Alford: An official constitutional convention reminder

It has been three months since the Louisiana Legislature concluded its regular session without addressing the war cry for a constitutional convention.
Sure, it passed a set of resolutions honoring the 45th anniversary of the 1973 con-con, but supporters were hoping for more of a forward-looking response, writes LaPolitics’ Jeremy Alford in his latest column.
Opponents, as you could guess, were just fine with the outcome, Alford says.
“At the top of the list of non-supporters was Gov. John Bel Edwards, who isn’t necessarily against the idea,” Alford writes. “He believes there should be an informed buildup to a convention, and that clear objectives be stated after considerable study.”
We don’t need a roll call of delegates to know that Edwards is right, and his advice should be heeded, Alford says. There needs to be an ongoing con-con conversation, and that isn’t taking place, he adds.
“Some of Louisiana’s most influential special interests teamed up with notable donors to make a major push during the regular session,” Alford writes. “Defeat there led to the knee-jerk alternative of trying again in a subsequent special session, but that notion was deflated before it contained any air.”
If future con-con efforts are expected to persist, the various architects need to put a flame underneath their drives and start a public dialogue, says Alford. Simply put, he adds, it’s the right thing to do and public involvement could change the entire game.
“Are you willing to share your thoughts with our elected officials? How about attending or following closely public hearings and civic meetings?” Alford asks.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, he says, then you’re definitely ready for the silence on the issues to end. If you answered no to one or more of the queries, then embrace the silence. Because if the con-con tide hasn’t washed away, there’s a decent chance this quiet period won’t last much longer.
Read the full column.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.