Archive for December, 2007

A Special Holiday Message

December 21st, 2007 | Posted by admin

Posted in holiday messsage, holidays |

A Special Holiday Message

December 21st, 2007 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Click on the image below to view Bobby’s message.

Posted in holiday messsage, holidays |

Working to Lower Insurance Costs

December 18th, 2007 | Posted by admin

Dear Friend,

Working to lower insurance costs

I hosted Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week to discuss how our states can work together to preserve our wetlands and combat the common insurance problems we both face.

Florida and Louisiana have several things in common – the threat of hurricanes, skyrocketing insurance costs and wetlands that need preserving.  We discussed the large cost involved in trying to restore Louisiana’s coast.  Louisiana cannot afford to pay the estimated $14 billion or more costs alone, so we must look to our federal government and private companies to partner with us to secure our coastland for future generations. The federal government paid for significant portions of the Chesapeake Bay and Florida Everglades restorations, and I will continue to work as Governor to ensure that Louisiana receives the same type of support.

I also spoke with Governor Crist about the need for a national catastrophic insurance plan.  As you may recall, I joined Representative Ron Klein (D-FL) in sponsoring the Homeowners’ Defense Act (H.R. 3355) that would create a reinsurance plan.  Reinsurance would help ensure individuals’ claims are paid after a large disaster, and would help lower the cost of insurance and increase availability in areas like the Gulf Coast. That bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November, is currently awaiting action in the U.S. Senate.

You can read more about my meeting with Governor Crist below:
Jindal, Florida’s Governor Teams Up

Gov-elect Bobby Jindal congratulates top graduate Marissa Boyd at Saturday’s University of Louisiana at Monroe graduation ceremony.
Photo courtesy of ULM Office of University Relations

Addressing ULM Graduates

I told graduates at the University of Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday that they can accomplish their goals and that Louisiana is a great place to pursue their dreams.

Too often, we see graduates feel like they must move outside of Louisiana to be successful.  That is a trend we must change.  The best chance Louisiana has in moving to the top of the good lists is to retain these highly-skilled college graduates and have them invest in our state’s future.

Research has shown that a higher education degree translates into better health care outcomes, lower crime rates, better paying jobs and an overall improved quality of life.  By keeping graduates like the ones at ULM in Louisiana, we can begin to reverse these outcomes and turn our state around.

Read more about my graduation address at ULM below:
Jindal urges: Give State a Chance

Encouraging University/Business Partnerships

The Higher Education Transition Advisory Council met at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston last week to discuss how universities and the private sector can partner together to bolster research and promote economic development in the state.

Members toured businesses that got their start on the university campus and saw the potential when research is used by students and universities for economic development. Over the past three years, Louisiana Tech has averaged more than 30 inventions a year, filed 57 patent applications, and helped eight start-up companies get off the ground.  This example is being duplicated at other universities around the state and we must invest and give these universities the tools they need to play an even greater economic development role in the future.

Members of the Council also heard the importance of universities and community colleges working with local communities to ensure the workforce needs of businesses are met. That will be even more important as businesses decide to locate or develop in our state with projects such as the Cyber Command at Barksdale Air Force Base in Northwest Louisiana.

Increasing Retention and Recruitment

A site selection specialist and an editor of a site selection magazine both told the Business Retention and Recruitment Transition Advisory Council last week that having a good road infrastructure, a skilled workforce and an environment without burdensome business taxes were the top factors that business executives consider when looking at possible places to invest.  They also said that Louisiana must overcome the current negative perception held by others that our state is corrupt and not business friendly.

This testimony by national experts reiterates the need to pass meaningful ethics reform and send a strong message that what you know is more important than who you know when doing business. We must also invest in our infrastructure and can begin by dedicating and spending the existing transportation taxes and fees on our roads.

The Transition Advisory Councils will conclude their meetings this week and will begin the process of reviewing the information and ideas gathered from people all across Louisiana.  The final Advisory Council meetings this week are:

Today
Environment (Baton Rouge)
Coastal Restoration and Recovery (Metairie)

Wednesday
Ethics (Baton Rouge)

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal

Bobby Jindal

Posted in Uncategorized |

Educating the nation about Louisiana’s upcoming ethics reforms

December 12th, 2007 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends,

Educating the nation about Louisiana’s upcoming ethics reforms

I am in New York today sharing with business leaders and members of the national media that Louisiana is serious about strengthening our ethics laws and creating an environment that will help attract new businesses and help businesses and industries already here to expand.

I will tell them that our state’s residents are excited about the fresh start that is occurring in Louisiana. The nation’s perception of our state as corrupt must be replaced with the new reality that what you know is more important than who you know when doing business in Louisiana.

Changing our state’s image will not come overnight and will take dedication and hard work from everyone – from Legislators to the general public. I plan to call the Legislature into a special session to strengthen our ethics laws and send a message to the rest of the country that Louisiana has embraced a fresh start.

Helping Move our State Forward

We continue to hear from impressive people across the state that are interested in serving Louisiana by working to implement the detailed plans that I laid forth during the campaign. It is invigorating to see the passion and commitment from everyone interested in helping our state.

Last week, I appointed to my cabinet several of these highly-qualified individuals who are dedicated to moving our state forward. These people represent the excellence, the passion and the commitment that we are looking for and Louisiana needs.

Those appointed last week are:

  • Tim Barfield, Secretary of the Department of Labor
  • Cynthia Bridges, Secretary of the Department of Revenue
  • Lane Carson, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Angèle Davis, Commissioner of Administration
  • Jimmy LeBlanc, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
  • Stephen Moret, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development

You can read more about these individuals below.
Governor-elect Jindal Announces Cabinet Secretaries

Working toward solutions

Transition Advisory Councils last week focused on ethics reform, transportation, health care, social services, veterans’ affairs, and workforce development. At each of these hearings, we heard about solutions that are working in parts of our state or around the nation that can be implemented statewide.

For example, during a hearing in Shreveport last week, the Ethics Transition Advisory Council heard from ethics administrators in Ohio and Georgia about campaign finance disclosure in each state and potential conflicts of interest involving elected officials and government employees. As I stated earlier, ethics reform will be the cornerstone of my administration and will send a strong message to the country that Louisiana is on the move.

We also heard from the Transportation Advisory Council about the need to invest in our roads by dedicating and spending the existing transportation taxes and fees for what they were designed to do — improve our infrastructure, emphasize road quality and reduce traffic congestion - instead of using that money for general state expenses. Investing in our infrastructure is a key step in improving our economy. This means investing our dollars in projects such as the completion of Interstate 49 and improving our port facilities.

This week, we will continue to hold hearings around the state and I invite you to attend.

Hearings this week include:

Wednesday
Business Retention and Recruitment (Baton Rouge)
Hurricane Recovery (Lake Charles)

Thursday
Natural Resources (Lafayette)

Friday
Higher Education (Ruston)
Youth Development (Baton Rouge)

Speaking to Police Jury Association and CABL

Last week I addressed two statewide groups about our efforts to bring a fresh start to Louisiana. On Thursday, I spoke to the Policy Jury Association of Louisiana about the importance of improving transportation infrastructure throughout our state. We must have the necessary infrastructure in place if we are going to expand economic development in all 64 parishes. I look forward to working with local elected officials across Louisiana as we begin a new chapter in our state’s history.

I also spoke with the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) about my plans to reform ethics in our state, and improve education across the board. For too long, our state has fallen behind in these areas, and now is the time for real change. You can read more about my speech to CABL below.
Governor-elect Pushes Education

Building up our community and technical colleges

Jay Leno speaks with Supriya Jindal, Governor-elect Bobby Jindal and Baton Rouge Community College Chancellor Dr. Myrtle Dorsey.

In order to increase economic development in our state, we need to further develop our workforce into one that consists of highly-trained and highly-skilled individuals who are prepared for work on day one. One way we can tackle this issue is by expanding and improving our community and technical colleges throughout the state.In California, more than 80 percent of children continuing their education after high school start at a community or technical college, compared to less than 30 percent in Louisiana. The facts are clear – not every student will go to college and we should encourage a dual track system, as well as dual enrollment programs between high schools and technical and community colleges.

Governor-elect Bobby Jindal and his family were honored to kick off the holiday season recently by participating in the Natchitoches Christmas Parade.

To support this effort, my wife and I attended a fundraiser with Jay Leno on behalf of the Baton Rouge Community College this weekend. It was a great night of entertainment for a very worthy cause.

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal

Posted in ethics, students |