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Yesterday, “Watchcat” Robert Scott had a story in the Times Picayune confirming the growth of state employment and state payroll under the fiscally-conservative eyes of Bobby Jindal. See story here.

Issues

Despite all the data to the contrary, Bobby continues to tell people around the state and the nation that he has REDUCE state employment and save money by reducing the payroll. According to Sunday’s article, employment increased by 3% and payroll by 7% (excluding benefits).

When confronted by the facts the “Jindal administration officials describe a state employment system they say they do not fully control, particularly in higher education and health care.” Times Picayune, February 15, 2009.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

If Bobby has no control over healthcare and higher education, why is there so much turmoil over Bobby’s demand that both departments significantly reduce their budgets (including personnel layoffs) for next year. The facts speak for themselves, i.e. Res Ipsa Loquitur.

First, Bobby is the chief executive officer of the state. LA Constitution Article IV, Section 5(A).

Second, there are only two other branches of state government, the Legislative and Judiciary. LA Constituion Article II, Section 1.

Neither healthcare nor higher education is within the Legislative or Judicial branches of state government.

The law

On January 15, 2008, right after being sworn in as governor, Bobby issued Executive Order No. BJ2008-3.  In it he proclaimed: “R.S. 39:84 provides authority to the governor to regulate and control personnel transactions….”

In Section 1 of the Executive Order, Bobby states: “No vacancy in an existing or new position of employment within the executive branch of state government, which exists on or occurs after January 15, 2008, shall be filled without the express written approval of the commissioner of administration.

The facts

In an Associated Press story of January 28, 2008 are found the following statements regarding the inability of state colleges to hire under the Jindal “hiring freeze”:

–Louisiana’s colleges are pressing for at least a partial waiver of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s hiring freeze for their campuses, saying the freeze could hinder their recruitment of new faculty, instructional staff and campus police officers.

–So far, the schools’ requests have been denied by Jindal’s top budget officer, Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis, who on Monday rejected their latest proposal. The colleges can hire people — but only with Davis’ approval on a case-by-case basis.

–Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Savoie said the public colleges and universities asked the governor’s budget office to lift the hiring freeze for filling teaching jobs, security positions and other student services staff, like counselors and advisers.

In another story about the impact of the “hiring freeze” on healthcare by Robert Scott on January 25, 2008 is found the following:

–The Charity Hospital System has raised an alarm that Gov. Bobby Jindal’s state government hiring freeze is impairing its effort to fill vacancies for more than 100 registered nurses and 200 other jobs in New Orleans to rebuild the public health care system after Hurricane Katrina.

–A top Jindal administration official said she is waiting for the hospital system to provide evidence of its critical job needs before granting any exemptions to the freeze.

Case rested

Not only does Bobby has the legal authority to control personnel associated with healthcare and higher education, but he has done so in practice by his own comments.

You be the judge

Either Bobby doesn’t understand how government works in our state or he is lying. You decide.

C.B.

1 CB 9:27 am

Today’s editorial in the Alexandria Town Talk says it all about the on-going efforts by the leges to call a constitutional convention.

The editorial says that those calling for a convention are “either misinformed or flat-out lying.”   That is way too kind.  The leges are simply gutless!

To read the entire editorial go here: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090211/OPINION/902110301/1014

Kudos to Cynthia Jardon for having the courage to write the editorial.   The leges would do well to follow her lead.

C.B.

1 CB 8:55 am

In today’s LSU Daily Reveille (student newspaper), reporter Kyle Bove exposes the Jindal Administration’s efforts to scare the public and to raise taxes. (See story here.)

The Jindal Administration is using the old scam invented by former governor Edwin Edwards to scare the public into accepting the unacceptable.  Whenever, he wanted to raise our taxes, EWE would threaten to literally “turn off the dialysis machines” for the poor and elderly.  It worked. Our taxes went up, but state government failed to provide more or better quality services.

Bobby misleads again

Recently, Bobby Jindal promised no new taxes or tax increases to offset a mythical $2 Billion shortfall for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year.  That was another misleading and hollow promise by Bobby.

Most of the state’s universities have increased taxes (disguised as tuition) on the students (and parents) by $100 per semester.

Call it whatever they want, but increasing involuntary payments to government (state universities are state government) without providing additional services is simply a tax.

Once again, Bobby says one thing and does another.  A fiscal conservative doesn’t raise taxes, especially on the “best and brightest” in LA who we are trying to keep from leaving our state.

Kudos to Kyle for exposing the scam.

C.B.

1 CB 10:38 am