Our Views for Nov. 3, 2008

• Published: Nov 3, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:00 a.m.

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When voters go to the polls Tuesday, besides the high-profile races for president and U.S. senator, among other important offices, there also will be seven constitutional amendments on the ballot statewide.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, a tax proposal would fund a major bond issue for Baton Rouge public facilities.

Today we offer a quick recapitulation of our recommendations to voters on these parish and state proposals.

East Baton Rouge Parish bond issue: Yes

Mayor-President Kip Holden’s proposal would levy a one-half-cent sales tax and a 9.9-mill property tax to fund a bond issue that will build major new drainage projects and public facilities, including new fire stations, a new jail and a new police headquarters. It also would fund expansion of the River Center to attract conventions and build a major new riverfront project, Audubon Alive!, that is part of the mayor-president’s economic development program.

Amendment 1: Term limits for members of state boards and commissions — No

The proposed constitutional amendment would limit to three the number of consecutive terms a person could serve on a number of state boards and commissions. We generally are opposed to term limits in government.

Amendment 2: Time limits for calling special sessions of the Legislature — Yes

While the proposed amendment would not clear up all the ambiguities in the law, we believe approving the amendment would help advance adequate public notice for legislative sessions.

Amendment 3: Temporary successors for legislators ordered to active military duty — No

Passage of this amendment would allow the Legislature to appoint a temporary successor for a lawmaker called to active military service that prevents performance of duties of the office. We believe voters should be represented by elected officials and not appointees in the Legislature.

Amendment 4: Mineral severance tax allocations to parishes and Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund — No

This amendment is proposed because local governments feel aggrieved at the cap on mineral revenue that can be allocated to parishes. The proposed amendment would raise the cap by $1 million in a single year, skipping an estimated 26 years of inflationary adjustments.