Louisiana Amendment 2
As some of you may know, Louisiana voters (both republican and democrat) recently struck down 4 amendments in the most recent elections. One of the amendments had teacher “pay raises” attached to it, however it was used as a political prop to pass through other legislation. I included links below to sources so you can form your own conclusions.
https://investlouisiana.org/amendment-2-does-not-provide-a-permanent-teacher-raise
https://investlouisiana.org/reading-between-the-lines-a-deeper-look-at-amendment-2
This amendment would have resulted in one of, if not the largest overhauls to the Louisiana constitution in decades. It included sweeping tax reforms, restructuring income tax, property tax, sales tax, severance tax and cigarette taxes all in one package. It abolished three constitutional education trust funds, totaling nearly $2 billion, which were originally created through previous constitutional amendments. It altered constitutional limits on government growth, budget stabilization, and transportation funding. It also consolidated and removed key revenue earmarks that I’ve been constitutionally protected for decades.
Keep in mind… this attempt at an overhaul of the constitution was done during a MARCH election! I’m not saying Louisiana should not change, because there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed here. However, attaching pay raises for teachers to this amendment was disrespectful to anyone that works in the public school system.
Today, the governor sent a letter to all public school employees. I have drafted a response to his email if anyone is interested in copying it and using it themselves. (I also included a copy of his letter if anyone outside of Louisiana is interested in reading)
Teachers pay should NOT be used as a political pawn in anyone’s agenda.
Letter begins below
April 9, 2025 Governor Jeff Landry Office of the Governor P.O. Box 94004 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004 RE: Response to Letter Regarding Amendment 2 Dear Governor Landry, As a dedicated educator in Louisiana, I appreciate your recognition of the critical role teachers play in shaping the future of our state. However, I write to express my strong concern with the approach taken in promoting Amendment 2, particularly the decision to tie a long-overdue teacher pay raise to a constitutional amendment in the March 2025 elections. While I support efforts to stabilize our retirement system and increase teacher compensation, I firmly oppose using those priorities as leverage for advancing broader fiscal policy changes. Using the promise of increased teacher pay—a need that has been recognized for years—as a bargaining chip to push a broader constitutional amendment is not only manipulative, but also disrespectful to the teachers and support staff who work tirelessly to educate and support our students. It sends a troubling message: that the value of our work is conditional, and our livelihoods are negotiable based on unrelated political agendas. Promises of support for teachers should be rooted in trust, transparency, and consistency—not dependent on constitutional amendments with complex, long-term implications. If raising teacher pay is truly a priority for your administration, then it deserves a clear, standalone commitment through the legislative process—not as part of a political package deal. Educators across Louisiana work tirelessly in underfunded classrooms, often going above and beyond for their students despite stagnant wages and growing demands. To suggest that there are “no existing alternative recurring resources” for pay raises is disheartening. It signals a lack of political will—not a lack of funding options. Governor Landry, I urge you to demonstrate true support for Louisiana’s teachers by advocating for meaningful salary increases through direct, independent legislation. We are not political pawns. We are professionals who deserve respect—and permanent compensation solutions that don’t come with strings attached. Sincerely, (Insert name)
Governor Landry’s letter:
Dear Teachers, I write to you today, as your Governor, with the hopes of clearing the air. Two years ago, I made a promise to our citizens that I would work to improve the outcomes for Louisiana’s students by prioritizing the two most important people in their education: the child’s parent and you, the child’s teacher. I know firsthand what you mean to our State. I was raised in a family of teachers who believed that the greatest gift they could give society was preparing their students for the challenges of tomorrow. My appreciation of them and you were the basis for the “Let Teachers Teach” project. This initiative invited teachers to share their ideas for improving the classroom environment. Only by listening to them did we begin to implement a set of policies that reduce paperwork, eliminate excessive trainings, respect your autonomy, and allow you to teach without behavior distractions. We are also committed to reducing state testing, because I am not a big fan of teaching to a test. The goal is to get back to basics of education, and it is not possible without you. Our rankings are improving dramatically and that is a testament to our teachers. My belief in our teachers is why we worked to extend the $2,000 stipend last year, despite a potential budget shortfall. Limited by constitutional constraints, we explored options to create a lasting solution and landed on a change – Amendment 2 – to our Constitution. It would have paid off retirement debt and increased your pay with those savings. Your retirement is designed to provide for you beyond your time in the classroom. Presently, 10% of Louisiana's K-12 education budget is allocated to address retirement debt, which is paid by school districts. This financial obligation severely limits available funds for essential areas like salary increases. Amendment 2 was designed to reduce that debt and direct savings towards a permanent teacher pay raise. Eliminating this high-interest retirement debt is akin to reducing personal debts, resulting in savings for our local schools. Just as one would eagerly accept a friend's offer to pay off their mortgage, Amendment 2 was designed to be that friend. It mandated a $2,000 annual salary increase for every teacher and a $1,000 increase for every support staff member. By eradicating nearly 25% of the total debt in the teacher retirement system, the Amendment not only bolstered the security of your retirement benefits but also saved taxpayers over a $1 billion in interest payments. In times of fiscal instability, our current Constitution turns education and health care into political pawns. My goal was to end that political manipulation. Amendment 2 sought to shift the focus of sound fiscal practices towards benefitting teachers. Rather than sending these wasteful interest payments to Wall Street banks, we wanted to invest those dollars in you. Regrettably – with the setback faced by Amendment 2 – we are back to the drawing board, as no existing alternative recurring resources exist to fund the permanent salary increase you deserve. It is imperative that we work together toward sound financial budgeting that protects the taxpayer and properly compensates you. As always, my door is open to finding a solution that does both. For Louisiana, Jeff Landry
Posted Apr 9, 2025, 8:27 PM UTC