‘Pork’ pulled from budget

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 15, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal angered a number of lawmakers Monday by purging $16 million in “pork barrel projects” from the state operating budget.

“For too long, state government has spent and spent with little regard for taxpayers’ money,” the governor said during a news conference at the State Capitol.

Jindal removed funding for community organizations, museums and a Baton Rouge balloon festival from the $29.9 billion state operating budget. In all, Jindal “line-item vetoed” 258 legislative pet projects.

The vetoes prompted Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, to suggest that Jindal made a mistake in eliminating so many projects.

Other lawmakers were more vehement about the vetoes.

“The governor is asinine,” said state Sen. Yvonne Dorsey, D-Baton Rouge, who lost funding for a number of groups.

Dorsey called Jindal “a blatant liar” and accused him of pandering to the national Republican Party in order to ultimately become president.

Dorsey said she hopes legislators return to the State Capitol to overturn the vetoes.

A veto session would be unprecedented even though it is automatically scheduled after the session adjourns.

The House and the Senate send a packet of the governor’s vetoes to legislators along with a ballot on whether a veto session is necessary. If a majority of either chamber votes against holding the session, it is cancelled.

State Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, said the governor’s action on the budget could result in a veto session.

“There’s no telling what it might trigger,” she said.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Michot said he does not think the budget vetoes will prompt lawmakers to return to the State Capitol.