Amend WHAT?!

I reckon by now everybody knows whom they'll vote for. We are sick of the ads on TV where each candidate is knifing the other, and if we believe any of it, nobody is fit for public office. Be that as it may, we have to pick a winner. Eeenie, meenie, minie, moe. Good Luck.

I consider myself a person of average intelligence, and I must confess, the amendments always throw me for a loop. They can't be written in plain English that everyone can understand. They're such gobbly-gook that the majority will vote "no" simply because we have no idea what a "yes" vote will bring. For instance:

AMENDMENT #1. Creates a new transportation projects fund. What's the matter with the old fund? The yellow barrels between Hammond and Baton Rouge remain in place year after year. The potholes in New Orleans streets can swallow a small car. Instead of new transportation projects fund, why don't we finish up the old transportation projects? Will the new projects suffer the unfinished state of the old projects? 

This amendment also "restructures" the Rainy Day Fund, a reserve fund crucial in credit-rating agencies’ view of the state's financial health.  I'm leery of "restructuring," sounds a lot like robbing Peter to float Paul. As I understand, after reading through PARS 17-PAGE guide to FOUR amendments, the Budget Stabilization Fund will be split in two: the Rainy Day Fund and the new Transportation Fund.  

AMENDMENT 2: Allows the state treasurer the option of creating a new infrastructure bank. I didn’t have time to delve into the difference between an infrastructure bank and a regular bank, but have y'all counted how many banks we have in Hammond already? Why exactly does the state need another one? Can't they deposit the money in an existing facility? Beats me.  

AMENDMENT 3: Allows the legislature to deal with taxes in all sessions, not just the “fiscal sessions.” Why can’t they just tell us that? Unless a person sits down and researches all this stuff before hand (and it takes a Philadelphia lawyer to decipher what the deuce they’re talking about) the average dude is going to vote “no,” thinking we have enough trouble when the legislators mess with the taxes once a year. Seems like the once-a-year restraint has those fellows chomping at the bit.

AMENDMENT 4:  Requires state and local governments outside of Louisiana to pay taxes on property they own in Louisiana. That seems to be the most sensible of all the amendments, although after you read the 5-page explanation you are as confused as ever. It delves into Tennessee storing natural gas in Louisiana, etc. etc. If the Chinese government owns an oil well in Louisiana waters shouldn’t they pay the taxes? You bet they should. I’m all for that.

These are my opinions and nobody else’s. I already voted absentee, but for those who’ll be standing in line Saturday, GOOD LUCK.