Jindal slashes funding for state treasurer

Jindal’s ‘streamlining’ efforts trim critics’ funding

Gov. Bobby Jindal used his veto pen Friday to strike funding for two political critics.

Jindal’s action came on House Bill 1, the roughly $25.6 billion state operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

HB1 encountered a bumpy road to the governor’s desk.

State Treasurer John Kennedy criticized Jindal for a patchwork approach to the budget that included the use of one-time, or nonrecurring, dollars for expenses that must be met year after year.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne complained about not getting enough money for tourism advertising.

On Friday, Jindal stripped funding from both men’s offices.

The governor said in his veto message that taking $511,279 from Kennedy’s office would “streamline” his department. Many of the ideas that Kennedy pitched for replacing the one-time money in the budget were recycled suggestions he made while serving on the Commission for Streamlining Government.

In vetoing $2 million in marketing funding for Dardenne’s agency, Jindal said the expenditure exceeded available revenue.

The governor’s spokesman, Kyle Plotkin, said Jindal was unavailable to discuss his action on the budget. “Everything is in the veto message,” Plotkin said.

Comments

1) Comment by concernedcitizen - 16/06/2012

The little dictator has all you officials living in fear of your jobs or your programs. This who you voted for twice.

2) Comment by bettergovt - 16/06/2012

He will just use it to offset the secret tax credits to his friends.

3) Comment by LawyerDan65 - 16/06/2012

If there was "insufficient revenue" then how was the budget considered "balanced" when it passed the Legislature? Does this mean that the State will spend $2.5M less in one time money, or will the Gov. simply spend that $2.5M somewhere else than where the Legislature directed it to be spent?

4) Comment by spqr - 16/06/2012

The most immature governor ever. He must have been bullied as a child. Oh wait, Piyush is still a child.

5) Comment by bettergovt - 16/06/2012

The difference between Jindal and Kennedy is that Kennedy acts crazy and operates reasonably, while Jindal acts reasonably and governs crazy. Kennedy relies on simple solutions that will work while Jindal uses complicated solutions that actually accomplish the opposite of what they are supposed to do. I will take "stale" any day of the week if it works. If this Voucher program is "fresh" I want no more of it.

6) Comment by gtinla - 16/06/2012

Jindal is a child.

7) Comment by dday198 - 16/06/2012

jack with this cold blooded gov. and he will take your job or cut your rupees off.

8) Comment by Cousin Dave - 16/06/2012

The only problem that I have to these cuts is that they don't go deep enough. Dardenne is a Republican In Name Only who's main objective is to blow millions in tax money on silly TV ads under the guise of tourist promotion. And Kennedy is a stale cracker who Insists on pushing old ideas that don't work. We need to rid state government of both of these blowhards.

9) Comment by twinkie1cat - 15/06/2012

Off with his head says King Bobby! How dare he oppose me! That's is thing thinking of Louisiana's King. God help us if he ever gains national office. Somebody that arrogant would try to re-crucify the Lord Jesus Christ.

10) Comment by 8.3 - 15/06/2012

LA contains the area with the Highest Level of Senior Citizens Living in Poverty. LA Most Violent state (20 years in a row as of 2012) Longest prison sentence by a Congressman – LA’s Bill Jefferson LA last in Camelot Index LA 1st in corruption convictions per capita LA 49th in student performance and progress LA has worst drivers LA least peaceful state LA 50TH in women’s health LA 49th in Health LA 1st in Murders per 100,000 population. LA 1st in Laziness. LA has least affordable auto insurance Governor Bobby Jindal one of most incompetent and unethical governors LA 2nd worst lawsuit climate LA gets an ‘F’ for Children’s Dental Health LA 1st in Happiness. LA 1st in deaths from diabetes. LA 1st in Personal Income drop. LA 1st in the number of forms of legalized gambling. LA 1st in rate of children under 5 on the brink of hunger. LA 2nd Most Dangerous State LA Worst State for Nursing Homes LA 1st in Homeless Children LA 1st in Percentage of Homeless Veterans. LA 52nd in population gain LA 2nd in bad auto loans LA 49th in Higher Education LA 2nd WORST state for businesses LA 49TH in Business competitiveness and retention LA 48TH in child well-being LA 1ST in gonorrhea rate LA has highest auto insurance rates in the nation LA 1st in the rate of corruption LA LAST in attracting college-educated workers LA 51st in child care LA 2nd in Black Homicides LA roads WORST in the nation. LA 49th in Savings LA 49TH in Longevity LA 50TH in per capita income LA 50TH in livability. LA 4th Highest Rate of Adult Obesity LA 1ST in wasting Medicare dollars LA 2ND in rate of men killing women LA 48TH in places to die LA 2ND in rate of healthcare uninsureds LA 49TH in social health LA 1ST in high school dropout rate LA public schools are 4TH worst LA 2ND cost of Homeowner’s Insurance LA 1ST in net population loss LA is ONLY southern state to lose population LA 1st in people moving out LA 1ST in Southeast in population exodus LA 1ST in rate of incarceration LA 1ST in number of child living in poverty LA 48TH in educational attainment of the population 25 years and over LA 1ST in number of women living in poverty LA LAST in bond ratings LA LAST in healthcare for seniors LA 1ST in abandoning public schools LA 2ND in DWI fatalities LA 46TH in Integrity LA is the 49TH “smartest state” LA WORST for healthcare for the elderly and disabled LA LAST in wealth of our citizens LA’s economy 49th out of 50 LA LAST in cash for research LA 1ST in teen use of steroids LA 1ST in the percentage of income used to pay rent LA 2ND in rate of poverty

11) Comment by 8.3 - 15/06/2012

8null6 if you even went to LSU , I bet you , " flunked" out. Or sure didn't pay attention in English class. Obvious. "You" , are, a, loser, but you're in the right state. "the real victim here is (sic) the citizens of the state of Louisiana" you can say that again, it sure took the smarter ones a while to figure it out, now lets see how long it takes the dullards, never, maybe since intelligence or the lack of it tends to span generations. Don't "y'all" ever wonder question why Louisiana has ALWAYS been on the wrong side of every comparison and its getting worse?

12) Comment by 8point6 - 15/06/2012

"I have been a fan of Jindal since he was elected," Yeah, right. And, I've been a bleeding heart liberal democrat since I was born. What I love about Jindal, is that, he angers the news media.

13) Comment by louisisanared - 15/06/2012

I have been a fan of Jindal since he was elected, but over the past couple of years he has made some decisions that has caused my faith in him to be tested. Now he is going to take money away from two departments, because these officials spoke out publicly about possible other ways that Jindal could have handled the budget to possibly get more money. I know in my mind that he is punishing them. He is just like Kip Holden now, in my opinion. Both Jindal and Holden make others suffer because they dare to criticize or question their actions. What Jindal (and Holden) do not realize is the real victim here is the citizens of the state of Louisiana (and city of Baton Rouge), when they decide to make decisions based on their emotions. You will never be president like this Jindal.