Jindal extends thanks to lawmakers at lunch

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 26, 2008 - Page: 14A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Just weeks after angering legislators by vetoing scores of their projects, Gov. Bobby Jindal used a private luncheon Friday to reach out to lawmakers.

Jindal spoke at the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee’s annual luncheon. Committee aides refused to allow the media into the luncheon, citing a tradition of barring the press from events.

However, several lawmakers who attended the luncheon at the Marriott New Orleans said Jindal made a point of recognizing them and thanking them for their work.

That’s a genial tone considering Jindal blamed the legislative pay raise on making the mistake of allowing legislators to manage their own affairs. 

Jindal is traveling to legislators’ districts this month for a series of town meetings. He headed to Thibodaux on Friday after speaking at the luncheon. He is scheduled to be in north Louisiana on Monday.

“We’ll work through any kind of problems that we have,” state Sen. Mike Walsworth said after the luncheon. Walsworth, R-West Monroe, said the governor talked about working as a team with legislators.

House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, said Jindal thanked lawmakers for helping him with his initiatives.

Earlier in the day, after addressing the National Conference of State Legislatures, Jindal defended the $16 million in legislative projects that he cut from the state operating budget.

Jindal said he made his stance on the projects clear when he was campaigning for governor last year.

“We have to stop the slush funds,” he said.

Jindal hesitated a second when asked about the budget cuts forcing the closure of a New Orleans senior citizens’ center that has been in operation for decades.

The Lower Algiers Senior Center recently announced that the $25,000 funding loss crippled its efforts to provide free lunches to the elderly.

Jindal said the state still spends a tremendous amount of money on services for the elderly, including prescription drugs and councils on aging centers.