Rep. Beau Beaullieu
New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu has filed legislation that calls for a constitutional convention so state lawmakers and delegates appointed by the governor can write a new state constitution. Beaullieu says the goal is to move certain items out of the Constitution and put them into state law.
“We’ll be debating the issues that are in the constitution and whether they should be there or they should they be in the statute that’s the whole premise of this convention,” said Beaullieu.
According to the Council of State Governments Louisiana’s constitution is one of the longest in the country. It’s been amended over 200 times since adopted in 1974.
Beaullieu says not only do they want to streamline the state constitution, but they also want to give lawmakers more flexibility during tough budget times. He says when the state faces a budget deficit, higher education and health care take a brunt of the cuts, because certain areas are constitutionally protected.
“Not that we want to cut things greater, we like to smooth out any kind of budget deficits that we have and not have it on the backs of higher education and health care,” said Beaullieu.
a constitutional convention takes place, Louisiana residents would vote in November to ratify the new document.
Beaullieu’s bill calls for the constitutional convention to begin May 20th and run until July 15th, but he believes it will not take that long.
“Probably got ten to 15 items that we would all say these are the hot potato items, that we need to decide if these need to stay in the constitution or come out,” said Beaullieu.
Senate President Cameron Henry has said it would be difficult to end the regular session two weeks early to start a constitutional convention. He needs to see more details on what will be discussed during the convention.
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