Jindal: La. at crossroads
Louisiana is at a historic crossroad with the upcoming debate over sweeping changes in public schools and state employee pensions, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday.
“I think this is one of those critical moments,” Jindal said.
The governor made his comments during a 35-minute speech at the annual “Leadership Power Breakfast” sponsored by the Baton Rouge Business Report and others.
Most of his remarks focused on his two key proposals for the 2012 legislative session, which begins on March 12.
Jindal has proposed an overhaul of key public school operations, including new ways to pay and evaluate teachers and a major expansion of state aid for low-income students to attend private or parochial schools.
In addition, he wants to revamp the state’s debt-riddled state employee pension system, including higher contributions for about 54,000 current state workers, reduced benefits and a higher retirement age for many.
Without a fix, Jindal said, the $18.5 billion debt of the four retirement systems will only get worse.
“That is simply not sustainable,” he said.
Both issues will spark controversy in the Legislature.
Jindal said he tells state lawmakers that, while they will vote on thousands of bills, most are quickly forgotten.
But he said the fate of his public school and pension changes will have a long-term impact on the state.
“We have got an opportunity to transform the way we educate children in this state,” Jindal said.
The governor said state residents spend considerable time reminiscing about Louisiana’s past highlights, including a time when New Orleans was bigger than Miami and considered by some as the capitol of the “New South” and how Baton Rouge was once the size of Austin.
“And the list goes on and on and on,” he said.
Jindal said the state has a chance to be remembered as taking major steps in 2012 with his push to revamp public schools and retirement benefits.
“Now is not the time to stay on the bench,” he told the group.
Teacher union leaders and other critics of Jindal’s public school proposals say they would damage traditional public schools.
Meanwhile, the executive director of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System last week questioned the fairness of singling out only rank-and-file state employees for pension changes.