For voters in Red River Parish the only thing on the December ballot are four constitutional amendments.

Read the following to understand what your vote means. 

Proposed Amendment 1

BALLOT LANGUAGE: Do you support an amendment to allow the supreme court to sanction a judge upon an investigation by the judiciary commission, and provide that the recommended sanction shall be instituted by the judiciary commission or by a majority of the supreme court, and to provide for the appointment of five members of the judiciary commission?

This amendment would add five new members: two chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two chosen by the Senate President, and one chosen by the Governor. This would make this commission much more political and remove barriers to checks of power between branches of government. This amendment would require an investigation to take place before there can be any disciplinary action for judges and would add “malfeasance while in office” to the list of reasons for disciplinary action. Further, it would remove the confidentiality of the investigative proceedings.

A yes vote would add five political appointees to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, add “malfeasance while in office” to the list of reasons for disciplinary actions, and remove confidentiality of investigations.

A no vote would keep the current members of the commission without any new appointments, keep the confidentiality of investigations, and not add “malfeasance while in office” to the list of reasons for investigations.

Proposed Amendment 2

BALLOT LANGUAGE: Do you support an amendment to require that the legislature wait for at least forty-eight hours prior to concurring in a conference committee report or amendments to a bill appropriating money?

This amendment would add a 48 hour waiting period before legislators in one branch can vote to approve a bill that was changed in the other branch. Additionally, it would add a 48 hour waiting period for amendments to bills that allocate state money. This would give legislators more time to read the changes that were passed in the other branch.

A yes vote would: add a 48 hour waiting period before legislators in one branch can vote to approve a bill that was changed in the other branch, and require legislators to wait 48 hours before voting on bills that decide how to spend state money.

A no vote would: keep current rules for the legislative branch which allows branches to vote on bills as soon as they can, even without enough time for all legislators to read the bills.

Proposed Amendment 3

BALLOT LANGUAGE: Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to extend a regular session in increments of two days up to a maximum of six days if necessary to pass a bill appropriating money?

This amendment would add five new members: two chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two chosen by the Senate President, and one chosen by the Governor. This would make this commission much more political and remove barriers to checks of power between branches of government. This amendment would require an investigation to take place before there can be any disciplinary action for judges and would add “malfeasance while in office” to the list of reasons for disciplinary action. Further, it would remove the confidentiality of the investigative proceedings.

A yes vote would: allow the legislature to extend the regular legislative session by 2 days at a time to pass a bill that allocates state money.

A no vote would: keep current rules for the legislative branch which does not allow the legislature to extend its regular session, even if there are bills that have not been passed.

Proposed Amendment 4

BALLOT LANGUAGE: Do you support an amendment to eliminate mandatory tax sales for nonpayment of property taxes and require the legislature to provide for such procedures by law; to limit the amount of penalty and interest on delinquent property taxes; and to provide for the postponement of property tax payments under certain circumstances?

This amendment would add a 48 hour waiting period before legislators in one branch can vote to approve a bill that was changed in the other branch. Additionally, it would add a 48 hour waiting period for amendments to bills that allocate state money. This would give legislators more time to read the changes that were passed in the other branch.

A yes vote would: allow the state legislature to postpone property tax payments when there is a declared emergency or allow the tax collector to waive penalties for a good cause.

A no vote would: keep current rules for property taxes, allowing the local parish government to put a lien on the property and auction it at a tax sale, even during declared emergencies.

Source: powercoalition.org