Achieving the Gold Standard

February 7th, 2008 | Posted by bobbyjindal

Dear Friends,

Achieving the Gold Standard

On Sunday, Louisiana will take a bold step forward to setting the national gold standard for ethics reform when the Legislature convenes in special session.

We have been given the best opportunity of our lifetimes to change our state’s image, and I will not rest until we have done so.

We must strengthen lobbyist disclosure laws and enforce real penalties for those who break them. We must make all public officials’ records as transparent as possible and eliminate conflicts of interest, making a clear distinction between those who want to serve the state and those who want to do business with the state. The public has a right to know how their hard earned tax dollars are being spent, that no conflicts of interest exist and exactly who is lobbying elected officials to try and influence them.

A recent study by the Forbes Strategic Research Group found that the most important issue Louisiana must address to entice more companies to locate in our state is a dramatic strengthening of our ethics laws.

Many groups agree and have come out praising my ethics package, including the Louisiana Municipal Association, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, Louisiana Assessors’ Association, Louisiana District Attorneys’ Association, Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), and LA Ethics 1. This widespread praise is critical as we move forward in this process.

In fact CABL called my ethics reform agenda “the most comprehensive single package of reforms proposed by any governor since the creation of the ethics code itself.”

I have added some links below that I think you may be interested in reading regarding the upcoming ethics special session.

Spreading the Word on Ethics Reform

This week I am traveling all over the state to make certain that citizens just like you throughout Louisiana know that we have an aggressive, bold agenda for overhauling our ethics laws and the important role that everyone will play once the Legislature begins voting on these items. I have been to Monroe, Alexandria, New Orleans, Lake Charles and Lafayette so far, and will visit Shreveport on Friday to let residents know that corruption and incompetence may have been part of our state’s past, but it will not be part of our future.

The response I have received is overwhelming, and it proves how ready the people of our great state are for real change. The war on corruption and incompetence will not be easy. There will be those who will try to stand in the way of a New Louisiana. Our state cannot afford failure.
Governor Bobby Jindal speaks with Lance Armstrong during a recent Habitat for Humanity event in New Orleans.

The Legislature will begin taking up our agenda beginning Monday and I need your help. Let legislators know that the time to pass ethics reform is now. One way to make a big impact is by attending the House and Governmental Affairs Committee on Monday at 9 a.m. in Room 2 as they begin debate on financial disclosure legislation. The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin debate at 9 a.m. on Monday in Room F on legislation pertaining to conflicts of interest. By having a strong public presence, we will send a message to legislators that ethics reform is the first step in building a New Louisiana where what you know is more important that who you know.

Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Governor Bobby Jindal

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