By CHRIS LENOIS

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of one of the few perks a reporter gets by attending a New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon for free. The perk does come with strings attached, however, in that I am expected to write stories based on what happened there, which I dutifully have and am doing so again.

The cause for attending the luncheon was to watch the business leaders in the region confront state legislators with the New Orleans agenda prior to the special legislative session currently underway in Baton Rouge. Rep. Roy Quezaire and Gary Smith were in attendance along with Sen. Joel Chaisson that day in Norco. Between bites of a lovely chicken breast in cream sauce they all took turns at the podium stating their priorities for the session. Then during the parfait portion of the program, they were each posed with questions from the audience about. Mostly about tax incentives for businesses and budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year. This is where each legislator said their hands were partly tied by the fact that so much of the budget’s money is constitutionally guaranteed. Thus any cuts invariably come from education and health care programs which aren’t protected.

Unbelievable, I thought. National surveys continually rank Louisiana toward the bottom, if not last, in addressing these concerns. Our school systems are beside themselves at the crippling 30 percent increases quoted to them by health insurance providers. It’s not as if the private sector, already with $12.2 billion in tax exemptions on the books, is lending much by way of assistance. How can there be no constitutional protection for the two things that are most essential for the progression and survival of our species?

I rushed to the Internet to locate a copy of the state constitution, which I found at http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Documents/Constitution. My jaw dropped when I discovered that it was 129 pages long. I remember the copy of the U.S. Constitution I bought in college was thinner than my wallet, which was quite thin during college due to lack of funds in my own budget. It still is, come to think of it.

I was daunted by the prospect of making sense of the legalese to uncover the purposes behind the laws that don’t protect citizen’s rights to education and health care. Fortunately, I didn’t have to go further than the opening paragraph, or preamble. Which says in part:

“We, the people of Louisiana…afford opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; assure equality of rights; promote the health, safety, education, and welfare of the people…” What more of a guarantee could you ask for? A constitutional preamble is not tacked on as high-minded poetic fluff. It’s a mission statement akin to those created by companies that grow into successful corporations. It outlines the reason for their being.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe that the free-market concept we live under is as fair and benevolent a system as has been developed. I believe the same of our system that democratically elects our leaders. This special legislative session with its focus on economic development, is the time, more than ever, that Louisiana’s leaders must make the free market system work for the goals of its constituents as they are mandated to do by the framing document of the state.

It’s right there on page one. Take a look for yourself.

CHRISTOPHER LENOIS is a staff reporter for L’Observateur. He may be reached at (985) 652-9545.