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By Vladimir Posted in Bobby Jindal | Louisiana | State Politics — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

...and don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.

Jindal's legislative director resigns

Gov. Bobby Jindal's legislative director has resigned after serving fewer than six months with the new administration, which is embroiled in a controversy over the Legislature's large pay raise.

Tommy Williams, 65, said Sunday the decision to leave was his and that he left on good terms. He did not offer reasons for his departure, but said he plans to return to his career as a professional lobbyist.

"I cannot tell you how much I've learned and what a great opportunity I had," Williams said.

Williams' resignation comes at a moment of intensely strained relations between Jindal and the Legislature, which adjourned last week from its third lawmaking session this year. Although Jindal won virtually every initiative he wanted during those sessions, he did not prevent lawmakers from giving themselves a pay raise that more than doubles their base salary for serving in the Legislature. ...

Jindal's package of ethics laws, including extensive financial disclosures by public officials, and business tax cuts passed overwhelmingly in the first and second special sessions.

In the recent regular session, the governor achieved a list of goals, including a revamp of the state's workforce training programs. But Jindal was outmaneuvered when lawmakers built momentum behind a bill for a $300 million cut in personal income tax, a move the governor at first opposed. Reversing course, Jindal became a supporter of the bill, and it passed.