Jindal vetoes 4 bills

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 8, 2009 - Page: 1A

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Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed four bills Tuesday, including legislation designed to help the homeless.

The governor also signed more bills into law from the just-ended 2009 legislative session.

One of those signed measures — House Bill 517 — allows health-care workers to opt against participating in abortions, stem-cell research and human embryo cloning on religious grounds.

Several lawmakers reacted angrily to Jindal’s vetoes, accusing the governor of personally targeting them.

“I fear that maybe it’s punitive …  the reasons given to me certainly don’t wash,” said state Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, who is often a vocal opponent of Jindal’s proposals.

The governor rejected Jones’ legislation to form a commission to oversee generating hydroelectric power in St. Mary Parish.

Earlier this week, the governor dismissed as ridiculous allegations he is exacting vetoes as political retribution.

State Rep. Walker Hines, D-New Orleans, said Jindal will have to answer to his Catholic faith for nixing assistance for the homeless.

House Bill 781 would have created a homeless prevention and assistance program within the state Department of Social Services.

In his veto message, Jindal expressed concern about the program’s five-year cost.

“I would prefer that the agency address these objectives with existing resources,” the governor wrote.

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the program would cost $642,841 over five years through personnel, operating, travel and other expenses.

Hines, the bill’s sponsor, said the veto got his “temperature boiling.”