Archive for May, 2008

Creating a Game Plan

May 27th, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends,

Creating a Game Plan

Last Thursday I was joined by LSU football coach Les Miles and Kevin Griffin and Travis McNabb of the New Orleans-based rock group Better Than Ezra to kickoff this year’s hurricane preparedness efforts. We have launched a new website, www.getagameplan.org, to highlight many of the important tips regarding storm preparation and evacuation.

I will also be joined by the band and Coach Miles in a series of public service announcements to spread the word about preparedness, because, as I said in the Shreveport Times, the time to prepare for a hurricane is now, as it is too late once a hurricane is headed our way and an evacuation order is given.

I was also pleased to present Better Than Ezra with the first “Spirit of Louisiana” award, a thank you from the state for all of the hard work the band has done in raising funds to assist in recovery efforts. You may nominate an individual or organization for this award who you feel has personified the spirit of our state and has selflessly given their time and effort to Louisiana’s recovery efforts.  To nominate them, visit our official Governor’s website at www.gov.state.la.us/spirit.

Revamping our Workforce

I was proud to wrap up a series of commencement speeches at institutions across our state by speaking to LSU Law Graduates last week. Now is the time to give Louisiana a chance. We have already begun changing the reputation of our state, and there are many more important reforms yet to come.

One such reform being discussed by the Legislature is our plan to reform our state’s workforce development and training. We took a great first step recently when Louisiana’s Technical and Community Colleges implemented a Day One guarantee that will help show employers and employees alike that we are serious about the future of our state’s economy. As the Houma Courier said, the guarantee is “fantastic news for employers and employees alike.”

Without an efficient and well-trained workforce, we will continue to just be a state with vast economic potential. However, with the changes we are working to implement thousands of Louisiana workers will be able to provide a better life for their families right here in Louisiana. No longer will we continue to lose our best and brightest to Texas and Georgia.

Promoting Opportunities in Louisiana

Supriya and I were honored to join Presidential candidate John McCain and his wife, among other public officials and business leaders from across the nation, in Arizona this past weekend. This presented a great opportunity for me to continue working with Senator McCain to ensure that Louisiana receives the federal aid we need as we continue to rebuild from the storms of 2005, and to further show colleagues around the country that Louisiana is open for business.

As I said in both the Baton Rouge Advocate and New Orleans Times-Picayune, I have the job I want, and I love being governor of the state of Louisiana. I am confident that the Senator will continue to help our state when he is elected President this fall, and Supriya and I came away from the weekend with a great feeling for the future of our state.

Honoring our Veterans

I hope that you had a great Memorial Day weekend, and that you took a moment to reflect on everything our nation’s veterans and active service members have done for our country. While to some it may seem that Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and barbeques, it has a deeper meaning, one that makes it truly one of the most important days of the year. So many have given the ultimate sacrifice and have served our nation with honor and respect - it is only fitting that we treat them with the same respect.

Sincerely,

 

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |

Giving Employers a “Day One Guarantee”

May 19th, 2008 | Posted by admin

 

Dear Friends,

 

Giving Employers a “Day One Guarantee”

 

Last Wednesday, I announced that Louisiana’s Technical and Community Colleges are immediately implementing a “Day One Guarantee” that their graduates will be trained and ready to work, or else they will retrain them for free. As I noted in the Baton Rouge Advocate, this “will increase the amount of collaboration between the (college) system and industry partners…to make sure we’re training the workers right the first time.”

 

This guarantee shows companies, both those currently operating in Louisiana and those looking to expand or relocate, that we are serious about workforce training. The guarantee will cover more than 100 programs in our technical and community college system, ensuring a better life for many Louisiana families, and a stronger economy for our state as a whole. This is another major step forward toward a New Louisiana that is the best place in the world to raise a family, get a quality education and pursue a great career.

 

Additionally, yet another huge economic development opportunity could be on the horizon for our state. Nucor Steel Corporation has stated that a site in St. James Parish is the only domestic site still under consideration for a new plant that could bring billions of dollars of investment and hundreds of good paying jobs to the state. As reported in the Houma Courier last week, “this would provide a tremendous boost to Louisiana’s economic development and further job creation.” This could turn out to be one of the largest investments ever made in Louisiana by a private company.

 

The announcement of Nucor Steel Corporation considering Louisiana comes on the heels of economic development announcements in recent weeks such as the Coca-Cola Bottling Company announcing the expansion of their bottling company and Albemarle announcing the relocation of its headquarters to Louisiana. These announcements mean more and better paying jobs for families of our state. 

 

The Baton Rouge Advocate wrote an editorial this week regarding Albemarle’s relocation to Baton Rouge, stating that “this is sort of like an old friend coming home, and we welcome Albemarle’s headquarters staff to Baton Rouge.” Also, the Baton Rouge Business Report wrote a piece stating that while Baton Rouge was not originally a serious contender for their move, “the real change of heart came when Jindal was elected and the first two legislative sessions tackled ethics reform and business taxes.”

 

I will continue working hard to ensure that these types of opportunities continue for our state, and that the word continues to spread that Louisiana is open for business.


Endorsing Largest Income Tax Cut in Louisiana History

Governor Jindal endorses the largest income tax cut in Louisiana history.

Last week I endorsed the largest income tax cut in Louisiana’s history that will completely repeal the burdensome Stelly Tax beginning next year. As the Shreveport Times reported, the removal of this tax will benefit nearly 90 percent of our state’s taxpayers.

This also means more than three hundred million dollars in lower taxes next year, and more than a billion dollars in tax relief over the next five years. Cutting taxes puts more money in the hands of Louisiana families, money they worked hard for in order to build a better life for themselves. I will continue to support fiscally responsible tax cuts, and putting more money back in the hands of hardworking Louisianians.


Protecting our Constitutional Rights

 

Over the weekend I was pleased to address the National Rifle Association’s Celebration of American Values Banquet, and to receive the Harlon B. Carter award for service to the Second Amendment. Since my time in Congress I have worked hard to protect our Second Amendment rights, and as the Louisville Courier-Journal noted, “craft[ed] legislation that prohibits local officials from confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens in times of national emergency.”

It is important in an ever-changing world that we do not forget or overlook our constitutional rights, and I will continue to protect them in the future.

Congratulating our Graduates

Governor Jindal tells LSU graduates to “give Louisiana a chance.”
Photo courtesy of LSU

I was proud to continue attending graduations at institutions across our state last week. I was honored to give commencement addresses at West Monroe High School, Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Louisiana State University, and LSU-Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. I will also be speaking at the LSU Law School’s commencement later this week.

 

My message to them is simple and direct — Give Louisiana a chance. Travel the world but know that you can accomplish your dreams right here at home. We will continue working to ensure that reforms and changes are made that make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family, and I would hate for them to miss such a great opportunity.

 

 Sincerely,

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

 

Posted in website |

Moving Forward with Workforce Development Reform

May 12th, 2008 | Posted by admin

Dear Friends,

Moving Forward with Workforce Development Reform

The Louisiana House and Senate last week passed our workforce development reform package. There are many reasons why, as the Baton Rouge Advocate notes, I consider this package to be the most important part of my legislative agenda this session. It will revamp our outdated Department of Labor, creating in its stead the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

It will help the unemployed find the training they need, and the currently employed receive training in order to improve their current position. It will revamp our technical and community college system, increasing our dual enrollment programs and giving students access to training from a younger age.

 

This is truly one of the most important things we can do in order to improve our state and ensure that continued economic development comes our way. I look forward to working with the Legislature to ensure its final passage, and to signing this important legislation into law.

 

Adding over 100 more jobs to Louisiana’s workforce

 

I was pleased to announce last week that the Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company will expand its facility to add up to 113 new jobs with an average salary of $45,000 in the next four years. Baton Rouge Coca-Cola has been in business for more than 100 years, showing that new economic opportunities are not solely based on relocations, but by creating an environment that encourages our current businesses to grow.

 

This expansion will not bring just the 113 new direct jobs to Louisiana, but 370 permanent indirect jobs as well. As the Baton Rouge Advocate reported, the Coca-Cola announcement was the fourth major jobs-producing project announced in Louisiana in the past four weeks, which represents an unprecedented advancement for our state. I will continue working hard to ensure that these opportunities continue to come throughout our state, and that the word continues to spread that Louisiana is open for business.

 

Ensuring Responsible Spending

Last week saw the Revenue Estimating Conference estimate millions in additional revenues for the state because of rising gas and oil prices, giving us a great opportunity to be fiscally responsible and not waste taxpayer dollars as the state has done for too long. The Shreveport Times noted that I have urged the Legislature to replace one-time dollars slated to pay for ongoing programs, a decision that will make our budget more stable.

As I was quoted saying in the Baton Rouge Advocate, basing the budget on one-time monies to pay recurring spending is like paying your mortgage with your credit card. This year’s budget will be the state’s first in several years that does not rely on one-time money for recurring expenditures.

Alongside my announcement last week that I will veto any budgetary earmarks that do not meet specific criteria, spending only recurring dollars on recurring expenditures is a great step forward to reforming our budget. Just because the money is there does not mean we have to spend it immediately – there is much to be said for planning for the future, a sentiment that our state has forgotten far too often.

Congratulating Our Graduates

I was honored to take part in three graduation ceremonies at colleges and universities across our state last week. As I told those graduating seniors at Southern University, Louisiana College, and Our Lady of Holy Cross, Louisiana will no longer be a state they have to leave in order to find quality jobs. As theNew Orleans Times-Picayune and Baton Rouge Advocate noted, I urged them travel far and wide, to see the world and dream big, and to realize that they can fulfill their dreams right here in Louisiana.

 

I will also be giving commencement speeches at Baton Rouge High School, LSU-Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, West Monroe High School, and LSU over the next week. I want to congratulate all of the seniors graduating across the state, and I will continue working to ensure that Louisiana is a place they can stay, find a good job, and raise their families. They will find that in the end, there is no place like home.

 

Sincerely,

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |

Welcoming New Economic Opportunities

May 6th, 2008 | Posted by admin

Governor Jindal announces Albemarle is moving its headquarters to Louisiana.

Dear Friends,

 

Welcoming New Economic Opportunities

 

Last Wednesday I was joined by Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, Secretary of Economic Development Stephen Moret, and Baton Rouge Area Chamber CEO Adam Knapp to announce that Albemarle, a Fortune 1000 company currently based in Richmond, Virginia, will move its headquarters to Baton Rouge. Albemarle leaders particularly cited Louisiana’s recent ethics reforms and the elimination of the tax on utilities as key deciding factors for the move.

 

It was also recently announced that Superior Homes of Louisiana LLC has chosen Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish, as home to a 71,000 foot plant that will bring up to 150 new jobs to the parish. These are great signs that our state is now open for business, and that we will be a major player for new economic opportunities in the years to come. We will no longer miss out on important opportunities due to a cumbersome business tax structure and concerns about our political past.

 

“Chemical maker moving headquarters to Baton Rouge,” Associated Press
“La,Baton Rouge lure headquarters of firm from Virginia,” Baton Rouge Advocate

“Plant chooses Clinton site,” Baton Rouge Advocate

 

Eliminating Wasteful Spending

 

Just as I said during the campaign, we have to stop the out-of-control spending of taxpayer money in Baton Rouge. In the past, our state has too often jumped into an unbridled spending spree in the wake of budget surpluses and then quickly ended up in debt…and without much to show for it. In order for us to continue to move toward a New Louisiana, we must eliminate wasteful spending that does not address our state’s priorities. This means that if a project is not openly addressed during the legislative session, it doesn’t meet an identified state priority, and it isn’t fully disclosed so everyone knows its origin and purpose, I will veto it.

 

Simply put, I believe we have been endowed with the public’s trust to spend their hard-earned tax dollars wisely, and Louisianians deserve nothing less. I look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers during this session to finalize a fiscally conservative budget which eliminates wasteful “pet projects” that do not address our state’s needs, and reins in unbridled government spending.

 

“Gov. Jindal Warns Lawmakers About Pork Barrel Projects,” KSLA-Shreveport

“Tough stand on new pork,” Baton Rouge Advocate

“Jindal rules rein in earmarks,” Monroe News Star

 

Showing the Nation a New Louisiana

Governor Jindal speaks at National Press Club

I was also pleased to be a guest at both the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last week.

 

These appearances provided me a great opportunity to spread the word that this is a New Louisiana that is open for business, and that the rest of the nation should keep an eye on our state. The nation needs to know that we are making significant progress, and I will continue to spread the word that the people of Louisiana are hardworking and are rebuilding our state better than before. 

 

We invite outsiders to take another look, and we know they will like what they see. We welcome their investment as we grow our economy. We all know that Louisiana is the best state in the nation to raise a family, and its time the rest of the country realized it as well.

 

And to answer one of the biggest questions that I’ve been asked since my appearance with Jay Leno - yes, my fellow Tonight Show guest Helen Hunt is just as beautiful in person as she is on the big screen.

 

Video: Governor Jindal on the Tonight Show
Video: Governor Jindal Speaking before the National Press Club, C-Span

“The Governor Is Right,” National Review

“Jindal: ‘I’m exactly where I need to be,’” Washington Times

“Jindal touts Louisiana to National Media,” New Orleans Times Picayune

“Our View: Jindal challenges Louisiana image,” Baton Rouge Advocate

 

Sincerely,

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

Posted in website |