Archive for January, 2008

Hosting World Leaders in New Orleans

January 31st, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends,

Hosting World Leaders in New Orleans

Louisiana received great news on Monday night when President Bush took the opportunity in his State of the Union address to announce that New Orleans will host the North American Leaders Summit this coming April.

This is an opportunity for the world to see the progress that has been made in our state’s recovery, as well as a chance to show the world that Louisiana is ready for business, ready for investment and ready for visitors.

When speaking with the President about his decision, he told me that New Orleans was chosen because of the resilience of residents along the Gulf Coast.

With events such as the Sugar Bowl and BCS Championship just finished, and Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and the NBA All-Star game before us, the North American Leaders Summit is another opportunity for the eyes of the world to turn to Louisiana.

Securing Support for Cyber Command

On Friday I met with Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynn in Washington to reaffirm the state’s commitment to permanently bringing Cyber Command to Barksdale Air Force Base. I have pledged to commit the first $50 million of the state surplus to support the transportation and infrastructure improvements needed for Cyber Command.

During my meeting, the Secretary told me he was impressed with the commitments made at the local and state levels and that a final decision should be coming toward the end of the year.

He emphasized that over a dozen communities are competing for the site, and that it was important for communities like Shreveport/Bossier City and the state to build the needed infrastructure now, such as the Cyber Innovation Center, in preparation of Cyber Command.

I was honored to take part last week in the groundbreaking for the Center, which will help provide support and development for Cyber Command. It is encouraging to see the community – government, private businesses, college and universities and non-profit organizations – working together to make Cyber Command and the Cyber Innovation Center a reality. Cyber Command will help bring thousands of high paying jobs to our state that will transform the I-20 corridor. I will continue to work hard in the coming months to make Barksdale the permanent Cyber Command.

Below is a link to an article concerning the Cyber Innovation Center groundbreaking.

“Jindal says Cyber Command efforts ‘priority,’ pledges state funds,” Shreveport Times

Helping Our Existing Businesses Expand

On Sunday I met with leaders from Koch Industries, a large employer that has eight different companies in Louisiana, such as Georgia Pacific, about how the state is a partner in helping businesses in our state succeed. I spoke with the president of Koch industries and offered the state’s assistance in helping their businesses grow and expand, as well as help plants like Springhill’s Georgia Pacific plant get back up and running.

As I told the Claiborne Parish Chamber of Commerce on Monday, so many times in the past our state has focused on luring the next big business to our state. And while that is important, we must remember and support those businesses that are already in the state. One way to help these businesses expand and grow is to eliminate the burdensome business taxes that other states, such as Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, do not have.

We must level the playing field for our businesses by eliminating the taxes on debt, machinery and equipment and utilities. After we win the war on corruption with ethics reform, I will call the legislature into special session to eliminate these taxes for good.

Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Governor Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |

A New Louisiana

January 18th, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends,

A New Louisiana

Inauguration was the first step towards a new beginning for our state. A new beginning that will bring a better life for our children and grandchildren, and the generations that follow them. And, as you all know, there is much work to be done.

The events surrounding Inauguration were a special time and I hope you were able to participate in some of the events, be it the family festival, the swearing in ceremony at the State Capitol, or just by watching the events on television or listening to them on radio. If you missed the Inauguration this past Monday, you can watch the entire ceremony by clicking here.

I have also included some links below of coverage regarding Inauguration.

“We Will Not Fail,” The Times Picayune

Jindal Shares Vision for Louisiana, Baton Rouge Advocate

Travelling the State It was a great honor to give my first speech as Governor in Monroe to the Chamber of Commerce Thursday night. As I told the Chamber, we have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn our state around. While we may not completely understand the circumstances that brought us to this point, we certainly understand what we must now do.

First and foremost, we must create a Louisiana that is a national leader in openness and accountability, free of the scandals that have plagued us for too long. We are a worldwide leader and innovator in so many areas, only to be held back by an image tarnished by greedy politicians and incompetence in our state agencies.

We must also create a business environment conducive to not only bringing new businesses to Louisiana, but helping those already here stay and bringing home those who have left for Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas.

You can read more about Thursday night’s event below.

Jindal Promises to Strengthen Northeastern Louisiana, Monroe New Star

I am also looking forward to travelling to Bossier City on Monday for the groundbreaking of the Cyber Innovation Center, which will help provide support and development for Cyber Command that is being provisionally created at Barksdale Air Force Base. Cyber Command will be a great step forward for the economy of Northwest Louisiana, and I will continue to work to make sure that it is permanently located at Barksdale.

Combating Corruption, Incompetence and Fiscal Irresponsibility

We do not have time to sit back and wait for change to happen, and we must immediately begin tackling the issues facing our state. On my first full day as Governor, I issued four Executive Orders in order to combat corruption, incompetence, and fiscal irresponsibility. The first increases the ethical standards for my cabinet and staff in excess of what is currently required by law so that corruption will not be given the opportunity to find a home in this Administration.

The second order calls for greater transparency in government, giving taxpayers easier online access to see how their hard-earned money is being spent. The third order will enact a hiring freeze within the executive branch in order to control runaway spending and restore a sense of fiscal discipline to government.

The final order will expedite the hurricane recovery decision-making by the Louisiana Recovery Authority by helping to eliminate duplicative efforts and red tape.
Governor Jindal and his son Shaan visit with LSU player Glen Dorsey at LSU’s National Championship Celebration on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

Below is a link to an article discussing the Executive Orders.

Jindal Moves Quickly on Critical Issues, Lafayette Daily Advertiser

Thank you all again for your support, and I look forward to serving you as Governor of the great state of Louisiana.

Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |

An Invitation from Governor-elect Jindal

January 10th, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends:

As Inauguration approaches, I wanted to take the opportunity to invite you to some of the Inaugural events in the coming days. This is a very exciting time for our state, and I hope that you will be able to join us to celebrate.

This coming Saturday, January 12, we will be holding the “Believe in Louisiana” Inaugural Family Festival at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Capitol Atrium. This free festival will have activities for children, musical entertainment, door prizes and a variety of foods from around the state.  I know that this will be a very enjoyable afternoon for children and adults alike. Information regarding time and place is below.

Believe in Louisiana Inaugural Family Festival
The Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Capitol Atrium
102 France Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Saturday January 12, 2008
2:00pm – 6:00pm

I would also like to invite you to the Inauguration Ceremony on Monday, January 14. Statewide officials, including myself, will be taking their oaths of office at the State Capitol in what promises to be an historic day for our state. The people of Louisiana have called for change, and Inauguration Day brings an official start to turning our state around.

Inauguration Ceremony
Monday January 14, 2008
11:30 AM
Steps of Louisiana State Capitol

I am looking forward to taking office, and I want to take one more opportunity to thank you for your support. Without it, these events would not have been possible. I look forward to seeing you Saturday and again on Monday!

Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |

Bringing Home the National Championship

January 7th, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear friends,

Bringing home the Championship

I look forward to sitting at home with my wife and children and watching LSU win the National Championship for the second time in four years tonight!

The BCS Championship game is a great opportunity to share with the rest of the world what Louisiana has to offer and that we are on the move.Geaux Tigers!
Happy New Year 

I hope you and your family had a Happy New Year.  I enjoyed spending the day with my family and eating the traditional black eye peas and cabbage, a tradition passed down from my mother.

The new year gives us a chance to look forward and embrace all the potential it brings. I am very grateful for the faith and trust that voters showed in electing me Governor of our great state.  Last year, I traveled the state and saw the optimism in people’s eyes for real change.

The new year will bring that change.  As I prepare to take office next week, I am also preparing to call a special session to make meaningful ethics reform.  Ethics reform is the critical foundation for turning our state around, for regaining the confidence of the people of Louisiana and the rest of the nation.  We have a lot of important work to do in the coming year; but ethics must come first.

I believe 2008 will be an important one for our state.   I also wish you and your family a great year that brings you health and happiness.

Attracting the best to our state 

I recently announced two new additions to my cabinet with experience outside Louisiana – William “Bill” Ankner as Secretary of Transportation and Mark Cooper as Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Bill provided us a unique opportunity to bring someone to Louisiana who has excelled in transportation in a number of states.  He is the former Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and a former supervisor for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. One of Louisiana’s unique assets is the fact that five of the nation’s largest ports are located here, and Bill’s experience working with ports will help us position our state to invest in those ports and truly realize our economic potential.

Bill’s job will not be an easy one. Louisiana currently has a $14 billion backlog on our roads but I know Bill’s track record of getting things done by working in partnership with the private sector, as well as using creative options to find more available funding, will be a great asset to our state.

I am also pleased that Mark Cooper, a native of Bossier City, will be returning home to head up Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.  He has spent the last four years working as the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief, which included acting as the county emergency coordinator and managing a $1 billion dollar budget.  Mark said that he decided to return to Louisiana after reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about the renewed sense of optimism for our state. I have shared the article with you previously, but thought you might like to look at it again here.

You can read more about these appointments below:

Ankner named to lead DOTD
L.A. Deputy fire chief tapped to advise Jindal 

Celebrating the Inauguration 

Inauguration is a week away and if you happen to drive by the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, you will see workers beginning to construct the platform for the Inauguration ceremony.

I hope that you will be able to attend the swearing in ceremony on January 14th at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of the State Capitol.

I also want to encourage you and your family to attend the Inaugural Family Festival this coming Saturday, January 12 from 2-6 p.m. at the Sheraton Atrium in downtown Baton Rouge. The festival is free and open to the public and is a chance for everyone to come together to enjoy food from around the state, music, and plenty of games for the children. I hope to see you there at this fun, family experience.
Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |