1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

As a concerned constituent from Baton Rouge, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed constitutional convention. While I understand the desire to streamline and modernize our state's constitution, I have significant concerns about the risks and lack of clear rules governing this process. 1) The lack of clear guidelines and procedures for a constitutional convention is deeply troubling. A "runaway" convention could lead to the repeal of fundamental rights and civil liberties that are currently protected. 2) The potential for special interests and wealthy donors to unduly influence the process is also a major concern. 3) The compressed timeline of the proposed convention, overlapping with the regular legislative session, seems rushed and does not allow for adequate public input and deliberation. 4) Constitutions should not be rewritten hastily, as the resulting instability could have severe economic and legal consequences for our state. 5) While I respect the qualifications of many of the delegates the Governor has chosen, the inclusion of partisan political figures and donors raises concerns about the objectivity and representativeness of the convention. A comprehensive process of this magnitude should strive for true bipartisanship and broad public engagement. A more deliberative, transparent and inclusive process is needed, one that allows ample time for public input and careful consideration of any potential changes to our state's foundational document. In light of these significant concerns, I urge you to reconsider moving forward with the proposed constitutional convention in 2024.