Jim Beam Column: Elections and the most important issues in education
Published on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 6:21am
- Louisiana Congressman Kyle Green (D-Marrero) has proposed five constitutional amendments for consideration in this Congress (Photo courtesy of NOLA.com).
Louisiana lawmakers have introduced about 40 bills dealing with state elections and many other bills related to education. If one of the election bills passes, it would be called the Edwards Act.
Rep. Mike Bayham (R-Chalmette) is sponsoring House Bill 111, which would ensure that no one who serves as governor for more than one and a half terms can ever be elected again.
The late Governor Edwin W. Edwards served an unprecedented four terms, winning his third term in 1983 by defeating Republican Governor David Torine. In 1991, Republican David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan member, advanced to the runoff, and Edwards won a fourth term.
Former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who is not related to Edwin Edwards, could run again in 2027 after failing to run for a third term last year. But Mr. Bayham's bill would destroy his chances.
If Edwin Edwards was lucky enough to win four terms, why deny others the same opportunity?
Rep. Kyle Green Jr. (D-Marrero) introduced five constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds vote in Congress and a majority vote of the people.
His HB 158 deals with officials who could potentially succeed the governor. Under the current system, the positions are the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of the Treasury, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Greene wants the Senate president to be the third-in-command, followed by the lieutenant governor, and the House speaker to be the third-in-command. It may be difficult to prioritize them over statewide elected officials.
Greene's HB 275 would make the governor and lieutenant governor jointly elected. Voters will cast their votes for both candidates running together.
The third Green amendment, HB 157, would provide that all statewide elected officials can serve no more than two consecutive terms. Voters prefer term limits, but lawmakers may have some concerns about them.
Greene’s Fourth Amendment (HB 250) changes the Congressional calendar. All this he starts on the second Monday of February and he plans to finish by May 30th at the latest. There are also no limits on topics or deadlines for bills. Additionally, with a two-thirds majority, members can change the timing of the annual parliament. This may also be a tough sell.
The fifth proposed Green amendment is HB 251, which would include the governor, other statewide elected officials, members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, sheriffs, clerks of courts, coroners, and tax assessors. are elected in regularly scheduled parliamentary elections in years when regular elections are not held. upcoming presidential election.
In reporting on education bills, The Advocate said one education bill would eliminate policies that required teachers to teach classes on a variety of topics, including cursive handwriting, dating violence, internet safety, and mental health. Ta.
The bill also says teachers would no longer be required to receive training on issues such as first aid, suicide prevention and bullying. Rep. Charles Owen (R-Rose Pine) is the sponsor of his HB 320. Most of them seem like good educational topics to continue.
Rep. Dodie Horton (R-Houghton) filed HB 71, which would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public and charter elementary, secondary, and postsecondary classrooms and in each building used by a school. .
Rep. Beryl Amedy (R-Gray) introduced HB 334, which would allow school boards to have chaplains serve as employees or volunteers in public schools. The law provides that chaplaincy programs and services are voluntary.
Sen. Mark Abraham (R-Lake Charles) also filed a similar pastor bill, Senate Bill 123.
Finally, I was pleased to see that Congressman Larry A. Bagley (R-Stonewall) has once again introduced a bill (HB 344) that would eliminate most vehicle inspections.
Bagley told Nexstar Media, “Cars 20 years ago when this came about weren't in as good a shape as they are now. We're in a different era when it comes to all these things, and I think it's just time for a change. I thought so.”
Law enforcement officers would continue to have the power to issue citations for vehicles deemed unsafe.
Among the 1,121 bills introduced so far, there are likely to be many more unusual bills.
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