To: Hon. Beau Beaullieu IV <hse048@legis.la.gov>; “Hon. Rodney Lyons” <lyonsr@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Mike Bayham <hse103@legis.la.gov>; “Hon. Beth Billings” <hse056@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Delisha Boyd <hse102@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Josh Carlson <043@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Wilford Carter <hse034@legis.la.gov>; “Hon. Jessica Domangue” <hse053@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Les Farnum <hse033@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Foy Gadberry <hse015@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Mike Johnson <hse027@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Ed Larvadain <hse026@legis.la.gov>; Hon. C. Denise Marcelle <marcelled@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Candace Newell <hse099@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Rodney Schamerhorn <hse024@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Polly Thomas <thomaspj@legis.la.gov>; “Hon. Mark Wright” <wrightm@legis.la.gov>; Hon. John Wyble <hse075@legis.la.gov>
Cc: bakers@legis.la.gov <bakers@legis.la.gov>; lowreyp@legis.la.gov <lowreyp@legis.la.gov>; smithan@legis.la.gov <smithan@legis.la.gov>; h&ga@legis.la.gov <h&ga@legis.la.gov>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 at 04:20:34 PM CDT
Subject: OPPOSE HB800
Dear Honorable Chair and Members of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee,
I am a Louisiana Resident and Registered Voter. Thank you for your hard work at the legislature.
I am writing to express my opposition to HB800.
Since this is already a controversial bill, no doubt you have heard many arguments for and against.
Apparently the state constitution could use some editing, but that is not what this bill is about.
First, The actions remain undefined; what is "limited"?
Second, The actions are rushed. Previous Louisiana Constitutional Conventions took years, and this will be rushed into a few weeks and shorten the legislative session. Surely you must oppose something that takes away your already limited time and power. The legislature is already worn out with 2 extra special sessions. The convention may take place in the heat of the summer.
Third, such a constitutional convention will not be representative of adult Louisianans (50% women, 12-34% black [https://blackdemographics.com/states/louisiana-black-population/, https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/louisiana-population-change-between-census-decade.html], 18% Hispanic, 1% indigenous). Moreover, the current LA legislative districts are under litigation, so the districts of the legislature may not be constitutional. Also, The 27 governor-appointed delegates are not democratically elected. Who will they be?
Fourth, since apparently little content guidance is provided, all programs may be up for grabs. These include items like public school funding, the LPSC, the Ethics Board, health programs, sales tax, environmental protections, income tax.
Please vote AGAINST this legislation.
Thank you,