Jindal opposition to bill riles some legislators

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 22, 2008 - Page: 9A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal got crosswise with some legislators Wednesday after an aide filed last-minute opposition to a bill that would allow the lieutenant governor to appoint members of a handful of state boards.

The House-passed bill’s sponsor state Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, who was a Jindal floor leader in the ethics special session, said the concern raised in a Senate committee was the first he was hearing of any problem.

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu’s chief aide Dawn Watson said no one had talked to her office either.

Jindal aide Luke Letlow said the administration had just “discovered our appointees would be removed.”

“We don’t want people to be removed that have already been appointed (by Jindal),” Letlow said.

“It’s hard to believe it just came to you in a revelation,” Gallot replied.

The dispute arose after state Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, submitted a proposed change to House Bill 503 — the appointment transfer bill.

HB503 would allow the lieutenant governor to appoint members of the Louisiana Tourism Development Commission, the Louisiana Tourism Promotion District, the State Library Board and the Retirement Development Commission.

Walsworth said Jindal proposed allowing those people he appoints to the boards by July 1 to continue to serve.

State Sen. Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, objected.

“It neuters the bill,” Jackson said. She said Jindal could fill all the slots on the four boards by July 1, then the lieutenant governor would have no appointments to make.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office is responsible for state cultural, recreation and tourism activities. State libraries fall under the lieutenant governor, too. But under current law, the governor decides who serves on the related boards.

Walsworth agreed to alter his proposed change to say those Jindal appointed as of Wednesday would be free to continue to serve and the panel went along.