You have got to be kidding me.... In a press conference yesterday, Gov. Bobby Jindal commented on the passage of a bill that will double legislators' pay and that has angered Louisiana residents. "I've learned my lesson," Jindal said. Things are going to be different in the Legislature from now on, and he'll hold a "much tighter rein" on lawmakers next time around, the governor said. But he's still not going to veto the bill, although he promised to do just that in his election campaign for governor. http://www.theind.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2730&Itemid=92
he hasn't learned his lesson or he would veto the bill, he can still do the right thing . . . but he won't. I can't believe he is going to take this huge political hit just to suck up to the legislature. He's the friggin' governor, they have to have HIM to get what they want, not the other way around. Bottom line--he made one promise to his constituency and the opposite to the legislators. Now he has decided to please the politicians instead of his constituency. No courage at all.
As an avid Bobby Jindal supporter I wish I could refute what you guys say but I'm as disappointed as you are. I'm not ready to write him off but we'll have to see where this goes.
and "this is my last cigarette" (or drink), and "the check is in the mail". yeah right. yep. future promises are very hollow when he wont step up and honor his promise THIS time. this is a huge creditility hit, and its happening awfully early in his term.
Here's an honest question though: is it really worth it for him to risk pissing off the Legislature and thus not get anything he wants accomplished over the next four years? It seems to me like he's picking his battles here, especially since the Legislature is still fighting the court of public opinion. I think the anger over the pay raise will blow over eventually, while the Legislature will do whatever it can to block any legislation he tries to pass if he does veto their pay raise. He just seems to be in a no-win situation here regardless, but I would think it'd be better for the state if he does not veto it. I don't necessarily think that's putting his own political interests before the state. Am I totally off my rocker here?
Jindal's a politician. I never expected him to be perfect. I'm more worried about the big picture, which is yet to be seen but I still believe he can accomplish some good things.
What gets me is he says he's letting the legislature manage themselves. Bullchit, that's the reason he has veto power it's all part of the checks and balances. It's his job to veto bad legislation. Besides the fact that he made a campaign promise to veto any legislative pay raise if it went into effect before the next election. His inference that the legislature will hold his agenda hostage rings hollow too, they need him to not veto the bills they want to pass.
