The Advertiser reports: now that Jindal has vetoed the proposed legislative pay-raises, the recall petition has been rescinded. Is this in response to bloggers’ hammering of Jindal with regard to his initial reluctance to wield the veto? Is the blog a new way to listen to constituents? If so, where does this leave those who are computer illiterate?

The Supreme Court recently struck down Louisiana law that allowed the death penalty for convicted rapist. A collective sigh of relief for convicted rapists? Not so fast! The Advocate reports that on the same day that the Supreme Court rendered their decision, Governor Jindal signed a bill into law that would force convicted rapists to be chemically castrated.

Must ado has been made in response to LA SB 672 that would more than double Louisiana Legislature Salaries. It would increase their part-time salary to approx $37k for a 3-month session; this is equivalent to $148k for a full-time job (view legislative session length by state and legislative salaries comparison by state) While he has repeatedly stated that he thought the increase wrong, Jindal suggested that if he vetoed the increase, then other issues bills that he felt would move the state forward would be more difficult or impossible to pass. Some have started a petition to recall the new governor while others have quietly documented those legislators who voted in favor of the bill so as to not vote for them in coming elections. For those in the latter category, I hope this saves you some time:

For: House: Anders, Arnold, Aubert, A. Badon, Baldone, Barrow, Billiot, Burford, T. Burns, Burrell, Carmody, Chaney, Connick, Cromer, Dixon, Downs, Edwards, Ellington, Foil, Franklin, Gallot, Gisclair, Harrison, Henderson, Hoffmann, Honey, Hutter, G. Jackson, M. Jackson, R. Jones, LaBruzzo, LaFonta, Lambert, Leger, Lopinto, Marchand, McVea, Monica, Morrell, Norton, Nowlin, Peterson, Pugh, Ritchie, Schroder, Simon, Smiley, G. Smith, P. Smith, Templet, White, Williams, Willmott, Wooton. Senate: Mr. President, Adley, Broome, Crowe, Dorsey, Duplessis, Dupre, Erdey, B. Gautreaux, Gray, Jackson, Kostelka, LaFleur, Marionneaux, Martiny, Minchot, Murray, Nevers, Shepherd, Thompson

Against House: Abramson, Armes, B. Badon, Barras, H. Burns, Carter, Champagne, Chandler, Cortez, Danahay, Doerge, Fannin, Geymann, E. Guillory, M. Guillory, Guinn, Hardy, Hazel, Henry, Hill, Hines, Howard, Johnson, S. Jones, Katz, Kleckley, LeBas, Ligi, Little, Lorusso, Mills, Montoucet, Perry, Ponti, Pope, Richard, Richardson, Richmond, Robideaux, Roy, J. Smith, St Germaine, Talbot, Trahan, Waddell Senate: Alario, Amedee, Cassidy, Cheek, Cravins, Donahue, N. Gautreaux, Hebert, Heitmeier, McPherson, Morrish, Mount, Quinn, Riser, Shaw, Walsworth It will be interesting to see which one of these lucky legislators will get re-elected…we’ll keep you updated.

This article (at the bottom) cites a law that allows LA legislatures to forego the salary increase; I wonder which legislators (if any) took this route?

Recent attempts were made to obtain Virginia transportation funds outside of the regular and more popular means of raising taxes.  VA Senate Bills SB6005 and SB6011 were combined and aimed to set aside a majority of revenues received from offshore drilling for transportation dollars.  Today, this bill was voted down (predictably straight down party lines) in committee. Congratulations to those Virginia Senators who are thinking outside the box with regard to funding VA Transportation.  Those who opposed the bill sighted potential environmental effects of offshore drilling.

The outcome of this vote only solidifies my belief of Democrat’s wish to raise funds by repeated taxation of their constituents.  Tax hikes, I dread, is Democrat’s modus operandi…tax hikes disguised as “fairness” but socialist in application.  I digress

When I think of offshore drilling, I cannot help but think of Louisiana and the lack of significant oil spills even in the face of numerous 100+ mph hurricanes.   Following are links to research of the environmental affects of Offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico:

Destroyed/disabled platforms during hurricanes converted to artificial reefs (Link 1, Link 2)

Fish population at existing and working platforms.

Drilling pipes and associated canals cause salt water to encroach fresh-water ecosystems. Be that as it may, I am not convinced that this is the only contributor to decline of LA’s freshwater ecosystems.   In our arrogance to control nature, we’ve built numerous levees that prohibit the natural flow of rivers and as such destroy fresh water flood ways and ecosystems (One for certain–Achafalaya Basin).  Levee systems have systematically destroyed LA’s wetlands and coastal fishing industry while platforms have increased fishing sources.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATE:  The VA Democrats followed with their own bill to raise the VA gas and sales tax to raise transportation funds.  This bill promptly got voted down by the Republican House.  The state legislature will have another special session with the hopes of coming to a consensus for generating transportation funds.

DRILLING UPDATE:  Forbes just published a list of highest paid blue-collar jobs.  These jobs included oil extraction and gas refinery jobs.  The vote this past week was just another way to say, “Screw you, Virginia blue-collar worker!”

This was a good idea. From the Advocate

A bill that would initially cut state income taxes by $359 million per year won final legislative approval Tuesday.

The measure, Senate Bill 87, cleared its last legislative hurdle when the Senate passed it 38-0.

The same measure breezed through the House last week 102-0 and now goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who earlier endorsed the proposal and called the Senate action “terrific news.”

Also Jindal supports the idea of making lemonade out of lemons, if by lemons one means “destroyed interstate bridges” and lemonade is “coastal reef barriers.” From the Times Picayune:

Gov. Bobby Jindal on Tuesday threw his support behind plans for using concrete from the demolition of the Interstate 10 twin spans to create fishing reefs in Lake Pontchartrain and help shore up New Orleans’ storm defenses.

The reef plans call for sinking the rubble of two 500-foot bridge sections at two locations between I-10 and the U.S. 11 bridge. The reefs, proposed by the Coastal Conservation Association, a nonprofit group, are intended to boost recreational fishing in the area.

A team from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, with help from other agencies, is still reviewing separate proposals for using the concrete, which Jindal said will save the state upward of $15 million. Parts of the bridge will likely go toward reinforcing levees and strengthening breakwaters off the coast to help reduce storm surge in the lake.

As usual, Jindal is applying a little known skill in politics, that is making priorities. That means some programs get cut, and some projects that have higher priorities get funded. When the benefit of the state takes the top priorities, NGOs and teachers unions tend to lose. I still don’t think he’ll get picked to be VP simply because McCain wants someone to tow his line, and Sarah Palin definitely fits that role and can help garner the coveted white housewife vote.

The capital outlay bill approved by lawmakers each year essentially has been a wish list that leaves decision-making to the governor.

The governor’s office submitted its recommendations for the bill. Lawmakers then added more projects than there was money. That left the governor’s office to choose among hundreds of items to determine which few actually get in line for state dollars. The State Bond Commission must vote on whether to grant lines of credit to projects submitted by the governor, but that vote was seen as a rubber stamp because the commission is packed with the governor’s allies.

Jindal wants the process overhauled to limit the annual construction budget bill passed by the Legislature to five years of projects for which the state can pay. He issued an executive order Tuesday outlining a reworking that includes setting up an evaluation system to review the projects sought by executive branch agencies, lawmakers and local government agencies. It’s amazing that allocating only the amount of money the state can afford to spend is considered a revolutionary idea.

http://www.nola.com/newsflas…storylist=louisiana

An article from the American Spectator touting Jindal’s credentials for vice president. I spoke with the Oracle of Esther the other day and in general I think it is a bad idea. It would look like a desperate attempt by McCain to put a brown face on the ticket.  (Speaking of McCain, isn’t the timing of Nancy Reagan’s endorsement interesting, given she’s about the same age as Barack Obama’s typical white grandmother?) Electorally, it doesn’t gain him anything, and Bobby is still green. Most importantly, we need him to clean up in Louisiana before he makes his run in 2016…heh.

Nevertheless, here’s a good blurb.

Maybe some think that this is going to be an election about health care? Jindal’s the man. In 1991 he was a young Hill staffer working for U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery. One day McCrery asked him to look over some Medicare plans being proposed in committee. A couple of days later, he brought back to the boss a totally revised system that was so impressive McCrery introduced him to Louisiana Governor Murphy J. Foster Jr. A few years later, Jindal, at the age of 24, was appointed Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. He took hold of the state’s Medicare program, which was running at a loss of $400 million, and in three years produced a surplus of $200 million. He later became chairman of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare. In 2001, he was nominated by President George W. Bush and approved by the U.S. Senate to be Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of Health and Human Services. If Jindal gets a chance to debate Hillary Clinton, Hillary will be fumbling for her cue cards.

Dr. Boustany advocates labor relief for Louisana:

Local economies across the United States are facing an immediate labor crisis. Seasonal jobs that have been filled for years by temporary H-2B workers are vacant. Sugar cane is not being processed, rice crops can’t be sorted or bagged, and crawfish and crabs are being turned away by processors who simply don’t have the workers to clean and pick the fishermen’s catch.  

The H-2B visa program provides the small and seasonal businesses that drive many of our nation’s regional economies with legal, seasonal workers. The FY 2008 cap of 66,000 H-2B workers was met this year on January 2. In past years, Congress acted responsibly and allowed certain returning workers to be exempt from the H-2B cap in order to help meet the needs of the many seasonal businesses that rely on these workers. Unfortunately, Congress allowed the returning worker provision to expire last year, and thousands of small businesses nationwide face critical job shortages. 

The bipartisan returning worker provision is now being held as a political hostage. While American business owners suffer, legislation to fill this need sits idle. In response to the lack of action, I introduced H.Res.1025 to call up, for immediate consideration, Congressman Bart Stupak’s H.R.1843, the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the returning worker program, supplying small businesses with their essential workforce. It is my sincere hope that with my colleagues’ help we can find a quick resolution to the crisis occurring in local communities around our nation. 

If you have any questions, please visit my website or feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2031. This is an important small business and economic issue, and I look forward to working towards a solution.

Me:  The 7th district is a small world, and I know some of the people he’s talking about.  I talked with my Uncle who is a big proponent of the George Bush/John McCain immigration policy.  Just get some foolproof ID cards for the H2B holders and the labor shortage is solved, right?  Sounds good but living in Houston opens your eyes to the reality of open borders and the often adverse consequences of such policy over the long run.  Flaunting of the law doesn’t stop with crossing the border.

I get emails from the congressman representing the 7th district of Louisiana, Charles Boustany, M.D. He doesn’t have his own blog so I’m posting his updates.

Two weeks have passed since our national security community lost the ability to track valuable intelligence without going through slow and burdensome bureaucratic hurdles. That’s more than two weeks of terrorist communications that cannot be recovered. Yet, the Democratic House leadership under Speaker Nancy Pelosi refuses to debate a bi-partisan Senate bill, which would give intelligence officials expanded authority to track terrorists outside of the United States. Since August, a temporary set of new laws authorized this program, but it expired on February 15, 2008.

Violent extremists operating around the world have one aim- kill Americans. I am committed to providing responsible and appropriate tools to our intelligence community to protect and defend Americans at home and abroad. It is no coincidence that the U.S. has been free from attack at home since September 11, 2001. American intelligence officers protected us, and Congress must provide the tools and techniques they need to meet the long-term challenges that remain. Those standing on the frontlines battling these terrorists must have the ability to quickly intercept foreign communications to stop terrorists.

The Democratic leadership in the House has said, “there is no urgency” on updating our nation’s intelligence laws. I vehemently disagree; allowing this law to expire is completely irresponsible. I will continue to stand up for our men and women who defend us against future terrorist attacks. If you have questions about this debate or any other issue before Congress, please visit my website to learn where I stand and to send me your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Charles W. Boustany, Jr. M.D.
Member of Congress

Here is a note from Bobby. The Obama candidacy, in it’s way, is charting the course for a Jindal campaign in the future.

Dear Friends,

Bringing Transparency to Government

Thanks to the hard work of the Legislature over the past two weeks, we are now on the verge of passing strong ethics reform legislation called for by the people of Louisiana. Transparency and openness are the foundation of the new Louisiana, and these reforms will help move our state from the bottom five states to the top five in terms of strong ethics laws.

Transparency is critical to changing our state’s image and building a better Louisiana not only in the present, but for our children and grandchildren as well. Recent studies by both LSU and Forbes have shown that the most important issue Louisiana must address to entice more companies to locate in our state is a dramatic strengthening of our ethics laws. Thanks to the Legislature and your help, we are on the brink of accomplishing that goal.

For example, House Bill 1, one of the cornerstones of my ethics reform plan, will strengthen our state’s disclosure laws, making elected officials’ and many appointees’ financial records public and available on-line. This legislation has passed both the House and Senate and the final details are being worked out in a Conference Committee before being sent to my desk for signature.

Two other bills are also in Conference Committee- Senate Bills 1 and 8 - that will prevent state officials from obtaining state contracts and will put an end to the lavish meals that elected officials are currently able to accept.

These bills are critical to our efforts to reform our state’s ethics laws. These bills, along with others, are awaiting final passage by the Legislature, and are a testament to both the new Legislature and the people of Louisiana.

The cry for change has been heard, and, as we enter the final week of this special session, now is not the time for rest. There is still work to be done as these bills and many others are worked out in Conference Committees, and we still need your help to ensure their passage.

I have attached links to a few stories I believe you might find interesting regarding our ethics session.

“Key Bills in Ethics Reform Package Moving Toward Passage” The Daily Advertiser

“Jindal’s Ethics Plan on Track” The Baton Rouge Advocate

Meeting with Fellow Governors

I was pleased to attend part of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. The meeting allowed me to meet with other governors to discuss and share ideas pertaining to transportation, education, and energy, three issues that are critical to the future of our state.

Many governors asked about the ethics reforms we are currently pursuing and expressed their support for these measures. The nation is taking notice that this is not the same old Louisiana, and that we are on the rise.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal