| Good Morning, A surprisingly small number of voters launched Louisiana on a path towards lower income tax rates while summarily rejecting the other Constitutional amendments. The demographers and politicians who watch these things closely were concerned about Saturday’s balloting because, well, Louisiana voters reflexively reject Constitutional amendments dealing with tax issues. But business lobbyists, government policy experts, and lawmakers ate a lot of chicken while trying to explain to luncheon audiences across the state just exactly what was happening in the amendments. Even Robert Scott, the outgoing president Public Affairs Research Council, PAR, the venerable good government group that does not take sides, including in this election, jokingly told a luncheon to “vote and vote often” for the amendments because they were so important in the effort to sort out Louisiana’s chaotic tax system. While the so-called tax swap – lower income tax rates for ability to eliminate a lucrative federal deduction – passed easily, voters rejected wording changes in the Constitution that would have begun the effort to centralize the collection and distribution of sales taxes at the state level. Several local officials, such as New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, opposed locals losing the ability to collect taxes on sales that took place in their parishes. Meanwhile, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said auto insurance rates have gone up since a new law went into effect that limits access to the courts and was sold on the promise of lowering prices. After 40-or-so years trying to make going to court – and winning – more difficult for plaintiffs in civil cases, business and insurance interests tied the effort to lowering the cost of the auto insurance that everyone must have to drive legally. Auto insurance rates in Louisiana were high because the state lacked “tort reform,” proponents argued. It worked. The new law went into effect Jan. 1 and since then rates have gone up. Donelon says the increase is linked to more wrecks caused by distracted driving. Across the street from Donelon’s Department of Insurance is Superintendent Cade Brumley’s Department of Education, which also is in something of scrap. Brumley and BESE leader Sandy Holloway, who has the support of many on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, are toeing off over the department’s issuing no-bid contracts without bothering to timely pass them by BESE as required, depending on the contract. BESE requested Legislative Auditor Michael Waguespack take a look at how contracts have been handled by Brumley’s agency. Usually, the head of the department that administers education for more than 700,000 public school students, and the chair of BESE, which oversees education policy and hires the superintendent, have to work closely together to manage the $3 billion-plus job. State public education is poised to receive an additional $4 billion in COVID pandemic recovery money. As always, check throughout the day for the latest Louisiana political news at theadvocate.com/politics or NOLA.com/politics and on Twitter at @MarkBallardCNB, @tegbridges, @samkarlin, @blakepater, @WillSentell. Here are a dozen articles, commentaries and editorials that will catch you up for the week to come. One last item: Thank you to our subscribers. Your support means a great deal to us. If you're not yet a subscriber, we’ve got a special offer you can check out here. – Mark Ballard | 
