BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana lawmakers have spurned an effort to rewrite part of the state constitution.
Rep. Neil Abramson’s proposal would have started a process leading to a constitutional convention in 2019, with a scope largely limited to budget and tax issues.
Abramson, a New Orleans Democrat, said too many rules that control government spending and tax policy are locked into the constitution, and lawmakers are constrained in addressing Louisiana’s persistent financial troubles.
Opponents expressed concern about opening up the constitution to outside delegates.
Republican Rep. Jay Morris of Monroe says he worries about the influx of special-interest money influencing the outcome of any rewrite.
The Louisiana House voted 50-45 for Abramson’s bill. It needed 70 votes to pass.
Louisiana’s current constitution was adopted in 1974.
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House Bill 456: www.legis.la.gov
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