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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Voters in Louisiana decisively turned down four proposed constitutional amendments that were backed by Governor Jeff Landry, focusing on various aspects of crime, court procedures, and financial regulations.
Initial reports indicated that all four amendments were rejected by significant margins, often surpassing 60%, according to preliminary results made public by the Secretary of State’s office after the polls closed Saturday evening.
The governor actively campaigned for an amendment aimed at overhauling the state’s revenue and financial regulations. This amendment saw some bipartisan support during a special session in November that addressed tax reform. It was marketed as an initiative to enhance teacher salaries, reduce extraneous expenditures, and eliminate certain constitutional tax exemptions.
However, the proposed reform faced substantial opposition from various corners, with critics pointing to its lack of transparency. The full bill spanned over 100 pages yet was summarized into a mere 91 words for the ballot.
Although major teacher unions expressed support, a diverse coalition including liberal advocates and prominent conservative religious leaders condemned the amendment. They raised concerns about its implications for educational trust funds and the possible removal of tax break protections for specific properties owned by religious organizations.
Another amendment sought to ease restrictions for legislating the offenses where juveniles could be sentenced as adults. Criminal justice reform advocates opposed this initiative, labeling it as overly punitive and ineffective in tackling the underlying factors contributing to youth crime.
The other amendments included provisions for establishing regional specialty courts, which critics argued could infringe upon the local judicial authority.
Despite the results, Governor Landry conveyed his dissatisfaction about the outcome but remained committed to pursuing what he describes as “generational changes” for Louisiana.
“We do not see this as a failure,” he expressed in a statement. “We understand how daunting it can be to instigate positive change in a state historically prone to setbacks.”
Landry attributed the amendments’ defeat to the influence of George Soros, describing him as a left-wing billionaire, as well as “far-left liberals.” The Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic body established by Soros, had not responded to requests for commentary.
The Louisiana Democratic Party characterized the election results as “a significant defeat” for Landry.
“By rejecting these amendments, voters from all political backgrounds recognized them as either misaligned or as attempts to prioritize tax benefits for the wealthy, while simultaneously increasing youth incarceration rates,” the party stated. “This does not reflect the values of Louisiana.”
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