Pay Raise Plagues Jindal; Recalls Stalk Legislators (JindalWatch® Alert)

LouisianaPolitics.com ^ | June 27, 2008 | John Maginnis

[abb]

Gov. Bobby Jindal was back in the New York Times this week, with a picture, but for all the wrong reasons. The toxic pay raise controversy enveloping him has gone national and his political world has changed. Within days, Jindal went from being a legitimate vice-presidential prospect to having his character questioned in his first crisis of public confidence, without his having done a thing.

Meanwhile, pay raise-supporting legislators, who thought the worst was over, are now seeing recall movements popping up around them. So far, drives are directed at three freshmen represenatives and Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, all Republicans.

Even as he seeks to maintain an effective relationship with the Legislature, his badgering, blaming and labeling them as threats to reform only strain any good will he gains by not vetoing their raise.

Overall, this has turned into a no-win situation for him and everyone else touched by it, except for talk-show hosts and bloggers.

[abb]

JindalWatch® - Friday, June 27, 2008

[abb]

JindalWatch® Ping

[abb]

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION/806270313/1014
Our View: Double-cross will give pols twice the pay

[abb]

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/21905729.html
Ethics Board stymied
New laws lead to five resignations

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/21893604.html
Lawmaker defends vote for raise

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/21903354.html
Ethics Board urges veto

http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/21893244.html
Our Views: Jindal learns half a lesson

http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/21892734.html
Letter: Raise needed for quality Legislature

http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/21892474.html
Letter: History lesson for legislators, Jindal

[abb]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/NEWS01/806270329/-1/NEWSFRONT2
Legislative session failed to impress, experts say

[abb]

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION01/80627001/1014/OPINION
Tucker’s chess: Jindal in check

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION03/806270325/1014/OPINION
Jindal image takes nosedive

[abb]

http://www.dailyworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/OPINION01/806260306
Session ‘success’ depends on view

[abb]

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1214544240127670.xml&coll=1
Ethics officials step down as disclosure law signed

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1214544146127670.xml&coll=1
For many bills, Jindal keeps cap on pen

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1214544036127670.xml&coll=1
Vacancies add up on ethics panel

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1214544024127670.xml&coll=1
EDITORIAL: Cover for a veto

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/letterstoeditor/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1214544071127670.xml&coll=1
Let’s bring on the recalls

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/letterstoeditor/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1214544271127670.xml&coll=1
Veto power there for a reason

[abb]

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION04/806270304/1007/OPINION
Lawmakers play shell game on residents

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION0106/806270303/1007/OPINION
Lindy Broderick: “Consider results of recent legislative session in a positive light”

[abb]

Louisiana Blogs and links

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/
http://www.louisianaconservative.com/
http://forgotston.com/
http://www.thedeadpelican.com/
http://www.legewatch.com/
http://centrallapolitics.blogspot.com/
http://www.thereductbox.com/
http://www.recallmichot.com/
http://www.recallpayraisetucker.com/Home_Page.html
http://www.moongriffon.com/
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/
http://www.lapolitics.com/
http://onlyinlouisiana.wordpress.com/
http://ringsidepolitics.com/
http://www.wwl.com/
http://redstick.wordpress.com/
http://biggs-bullets.blogspot.com/
http://www.conservativecajun.blogspot.com/

[abb]

http://www.louisianaconservative.com/
Boo - Hoo - Bobby

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl062608tptucker.40b1e1c5.html
Survey shows voters still upset over pay hike

[reasonisfaith]

Is this anti-Jindal movement anything like the global warming agenda—where the debate is over and we have to do something now before it’s too late?

[SkyPilot]

I see you still have a "Mancrush" obsession with Bobby Jindal.

You know, there are hobbies out there, like stamp collecting and sports.

[samtheman]

Some people have posted in FR (in other threads) that Jindal’s passive acquiescence to the pay-raise got the legislature “eating out of Jindal’s hand” so that he could get laws passed like the sexual offender chemical castration law.

Are you people reading this thread?

What say you now?

[abb]

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8563290&nav=menu57_1
Legislator comments on team work voting

http://www.ktbs.com/news/Secretary-of-state-surprised-by-level-of-outcry-over-legislative-pay-raises-13455/
Secretary of state surprised by level of outcry over legislative pay raises

[TornadoAlley3]

Seems the Republicans finally have an Obama of their own, Jindal can do no wrong, he is Messiah, cool. I am still skeptical, can some of you who are bashing abb give me your kool-aid recipe.

[napscoordinator]

Jindal can do no wrong, he is Messiah

I thought the same thing reading about this "six month as governor" guy. What a ridiculous notion to think that Jindal would be ready for such a position. I for one am glad that the air was out of the tires. I was tired of the Jindal Messiah on FR anyway.

[kms61]

Believe whatever you want about Jindal. But you might want to consider that those of us who live here and have firsthand experience with him might actually know a little bit more about him than Rush and Newt. If they actually think he’s ready for the national stage, they’re making a big mistake.

At any rate, with his gallivanting all over the country he’s clearly doing everything but begging to be tapped by McCain. No state governor other than California and maybe NY gets booked on the Leno show under ordinary circumstances without some strings being pulled. As a savvy friend of mine said, “he’s running for something, and it ain’t Governor of Louisiana.” Whether the pay raise thing is strategery or not is kind irrelevant IMHO. If Jindal, and apparently some of his GOP backers, have anything to say about it, he won’t be hanging around Baton Rouge much longer anyway.

I’m not saying the guy is a BAD governor, it’s way too early to make that judgment, and he’s done some good things. But the jury is definitely still out, and could go either way, assuming he even finishes out this term.

[flintsilver7]

I have to say this neverending obsession with attacking Republicans on this website is getting pretty irritating. Nobody is perfect, and we should all know that (Reagan and his amnesty, for example). However, that’s not good enough for people here like the thread creator. (I’m getting visions of a disheveled apartment with hundreds and hundreds of thumb-tacked Jindal pictures and clippings.)

The fact remains that Jindal is well-spoken and has a good conservative record. Allowing a pay raise for the state legislature registers about a 0.05 on the 1-10 RINO scale; the fact that there are at least a dozen threads speaks to the character of the thread creators and, unfortunately, the character of the site.

[abb]

However, that’s not good enough for people here like the thread creator. (I’m getting visions of a disheveled apartment with hundreds and hundreds of thumb-tacked Jindal pictures and clippings.)

You know squat, retard. All you have to do is look in my profile and you can see where I live and what my name is. And I'm in the phone book, if you've got the stones to do anything about it. Not that I have to furnish references to you or anyone else, but my reputation among conservative circles here in this state is reasonably secure.

[abb]

http://centrallapolitics.blogspot.com/
MORE ETHICS BD. RESIGNATIONS

[rrstar96]

Pelican State ping

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13437

[rrstar96]

I'm not getting into name-calling with fellow FReepers, but those of you who don't live in Louisiana don't know how much voters here have had enough with the corruption-as-usual culture in the state's politics and how heavily (even desperately) counted on Jindal to do away with that. I give posters such as abb the benefit of the doubt when they expose the Governor's non-conservative record so far; this is not, as some surmise, a hatchet job. If Jindal was carried to the Governor's Mansion with very high hopes from the Louisiana electorate and he lets us down, he will have to pay the price regardless of his whiz-kid/boy-wonder reputation.

[rrstar96]

Read reply 24.

[rrstar96]

To me, “eating out of Jindal’s hand” is more like “being appeased by Jindal”. That is not the way to govern if you stick to strong principles.

[TornadoAlley3]

http://blogofneworleans.com/blog/2008/06/26/how-bobbys-wheels-came-off-the-prequel/

[rrstar96]

Scalise has a consistent, no-waffling conservative record. I live in his congressional district, so I was more than glad to oblige and give him my vote.

Pay attention, Bobby!

[abb]

Let’s post the whole thing, shall we.

http://blogofneworleans.com/blog/2008/06/26/how-bobbys-wheels-came-off-the-prequel/

How Bobby’s Wheels Came Off: The Prequel

Since my last post on this subject, I have confirmed from several sources some additional information about the “deal” that Gov. Bobby Jindal struck with lawmakers in connection with the much-maligned legislative pay raise. None of what follows conflicts with the facts as set forth in my last post, but it does shed some additional light on what happened — and when.

Early in the session — very early in the session — several key lawmakers met face-to-face with Jindal to discuss the pay raise idea. They wanted to know up front if he was going to oppose it publicly or veto it, because if either scenario occurred they didn’t want to waste time and political capital voting for a highly controversial measure, one they knew would draw voters’ ire, only to have him shoot it down. They reasoned correctly that they wanted Jindal to “hang” with them on this one, or else no one should hang at all.

In that meeting, which occurred in very late March or very early April, Jindal promised he would not oppose the raise — but in return, he secured a promise that lawmakers would pass his voucher (“scholarship”) bill.

It should come as no surprise that the author of the pay raise bill, Sen. Ann Duplessis of eastern New Orleans, also authored the Senate version of the voucher bill. The author of the voucher bill that passed was state Rep. Austin Badon, also of eastern New Orleans, but Duplessis carried the water for both bills in the Senate.

My point here is that Jindal was in on the pay raise deal from the get-go. He did not, according to my sources, quibble over the size of it. His priority was the voucher bill, and he agreed to let lawmakers determine the size and timing in exchange for what he wanted.

Later, when the bill became hotter than anyone anticipated, Jindal apparently dispatched his chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, with a message that the governor would veto the raise because it was too big (at least, that was the official excuse). At that point, House Speaker Jim Tucker countered with a threat against Jindal’s “reform” agenda — the voucher bill. Obviously, a whole lot of folks don’t consider vouchers a “reform,” and it’s interesting that Jindal never fully identified which bills were being held “hostage” as a result of Tucker’s threat.

The rest of my analysis remains the same: Jindal erred big time by sending Teepell to deliver the veto threat. He should have done that himself. Then again, maybe he sent Teepell in knowing he would be feeding his chief of staff to the lions — as a trial balloon. Either way, it played out badly for Jindal.

Here’s the kicker: Badon’s voucher bill cleared its last legislative hurdle on June 18, a day after Jindal announced he would not veto the pay raise.

[abb]

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/UPDATES01/80627032
Jindal: This time, a veto was not ruled out

[abb]

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8565992
7th Ethics Board Member Resigns

[abb]

http://www.nbc33tv.com/features/viral/21822709.html
Meeks’ Parody Song Set to Video

[abb]

http://wwl.com/Recall-attempt-mounted-against-Jindal/2498158
Recall attempt mounted against Jindal

http://wwl.com/Lawmaker-recall-may-be-daunting-but-it-s-not-impos/2498130
Lawmaker recall may be daunting but it’s not impossible

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Government/Legislature_Pay_Raise_Launches_Louisiana_Citizen_Action__6674.asp
Legislature Pay Raise Launches Louisiana Citizen Action

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Government/Louisiana_Governor_Jindal__Legislators_and_Pay_Raise_Crises__6673.asp
Louisiana Governor Jindal , Legislators and Pay Raise Crises

http://www.legewatch.com/
A Defense of the Pay Raise

http://forgotston.com/
Leges donating salary increases

[Non-Sequitur]

What say you now?

I would say that you would be hard-pressed to find too many legislators who voted agains the bill, Jindal or no Jindal. This is Louisiana. Heck, an amendment to the bill that would have required physical castration of rapists got 10 votes out of 77 cast.

I would further state that if Jindal chose to violate a promise publicly made to the electorate while running for office over chemical castration or evolution is schools, then he made a bad choice. He should have sacrificed his principles over something worthwhile.

[flintsilver7]

Congratulations on making it all of three words before resorting to juvenile name-calling. Is that a record?

I don’t really care who you are or where you are from. In fact, it’s largely irrelevant. You didn’t address any of my initial points. You’ve proven time and again you have an unhealthy obsession with Bobby Jindal, and it is my informed opinion that your efforts (assuming you’re really the chest-thumping conservative you claim to be) would be better directed at protecting the country from the active Communists current undermining it.

[abb]

Jindal’s had a recall petition filed against him today. Deal with it.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8566486&Call=Email&Format=HTML
Recall petition filed against Gov. Bobby Jindal

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

bttt...

[tickles]

they get $143/day in session per diem to cover expenses but no apartment funds. So they need the raise to cover that expenses? The question is how many days is the legislature in session. How much is the cost of a small apartment in the city in question? This is in addition to the $16000 they get as salary right? 50 days x 143 is over $7000 (a guess would be they are in session and have committee meetings for more then 50 days) but for $7000 you could rent something for $580 a month. Sure thats probably low and you wouldn’t have any lunch or gas money but just think if you make it 100 days in session you’d have over 14000 to play with. Could rent something nice and eat and drive fairly well with that I would think?

then divide the 16000 by 100 days and you’re making 160 a day, which is probably kinda low, but adding the 143 to it does increase the pay rate. Should they have gotten a raise, possibly, but to increase it by more then double....they were asking for an angry electorate.

[abb]

It’s all right here.
http://www.la-par.org/guide_laleg1.cfm#Election

[samtheman]

I sort of get what you’re saying but not completely. Make it simpler. Has Jindal stumbled as badly as many are saying, or hasn’t he?

(I’m too far removed from LA to know for sure.)

[Non-Sequitur]

Has Jindal stumbled as badly as many are saying, or hasn’t he?

The people in a best position to judge that are the Freepers from Louisiana. And based on posts from them I'd say the small majority of them say he has.