Bill targets Jindal

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 21, 2009 - Page: 1A

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The Louisiana Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that the Jindal administration says would open more Governor’s Office records to public inspection.

But the proposed law continues to keep secret records that deal with how the governor makes decisions. One Senate critic said the measure has a “loophole” that could render the records law proposal meaningless.

The Senate voted 35-4 for an altered Senate Bill 278, which Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive counsel, Jimmy Faircloth, helped craft. The measure goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“Right now you can’t get anything from this Governor’s Office in Louisiana,” said state Sen. Jody Amedee, D-Gonzales, sponsor of the bill.

“This has been like this forever. We are trying to make it better.”

But state Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, said the legislation continues huge exceptions not tolerated anywhere else under the state’s public records law.

He said the Governor’s Office should get no special treatment.

Adley recalled Jindal’s push for government transparency. “I heard it. We must change. We will change — except when it applies to me,” Adley said of Jindal.

Adley tried to alter the bill to provide more disclosure, including making the governor’s schedule public record seven days after the dates passed.

 He also sought preservation of Governor’s Office records so they could be released 10 years after a governor leaves office.

“These records belong to the people of Louisiana,” Adley said.

All attempts failed amid Jindal administration objections. Only a handful of senators voted with Adley.

Faircloth, who watched the debate from the Senate sidelines, said the legislation “puts us in the mainstream of how other states deal with this.”