It would be nearly impossible for President Obama to criticize Jindal’s record in Louisiana, including his success in turning around failing schools following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. That disaster has led not only to new school buildings but also reconstructed curricula, school choice and improved grades.This is true.
In his re-election campaign, Jindal pledged to overhaul his state’s tax structure in order to improve the business climate that was stifling job creation. His office maintains that “he quickly cut taxes that were directly penalizing business investments, which create more Louisiana jobs. He also fulfilled his 2007 campaign commitment to enact targeted tax credits that would lead to job creation in high-growth industries. Over the past three and a half years Louisiana has seen a job creation turnaround, with the state announcing projects that create more than 45,000 new direct and indirect jobs and more than $10 billion in capital investment. CATO’s Fiscal Policy Report Card, which weighs revenues and tax changes, gave Louisiana an ‘A’ in their 2010 ranking because of new tax changes.”
And all this is true. And also why he was basically unopposed. It’s shocking how blind some can be to how much better off we are than other states.
Jindal also confronted wasteful spending, which Washington politicians often talk about, but do little to reverse. He reduced the state budget by $9 billion, or 26%, in part by eliminating unnecessary government jobs and streamlining services.
OK this is true, but lacks context. About $7 of the $9 billion have been reductions in federal funds (both hurricane recovery and medicaid). So while technically true, this is overstated. That said, he has substantially slashed the state budget and the number of employees on the state payroll. When he came into office I think the state funds were about $10 billion and now they are at $8 billion. Add in the increasing cost of healthcare and retirement and that is a pretty significant achievement.
Also true and also impressive.For the third year in a row, Southern Business and Development named Louisiana “State of the Year” for attracting business investment and creating jobs. People are migrating to Louisiana after several years of emigration. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “this is the fourth consecutive year of Louisiana population in-migration.”
I still think cabinet post. At least Jay will be there to take the post if Jindal leaves.Bobby Jindal’s electoral and economic successes should serve not only as a model, but also as an inspiration to Republican candidates for president and Congress. The miracle of Louisiana can also work in other states and in Washington because Jindal is the latest conservative to demonstrate that conservative principles work and that those principles should not be shied away from, but embraced.
His resume and track record commend him for vice president, whoever the eventual Republican nominee turns out to be.
BigJim let’s get real here. Bobby Jindal did not overhaul the state’s tax structure. You know that and everyone here nows that. Of the businesses taxes that have been reduced since he took office only one---a very small one--was of his making and that was the utility tax cut. That is far from a tax overhaul. Thomas obviously read Timmy’s spin and sucked it in.
We all know he was constitutionally required to reduce state spending as revenue went down AND we know that given the choice to reduce it further he stayed with the democrat Chaisson in two sessions rather than endorsing the more fiscally conservative House budgets.
Who gives a s*** about a industry group of professional state employees who giveaway money calling Louisiana “State of the Year”. They call us that more because we are willing to throw money at companies the governor likes, we have the richest film tax subsidies and we pay our guy Moret the kind of salary they would all like to make. It is nothing to brag about. It is embarrassing.
The state’s economic success has more to do with the tremendous amount of onshore drilling that is occurring and the relatively high price of oil than anything else and it is occurring despite the governor hammering one the participants, BP, far beyond reason on behalf of the state. Jindal’s raping of BP to build those sand berms for political gain was out and out extortion IMHO. He basically was paying back Shaw.
Jindal’s ethics reform, well documented by your truly, are an out and out fraud.
