.0, which would greatly expand on its predecessor’s successes, is currently being held for review by President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, a long-time critic of the $42 billion federal Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program known as BEAD.
Number of the Day
$3,297 – Amount of federal funds Louisiana received per student during the 2021-22 school year, 30% higher than the national average. (Source: USAFacts)