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Jindal's Reform Agenda

Gov. Bobby Jindal, often mentioned as a running mate for John McCain, was against a legislative pay raise in Louisiana before he wasn't against it enough to stop it.

During his election campaign, he vowed to prohibit legislative pay raises.

The legislature more than doubled legislative salaries, a particularly undeserved raise in light of the state's slow recovery from Katrina and the economic devastation that haunts many of its residents.

Even while denouncing the money lawmakers are giving themselves, the governor has tried to depict the matter as an internal legislative affair that does not require his meddling.

Jindal has two more weeks to pull the trigger on a veto, but he apparently doesn't want to derail support for his "reform" agenda, which includes "allowing science teachers to use 'supplemental' material that critics say is merely a stalking-horse for teaching creationism." For this they're getting a raise?

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    I guess (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 08:24:10 PM EST
    we can safely say that Kerryitis has affected every party nominee and potential vp pick so far. Now we have Jindal being against raises before he was for them. Obama was against FISA before he was for it and McCain was for immigration reform before he was against it. What a comical political year.

    That's unfair to kerry (none / 0) (#12)
    by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 01:00:39 PM EST
    he was just Rhetorically Kerryish about one version of a bill.

    These guys are actually changing their minds about policy.  It sounds pragmatic.

    Parent

    The Creationist Agenda is much more (4.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Valhalla on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:24:18 PM EST
    worrisome than Jindal going back on his legislative pay promise.

    First off, if reneging on the pay promise was the only bad thing Jindal had done, then he'd just be the Little League version of Renege Olympiad going on at the national level.  Second, legislative pay always gets big press when criticized by either side of the aisle, it's make-hay issue, esp. in a year like this where a lot of people don't have jobs or aren't getting raises if they do.  I'm guessing that's why it was framed as 'doubling' here instead of quoting the actual numbers.  Really, I could give two figs about the raise.

    Promoting creationism, though, and using public money to pay for it, is truly scary and unconstitutional.

    Oregon's Rep Peter DeFazio (none / 0) (#2)
    by Newt on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 08:20:08 PM EST
    always votes against House raises, then gives away that percentage increase in pay (the bills  always pass of course, he's one of a few that vote against them consistently).  

    I've wanted him to run for Prez for years.  Good guy, probably no skeletons in his closet.

    Russ Feingold... (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ramo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:08:44 PM EST
    ... has always done the same thing.

    Parent
    Great. (none / 0) (#4)
    by Marco21 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 08:45:25 PM EST
    Not only are LA residents still struggling, soon their kids will be saddled with "scientific facts" like the planet is 10,000 years old and Jesus got into fistfights with dinosaurs.

    Heh (none / 0) (#6)
    by Steve M on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:13:37 PM EST
    They meet for two whole months out of the year.  I sure hope they're forced to seek alternate income!

    Um... No Donald, low pay doesn't lead to (none / 0) (#8)
    by Newt on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:54:19 PM EST
    legislative mischief and fiscal chicanery.

    Bad ethics and lack of morals is what takes them down that road.  Ask Robert Watada and his staff at the state Campaign Spending Commission about the millions of dollars they've uncovered.


    jindal (none / 0) (#9)
    by rak on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:16:42 PM EST
    I think the legislators should be paid well. I like the Singaporean approach in this regard.

    I like him too, even though I don't (none / 0) (#10)
    by Grace on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:27:22 AM EST
    live in Louisianna.  I "hope" he figures this one out.  

    Figure it's his first really big challenge as Governor:  How to appease two sides of an issue and still accomplish your agenda.  

    This is what scares me about Obama.  He's never faced any sort of challenges like this.  NONE!  

    Anyway, I like your governor even though I'm a Democrat in another state.  He seems like a really capable guy so we'll see how he works his way through this mess!  I think he is rather level headed so I don't think this will end up being that big of a deal.  He'll work it out.  ;-)