Well, that is an almost impossible task since at least some legislators give me so much material to work with on an almost daily basis. To make amends, I am offering some friendly advice to my legislative friends. They should forgo the idea of a special legislative session and try to rehabilitate their poor image with the voters of Louisiana.
 
After Governor Jindal vetoed funding for 258 non-governmental organizations and local spending projects using his line item authority, some legislators expressed outrage. In fact, State Senator Yvonne Dorsey (D-Baton Rouge) called the Governor “asinine,” and said he was engaged in “political grandstanding.” Dorsey believes that Jindal is pandering to the national Republican Party by trying to burnish his credentials as a fiscal conservative. According to Dorsey, Jindal is cruelly cutting the budget by eliminating programs that help poor people. She thinks that the Governor is “feeding his ridiculous Presidential ambitions.” Dorsey and many of her colleagues believe that Jindal cut worthy programs and the Legislature should convene in a special session to override these vetoes.
 
While Dorsey is right about Jindal’s national political ambitions, she is dead wrong about an override session. Such a session would irritate an already irritated citizenry. In contrast, the Governor has restored some of his lost credibility by vetoing the legislative pay raise bill and has enhanced his standing even more by casting these vetoes.
Our state budget has tripled in 12 years and stands at approximately $30 billion right now. There is no real justification for this massive increase in spending. The people in Louisiana have not benefited as the budget has soared. In fact, our economy and population have declined in that time period.
 
It is past time for our state budget to go on a massive diet and to inject more funds into our struggling private sector. Jindal’s vetoes are a small step in the right direction. The supposedly draconian cuts total only $16 million, which is approximately .000533% of the overall budget. In reality, the Governor needs to be cutting many more projects that do not deserve state funding.
 
The vast majority of these 258 vetoes were justified. There is no reason that selected non profit or religious organizations should be receiving state funds. For example, the Hot Air Balloon Festival should not be receiving a state allocation of $25,000. If events such as a balloon festival are worthy of support, then funds need to be raised in the private sector.
I am sympathetic to some legislative complaints. For example, State Representative Neil Abramson (D-New Orleans) placed a $50,000 allocation into the budget to assist Unity of Greater New Orleans move homeless people into permanent housing. There are also some other worthy groups whose allocation was cut; however, the vast majority of non-governmental organizations did not meet the smell test.
Legislators would look foolish by convening another session. Voters are still upset about the outcome of the regular session. Another session would cost money and involve spending more state funds. Currently, legislators are on the losing end of public opinion polls, so it would be better for state lawmakers to give Governor Jindal this victory and try to regroup.
 
The next regular session is eight months away giving legislators time to determine the right strategy to deal with Governor Jindal and an unhappy populace. Another session is the last thing that voters want and is no way for legislators to restore their lost popularity with the voters of Louisiana.
 

Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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