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Above: “The Aluminum Standard”

In the face of mounting opposition from legislators and others, the governor’s administration agreed Thursday to a compromise that weakened its chief ethics bill. (emphasis mine) The (Baton Rouge) Advocate, February 15, 2008.

Leading by example

Governor Bobby Jindal wants to end free tickets for public officials. Yet, just yesterday, we learned that Jindal’s Chief of Staff requested and got FREE tickets to one of the hardest to get concert in Louisiana. See here.

Do as I say

As I read of Governor Jindal’s actions and his reaction to the lege’s reaction to his proposed “gold standard” of ethics in Louisiana, the more I understand that Jindal is just another Louisiana politician.

Some will defend and praise Jindal for his efforts. Some will say that he is merely being pragmatic. Political pragmatism is what got LA to the situation it finds itself in today when it comes to corruption.

There’s a distinction between ending corruption and merely passing more “ethics laws.” Governor Jindal seems to be focused on the latter.

Questions

Who will hold Jindal to his promise that he will call leges out who oppose him?

Who will hold Jindal to his promise to get 100% of what he wants or keep calling the leges into special sessions until he gets it?

What is “what Jindal wants”?

Will Jindal do as past governors and simply take whatever the leges give him and declare a victory?

When will the governor and his own staff live up to Jindal’s proposed standards for others?

Gold standard?

The more I watch the pragmatic Jindal at work the more I come to the conclusion that even when it comes to writing laws (not even enforcing them), the “gold standard” is quickly becoming the “aluminium standard.” It’s light-weight and flexible.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 9:11 am

Governor Jindal has talked at great length about the need for financial disclosure by elected officials in Louisiana and other stronger ethics laws.

According to Jindal, these laws will make LA a better place to do business. Let’s accept that premise.

Unfortunately, despite spending a million of our hard-earned tax dollars to have a special session, Jindal seems in no hurry for businesses to come to our state.

Effective dates

HB 1 by Speaker Tucker makes the financial disclosure requirements effective on January 1, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

SB 1 by Senate President Chaisson would prohibit leges from doing business with state government (okay to do with local or federal government). The effective date is the January 9, 2012, when the next governor takes office.

Inviting business to do business

How do we explain to businesses that we are seeking to attract with these new laws?

“Ya’ll come to Louisiana to do business in 2012. That is, if the new laws are not repealed or amended before then, you won’t be shaken down.”

What do we say to those who are already doing business in LA?

“Hold on until 2012 and you’ll no longer have to compete with the elected officials and their families to do business with the state. That is, if the laws are not repealed or amended before then.”

Gold Standard in the future?

Maybe we will win a national ranking, after the bills pass, in the category of: Toughest Ethics Laws Not Yet in Effect.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:12 am

Governor Jindal’s own ethics transition committee recommended prohibiting the use of campaign funds to pay fines for violation of campaign financial disclosure law.

Jindal initially left that item out of his call for the session, which meant that it could not even be considered during the upcoming special session. Then, in an amendment to the call, he added it. Later, his deputy chief of staff said that Jindal would not introduce legislation on the matter.

Why

This seems like another case of Jindal’s self-serving actions.

Jindal has admitted to violating the campaign disclosure law and planned to use campaign funds to pay the fine. That is precisely what his transition committee recommended be prohibited.

The Heh, Heh, Heh Ethics Board, is expected to impose the fine on Jindal at its July meeting.

A lege can introduce the prohibition in the Special Session. However, Jindal anointed the presiding officers of the House and Senate and they, for the most part, control the law-making process.

No comment

According to Sunday’s Baton Rouge newspaper (story here ), when asked to comment on his seeming contradiction, Jindal refused twice to comment. This from a man who in the past never seemed to shut up when the media was around or even when they weren’t.

“No comment” by the top public official in Louisiana on a matter as serious as violating the law is not my idea of transparency.

I’m not a dictator

Also in Sunday’s Baton Rouge paper is found this comment by Governor Jindal:

“I’m not a dictator. I can’t go out there and do everything I want to do,” the governor said.

When one finds it necessary to proclaim that one is not something, it is probably because they are.

Jindal says he can’t do everything he wants, but he is.

Among other things, Jindal’s exempted himself from his own hiring freeze, initially prohibited the consideration of a law that would prevent him from doing something he wants to do and he refuses to answer questions posed by the media about his apparent hypocrisy.

That certainly doesn’t sound like an open, transparent, accessible, democracy to me. Sounds more like the actions of a dictator who tells us what we must do, but doesn’t follow the same requirements.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am