Instilling Fiscal Discipline

June 3rd, 2008 | Posted by admin

Dear Friends,

Instilling Fiscal Discipline

For decades our state has looked for ways to spend your hard earned money - sometimes even before the state had received your money - to create new programs, increase funding for others and dedicate other monies to put a future burden on taxpayers. This is not fiscally responsible and is reminiscent of the old Louisiana mindset that has hampered reforms in the past.

 

As The Times-Picayune stated in an editorial this past weekend, this type of spending “has limited the state’s ability to trim the budget in tough times or to redirect money to new needs.” It also puts areas such as health care and higher education, where we have some of our state’s greatest needs - at risk of being cut. These are two areas that we must focus on to continue building a better Louisiana, and we cannot continue to see them punished by those seeking to spend funds just to spend.

 

This practice must end. That is why I will veto any legislation that directs or mandates new funding to new specific programs, because, as noted in the Monroe News-Star, “it is bad fiscal policy” and “such dedications take away budget flexibility.” Too often, politicians in years past have locked up our money on wasteful projects only to later threaten drastic budget cuts or tax increases when revenues fall short.

 

The Times-Picayune editorial concluded by saying that “Louisiana has gone overboard (with specific budget allotments) and further restrictions could end up hurting health care and higher education. Gov. Jindal is smart to try to prevent that.”

We must spend responsibly with the future in mind. Although state revenues have recently been high due to record oil prices and recovery-related income and expenditures, state economists expect those figures to decrease in coming years and leave our state with a projected budget deficit by 2010 if we do not act now.

By being fiscally responsible today, we can ensure that our state’s future is fiscally sound for our children.

Protecting Our Teachers

This past week the Legislature passed an important part of my legislative agenda, House Bill 757. This legislation will increase the penalties for committing assault or battery on a teacher, making our classrooms safer for everyone. HB 757 will quintuple the fine, from $1,000 to $5,000, for assaulting a teacher, and double the minimum jail time.

 

As the Lafayette Daily Advertiser wrote, “the potential for violence against teachers will be significantly reduced” by this legislation. It is time that we stood up against violence in the classroom, and ensured that our teachers are in a safe working environment. Louisiana loses hundreds of teachers each year, many of whom say the lack of discipline in the classroom was an important factor in their decision.

 

The classroom should be a safe haven for students and teachers alike, so that our educational system can fulfill its purpose of giving our future leaders the best chance possible to succeed. I am pleased that the Legislature has passed this important bill, and I look forward to signing it into law.

 

Preparing for Hurricane Season

Governor Jindal addresses members of the New Orleans Saints

With the start of hurricane season officially beginning yesterday, I have been travelling for the past few weeks bringing our “Get a Gameplan” hurricane preparedness campaign to cities throughout South Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, and Houma.

While we have worked hard to ensure that government is better prepared than 2005 to handle a disaster, it is important that citizens take personal responsibility by getting a gameplan. I have stressed to people that preparedness is the key to surviving a natural disaster, and that, as The Times-Picayune noted, “doing it now is much easier — and safer — than waiting until a storm is bearing down on us.”

 

The Times-Picayune editorial also encourages residents “to take advantage of” a storm-preparation web site, www.GetAGameplan.org, that the state has launched to aid residents with their storm preparations.

 

Recent surveys have found that a majority of residents do not have an emergency plan in place for their family if a hurricane were to strike. Preparation is key and there is no better time to get a gameplan than now. As New Orleans Saints General Manager and Executive Vice President Mickey Loomis said in the Baton Rouge Advocate, “the Saints never go into a season or game without preparing, and residents should adopt the same strategy when it comes to hurricane season.”

 

I would encourage you all to take a look at the site, and make certain that your family has its own plan ready. As a Times-Picayune editorial points out, the “Get a Game Plan” campaign is an “inventive way to get that (preparedness) message across” by utilizing LSU Coach Les Miles and Louisiana Band Better than Ezra in public service announcements that will soon start airing. While we all certainly hope this will be a quiet hurricane season, we still must be prepared.

 

Welcoming John McCain to Louisiana

Louisiana will again be on the national stage this week when Senator John McCain visits our state and this will be a good opportunity to show the nation once again that Louisiana is open for business and is a great place for businesses to come and invest. It is also a great chance for you to see Senator McCain in person and hear of his plans for our country.

 

Senator McCain will hold a rally at the Pontchartrain Center in New Orleans tonight  and a town hall meeting at the Baton Rouge River Center on Wednesday morning. Below are details of the events, as well as how to RSVP to attend. I hope to see you all there!

 

Today, Tuesday, June 3 - RSVP Here

Rally at the Ponchartrain Center

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., event begins at 7:30 p.m.

4545 Williams Blvd.

Kenner, LA 70065

 

Wednesday, June 4 — RSVP Here

Doors open at 8:30a.m., event begins at 10 a.m.

Baton Rouge Town Hall Meeting

Rooms 5-8, Baton Rouge River Center

275 South River Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Sincerely,

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

del.icio.us:Instilling Fiscal Discipline digg:Instilling Fiscal Discipline technorati:Instilling Fiscal Discipline Email This Post Print This Post Tags website