Jindal Shakeup Begins [UPDATED]
By Vladimir Posted in Bobby Jindal | Ethics Reform | State Politics — Comments (51) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The Jindal era begins with the new governor executing a hiring freeze. It seems the Blanco administration created some 1,250 new jobs in an already-bloated state government.
Jindal Freezes Government Hiring
Perhaps more significantly:
Jindal said his Cabinet members — Davis and the heads of state agencies — will file financial disclosure reports on their income, holdings, liabilities and investment transactions.The reports, which will extend to cabinet members’ spouses, will be due Jan. 15, 2009, he said.
Jindal also signed executive orders to:
* Require appointees to submit their resignation if they are indicted.
* Increase public access to state spending, including grants and contracts.
* Shift oversight of the hurricane public assistance program from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, or GOHSEP, to the Louisiana Recovery Authority.Jindal said he wants to remove the obstacles that are preventing police and fire departments from rebuilding more than two years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Go, Bobby, go!
[UPDATE - FROM THE TIMES-PICAYUNE]
Disclosure Law May Extend to Judges
In addition to requiring financial disclosures, and tightening the rules for legislators' access to athletic tickets,
Other task force recommendations include:
-- Requiring that anyone who is late in paying a fine to the Ethics Board be referred to the attorney general's office for possible criminal prosecution. According to the report, Louisiana has a backlog of $880,000 in unpaid fines, while Texas has virtually no backlog.
-- Barring legislators from entering into new state contracts, including those that are competitively bid, during their terms in office. [This is key. -- ed.]
-- Increasing lobbyist disclosure requirements by requiring them to list all income sources, the subject matter lobbied and any business relationships with legislators or appointed officials.
-- Creating a whistle-blower hotline through which residents can report waste, fraud and abuse, and ensure that anyone who steps forward to report wrongdoing is protected from retaliation.
-- Banning contingency-fee contracts in which lobbyists are paid a bonus for producing a certain outcome. Such contracts are banned in 38 states and restricted in four others, according to the report.
-- Increasing the budget and staffing of the Ethics Board and making it easier for the public to find information on its Web site.
-- Overhauling campaign finance laws to require more detailed reporting and electronic filing of contribution and expense reports, and prohibiting candidates from using their campaign accounts to pay ethics fines or employ their relatives.
An executive really only has two opportunities to get things done, and only one of them is certain: immediately upon taking his/her hand off the Bible and in the third year if his friends did well in the mid-term election. Any big initiatives have to be started in the first year; starting them later just allows the opposition to dig in, go to court, etc., and your initiative is just trade goods in the election.
It amazes me that most newly elected or appointed executives seem to be caught totally be surprise when they actually take office. They have whatever big-picture ideas and programs got them into office and are clueless as to how to actually get them translated into workable policy and implement said policy.
A hiring freeze can be done with a stroke of a pen and should be done immediately upon taking office. If nothing else, it stops your opponent or the other party's friends from diving into the jobs. A smart 'crat or appointee that knows his patron is vulnerable will have kept a position in the career service open in case he or a friend might need it.
Any Republican taking an executive office should immediately fire everyone in the government that he has a legal right to fire. Some will be apolitical subject matter experts and after they kiss the ring and miss a check or two just to show you can do it can be rehired. If the government was Democrat or if the government was structured by Democrats and held by them for years, they'll have operatives at all levels and you'll need to much the place out very thoroughly or you'll be leaked, thwarted, and sabotaged endlessly.
In Vino Veritas
It would seem the Clintons were reading your playbook and decided to rip a few pages out.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
they get an office and nobody says "boo" about it. Republicans are so worried about the press from firing all those "dedicated public servants" that they are very reluctant to act. Also, in the fed and the states where Rs are outsiders to the government, there really aren't a lot of Rs who understand the inner workings of government, so the Rs rely heavily on lobbyists. Of course, the lobbyists advise against doing anything that might be too disruptive. What that really means is that the lobbyist doesn't want his "Contact List" to be disrupted.
In Vino Veritas
should be the cautionary template for what NOT to do for any incoming POTUS's. Jindal is a smart guy and I look forward to what he will do in the future. How wonderful would it be to see a POTUS do what this guy is already doing? And how great would it be to see a bunch of career bureaucrats out pounding the pavement looking for a real job?
I especially appreciated Gov. Jindal requiring those indicted having to resign. Now that right there would get rid of a LOT of elected officials! :-)
It is all too easy to criminalize politics. So, all you need is a Democrat prosecutor to go on an indictment campaign against Republican officeholders and appointees, e.g., Tom DeLay. Resignation on conviction, of course. Perhaps suspend from duty or relinquish certain authorities on indictment, but even when one is indicted, one is presumed innocent.
In Vino Veritas
it's good to remember that we are talking about Louisiana.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
He may have come up with the best way to shrink government ever invented.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
While I suspect most politicians' motives, those in states like LA and NJ seem to only be crooks looking to line their pockets. Other states' voters may look at LA with new eyes after Jindal's lower GI on the state government cleans things up.
Go Bobby!
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
Hey, the Order doesn't require the Governor to accept the resignation, does it?
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NARF
The difference is that Jindal is requiring appointees, meaning people who serve at his pleasure, to do so. He's not requiring legislators, who serve at the people's pleasure, to do so.
-TS
"When men fear work or fear righteous war, when women fear motherhood, they tremble on the brink of doom; and well it is that they should vanish from the earth." - Teddy Roosevelt
since he doesn't have any authority over legislators.
In Vino Veritas
More reason to not vote for her. We need Fred to step up and say this.
"I can say - not as a patriotic bromide...that the United States of America is the greatest, the noblest and...the only moral country in the history of the world. - Ayn Rand
...in the future.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
Is he a US Citizen? Don't know much about him.
Well, I think U.S. citizenship is a requirement to be governor of any state. But if you're talking about natural-born citizen, he's one of those too -- born in Baton Rouge in 1971.
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NARF
Your right, I should have asked if he was natural born.
Well, I think U.S. citizenship is a requirement to be governor of any state.
Under fifty separate laws? Of course, he was a member of Congress, and it is required under the Constitution for that.
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
International Editor of
It's too early to tell for sure, but I'll certainly be keeping a close eye on him. He's Presidential timber.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
the first Asian-American president in history.
And the first minority president, unless Uncommitted pulls an upset this year.
-TS
"When men fear work or fear righteous war, when women fear motherhood, they tremble on the brink of doom; and well it is that they should vanish from the earth." - Teddy Roosevelt
First non-white one as well.
Well, unless you count Bill Clinton /sarc.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
White in that he's not European, he is Caucasian so technically the same race as all previous US Presidents. Of course on the darker end of the spectrum. This is not as dramatic if you compare a Swede to an Sicilian and then compare a Sicilian to the majority of Indians.
While most "Aryan" or "Indo-Iranian" peoples of India are definitely Caucasian, people of Eastern India, Bangladesh, and Southern India are certainly mixed with Mongoloids and/or Austroloids.
I think we refer to Indians as Non-White on the basis largely since they are of an Eastern culture. How can Iranians and many Pakistanis(like Bhutto and Musharraf) be considered White but, similar looking Indians are not? I guess its just tradition in Western minds. Not to mention I think the Supreme Court said South Asians could not enjoy the benefit of White-only facilities during Segregation despite being Caucasians because they were too dark skinned. So, that explains the legal basis of Indians being "Asian" but, Iranians being "White". Anyway, I'm kinda a history buff so, I know useless yet interesting(I hope,lol)factoids stuff like this.
Bobby Jindal could the model for Republicans in many current Blue States like Michigan, New Jersey,etc. I'm keeping an eye on him thats for sure. Best of Luck and God Bless.
I can't imagine what a minority devout Catholic that turns around a state that had Katrina devastate it can do for the future of our party. But to quote Jerry Lee Lewis there will be a "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". Perhaps the long awaited realignment? We will find out soon enough I suppose.
He is from Baton Rouge.....so he is an American. Also, he is of Indian decent.
New Orleans......Proud to Swim Home!
of Jindal seems to have brought an air of optimism here in Louisiana. Not only was Jindal sworn in the other day, but 59 (out of 105) newly elected Legislators were sworn in as well.
Ethics Reform is Jindal's first focus. Do keep a eye on Louisiana, I think we can all expect good things to come!
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
The HinzSight Report
Managing Editor
Jindal has to overcome a 900 million dollar's of recurring expenses that was paid for with 1 time money from the previous admin. This is what happens when irresponsible libs run government and now Gov. Jindal has to clean up her mess.
New Orleans......Proud to Swim Home!
You know something crazy? Losing in 2003 was probably the best thing that ever happened to Jindal.
Had he won a squeaker in 2003, he would have come in with little political capital, less experience, and a largely hostile legislature. Katrina would have hit. While I have absolutely no doubt that Jindal would have done much better then Blanco, it is very unlikely, especially given the weak hand he would have had, that he would have come out of it smelling like roses. Even if he was re-elected in 2007, again, he wouldn't have the political capital.
Now, however, he rides in like a knight on on a white steed, has more political capital then he knows what to do with, and has a much more friendly legislature.
Strange how things happen sometimes.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
"Losing in 2003 was probably the best thing that ever happened to Jindal."
It sucked for the state, though.
Jindal lost his house in the storm, but alone among politicians he immediately rolled up his sleeves, started kicking a$$es & taking names. He was calling in every chip he had from Washington. This, while Gov. Edith Bunker was fretting about posse comitatus, Mayor Nagin was esconced on the 27th floor of the blackened Hyatt Regency, and Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) was commandeering Nat'l Guard Humvees and helicopters so he could safeguard his frozen "succotash".
There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life. - Frank Zappa
Kind of true, kind of not.
Yes, he would have been better in the short-term during Katrina, but he wouldn't have had the political capital to really make changes that he got from coming in to save the day after Katrina.
In the long run, it's more important to fix the problems in Louisiana that lead to the problems in Katrina. That'll happen in part because he lost in 2003.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
for a successful president run. I think it goes without saying that he would be more popular and effective than our current president.
Evil prevails only when good men do nothing.
By what measure ?
2 wars successfully prosecuted
2 Conservative judges on the supreme court
The only legislative initiative he has pushed that hasn't passed is Social Security reform.
I will give you this he probably won't be able to bring peace to the middle east in the next 12 months but given his record you never know.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
that seem to trip up every U.S. President.
I voted for Bush twice and support our efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. That being said, I find Bush's second term to be a foreign policy disappointment. Condi in particular is worth of a dhimmi of the year award, but the buck stops with the President.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Bush, especially at this point, seems to narrowly focused on Iraq.
For example, we treat Iran a certain way because of Iraq, not because it would otherwise be in our best interest to do so.
My fundamental gripes are as follows:
(1) We are not challenging the Jihadists ideologically, which means they will continue to pop out of the woodwork--here and abroad
(2) We are not effectively using proganda in ME
(3) In Iraq and Afghanistan, we are focusing on voting/democracy before rule of law/human rights
I agree with your complaints, but still, you can't deny there is real progress, so I'm not going to nitpic too much.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
Are you saying that Iraq was "successfully prosecuted?" War is war and hindsight is 20/20, but I would hardly say that it has been successful. In the long term, Iraq will be stable, but we could have reached that point sooner.
Since you bring up judges, remember Harriet Meir?
As far as legislation goes, Medicare part D and NCLB are more big government programs we expect from the left that outweigh any of the benefits of the tax cuts (and the tax cuts are the only major, positive thing he has accomplished in that area, despite have a Republican led house and senate).
And then you have the feds easy money policy that brought us the sub-prime disaster* (which, just in time for a presidential election, makes for easy pandering that will result in more government). It was great for him in '04 when we could talk about the high levels of home-ownership, but what about now?
Just to fair, relations with India and Brazil will also be part of his legacy, but then again you have his pathetic groveling at the feet of the Saudis last week. If he was effective, we would be drilling in ANWAR and in gulf, and wouldn't have to resort to begging.
Sorry, but he has done nothing, aside from tax cuts, to advance the conservative agenda.
Evil prevails only when good men do nothing.
*Correct me if I am wrong on this. My knowledge of the business world is not that great.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
I love Jindal he is a great Brown alumni member
Indictments can be political and without merit (hello Mike Nifong). I'm not sure I like the idea that the person should be required to resign.
I agree that an indictment is not proof of guilt. The Dems use this ussue to get rid of good men like Tom DeLay. Should DeLay have had to resign because the Ronnie Earl-fong did a political hit job on him?
The good ol' boys that have run LA for the last 75 years (at least) need a wakeup call that a new day has dawned. Jindal's plan is a great start.
Imagine a football field with no sidelines, no goal posts, no markings of any kind. Jindal's first move is to clearly mark the field so all players can truly see what's in bounds, what's out of bounds, and where the end zone is.
Your comment might then be "Some referees are crooked!" Well, maybe so, but it's insane to play on an unmarked field. And I trust Bobby not to let your scenario happen.
There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life. - Frank Zappa
Bush should have done something like this with State and CIA. Herd the skunks toward the door....
Stare decisis is fo' suckas -- Feddie
I wish that Presidents did this kind of thing the day after their inauguration.