iDeal Gifts for Dad. • House Bill 135 by Rep. Rickey Nowlin, R-Natchitoches, would prohibit the levying of new taxes or fees upon the sale or transfer of immovable property, such as family homes. • House Bill 341 by Rep. Chris Hazel, R-Pineville, authorizes the Legislature to establish the Patient’s Compensation Fund as a private custodial fund. Any income the fund earns, and anything it owns, would not be public. • Senate Bill 113 by Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, redirects and transfers dedicated funds to the state budget as needed. Among the biggest complaints from the public when it comes to constitutional amendments is the language used on the ballots. The words and sentences can be complex, even for lawmakers, who have grumbled a bit about the matter themselves over the years. That inspired Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, to file House Concurrent Resolution 4, which already has cleared the Lower Chamber. The measure calls for “clear, concise, and unbiased language in constitutional amendment ballot language.” She argues that all amendments should be posed to voters as questions, beginning with the phrase, “Do you support an amendment to...”
FiNALLY, WHAT WOULD A DeBATe OveR constitutional issues be without the input of the Tea Party of Louisiana? Louisiana’s tea party has a loud voice at the Capitol, and it has declared war on House Bill 388 by Rep. Nickie Monica, R-LaPlace. Monica’s bill would change the way Louisiana selects its presidential electors by implementing a national popular vote system. A national popular vote would allow presidential candidates to win the White House by simply earning 50 percent of the popular vote, plus one. Critics say a national popular vote could weaken the role of smaller states in presidential elections because it would allow presidential candidates to win the White House by focusing on places like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago because of their massive populations. “This would be the end of the American republic, if this bill passes,” says Bob Reid, spokesman for the Tea Party of Louisiana. At the time of his remarks, the measure appeared to be stalled on the House floor. “The founders of America created the most sophisticated system of government known to man — a government designed to give the people more power than the government. This national popular vote initiative would literally uproot our system of government and would destroy our country.” No doubt it would take more than a national popular vote to “destroy” the anchor of the free world. Such rhetoric shows how emotional the debate over constitutional issues has become. it also helps brighten the line between those who want to tear into Louisiana’s constitution with red pens and those who want to leave well enough alone. At least for now.
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Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > JUne 14 > 2011
O N OT H eR FRO N T S , T H e 1 0T H Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is under fire this year. Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, has brought forth House Concurrent Resolution 51, which once again claims state sovereignty for Louisiana. Many lawmakers view it as a tool to oppose President Barack Obama’s federal health care overhaul. Primarily, Harrison is pushing the resolution — a non-starter among his colleagues — to demand that the federal government “cease promulgating unconstitutional mandates.” Harrison cites a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court case — New York v. United States, 112 S. Ct. 2408 — that found Congress “may not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory processes of the states.” The “states’ rights” argument is likewise being used by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries this year to wrest oversight of certain species (such as red snapper) from the federal government. Assistant Fisheries Secretary Randy Pausina told lawmakers recently that House Bill 293 would create a pilot program that could help convince the feds that Louisiana would do a better job than the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council. Based on fisheries the state currently manages — spotted (speckled) trout, flounder and crab, to name a few — and compared to those overseen by
the federal government (red snapper, amberjack and tuna), there’s a strong case to build, Pausina says. “We feel all of the animals we manage are in good shape, and those managed by the federal government, not so good shape,” he adds. Additionally, he argued that states like Texas and Florida already enjoy such broader authority; he says the legislation would help bring Louisiana up to par. The legislation, authored by House Natural Resources Chairman Gordon Dove, R-Houma, is expected to pass the Senate and win support from Gov. Bobby Jindal.
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