Jindal inaction allows bills to become law

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Capitol news bureau
• Published: Jul 19, 2009

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Gov. Bobby Jindal  let  nearly two dozen bills become law from the 2009 Legislature without his signature — adding to an already record mark for recent Louisiana governors.

With the additions, Jindal has allowed 170 pieces of legislation to become state law without his signature since he became governor in 2008. The number is more than three times the total of all governors dating back to 1990 and Gov. Buddy Roemer.

Republican Gov. Mike Foster has the next-highest total of bills becoming law without signature — 47 over eight years in office.

The 2009 Louisiana Legislature approved 560 bills, with all but six measures ending up on Jindal’s desk. The six measures are proposed constitutional amendments that go straight to voters.

The 560 bills represent 46 percent of the 1,230 measures lawmakers submitted for consideration in the 2009 regular session.

Of the legislation reaching his desk, Jindal signed 515 bills into law and vetoed 18 bills.

Jindal allowed 21 measures to become law without his signature.

Jindal has been mum about why he took a hands-off approach.

The governor declined interview requests made over the past week.

His press secretary, Kyle Plotkin, issued a prepared statement late Friday in which Jindal stated that he “didn’t feel strongly enough to override the will of the Legislature” when he opted not to sign the bills.

Former Govs. Roemer and Kathleen Blanco have said there is no reason to duck legislation because governors get the credit anyway for it becoming law.

Two measures that became law without Jindal’s signature altered state ethics laws and had been opposed by the Louisiana Board of Ethics as well as citizen interest groups because they weakened state conflict of interest laws.