TalkingPoints:
OpposingConstitutionalAmendmentsandConventions
WhatisaConstitutionalAmendment?
Thepurposeofaconstitutionalamendmentistoamendaportionofanexistingconstitution.Constitutional amendmentsgobeforethevotingpublicforapproval.
WhatisaConstitutionalConvention?
Thepurposeofaconstitutionalconventionistoeitherwriteanewconstitutionorreform/reviseanexisting constitution.Delegatesareappointedtorevieworrewritetheconstitution.
*WhydoesLRTAOPPOSEaConstitutionalAmendment/Convention?
•PerArticleX,Section29(A),theLouisianaConstitutionguaranteeslifetimeretirementbenefitstoTRSL retirees.Thestateconstitutionhasincludedthisguaranteesince1973.Aconstitutionalamendmentor conventionhasthepotentialtoremovethisguarantee.Therefore,thestatewouldnolongerberequiredto payretiredteacherspensions(thattheyEARNED).
•Aconstitutionalamendmentorconventioncouldalsoremovebudgetaryprotectionsfromotherareasofthe constitution,suchaseducationfunding.Inadequateorinconsistentfundingwouldaffecttheschoolsystems’ abilitytopaytheemployer’scosttotheTeachers’RetirementSystemofLouisiana(TRSL).
•Asthevoicefortheretirededucationcommunity,LRTAopposesanylegislativeactionthatwouldnegatively affectretiredteachersand/ortheirpensions.
•Thestatecanamendtheconstitutionalconventionthroughlegislation.
*Note:LRTAopposesconstitutionalamendmentsthatwouldnegativelyimpactretireesortheretirement system.
BottomLine
•Aconstitutionalamendment/convention could affectyourretirementbenefits.Iftheconstitutional guaranteeoflifetimebenefitsisremoved,thestatewouldnotberequiredtopaypublicpensions.
•Removingbudgetaryprotectionsfromotherareasoftheconstitutioncanaffectourretirementsystem.