Vitter: Jindal proposals ‘bold’
U.S. Sen. David Vitter praised Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent proposals on Monday to expand school choice vouchers statewide and to overhaul Louisiana’s state employee pension plan.
Vitter, R-La., described Jindal’s plans as “bold” and “transformational” while speaking on statewide and federal topics at a Press Club of Baton Rouge luncheon.
“I give the governor really high marks for what he’s laying out,” Vitter said.
Considered the two most powerful Republican elected officials in Louisiana, Vitter last summer stated Jindal has to “become as engaged and bold as possible in his second term.” Jindal’s second term began in January.
A key part of Jindal’s education agenda is to expand state aid — the governor calls them scholarships — so that up to 380,000 low-income children in public schools now could attend private or parochial schools. The new rules would apply to students attending public schools given a “C,” “D” or “F” by the state.
Opponents have said the plan would weaken public schools and could mean the downfall of public education in Louisiana.
When asked about the lack of capacity in private and parochial schools to accommodate the potential student influx, Vitter said the point is about creating “opportunities” and “empowering parents.”
“You change the playing field over time,” he said.
Jindal also wants to overhaul the debt-laden employee pension system in a way that would increase retirement contributions for some 54,000 employees, reduce benefits and raise the retirement age for many of them.
Jindal is proposing changing the retirement system for new state employee hires, moving away from a set monthly check to one where employees would get a lump sum on retirement based on contributions and earnings in a 401(k)-type setup.
Vitter emphasized that the plan at least would not impact current retirees and those about to retire.
“We can debate fairness, but I guess my first question is, ‘What are the alternatives?’ ” Vitter said. “It’s got to be fixed.”
Jindal’s proposal only addressed the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, which has debt liabilities of $6.45 billion.
He exempts the other three systems, teachers, school employees and State Police. The Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana’s debt is $10.8 billion of the $18.5 billion in unfunded accrued liability.
“Eventually,” Vitter said, the plan should be phased in with other retirement systems.
Jindal’s proposals will be debated during the legislative session that begins March 12.
When asked if he is considering running for governor in 2015 after term limits take effect for Jindal, Vitter said he “literally” has not thought about it for 15 seconds.
“I am 1,000 percent focused on my current job,” Vitter said.
Considered one of the most vocal critics of President Barack Obama, Vitter mostly discussed his “bipartisan” efforts in Washington, D.C., on Monday during a time of “divided government.”
He touted the RESTORE Act legislation of Democratic Louisiana U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu that would dedicate billions of dollars of BP oil leak fines to Gulf Coast states
Vitter also said he is pushing for bipartisan legislation to overhaul the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that he described as an “utterly broken federal bureaucracy.”
Vitter even said he intends to work with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on a comprehensive federal highway bill to expand infrastructure without adding much to the national debt.
Vitter, who noted the bill will be filed in about a month, said teaming up with Boxer, whom he described as a liberal, is as “striking” of a bipartisan example as it gets.