Shining the Light of Transparency

February 19th, 2008 | Posted by admin

 Dear Friends,

Shining the Light of Transparency 

The House and Senate took a great step forward last Friday in passing HB1 and SB1, respectively. I was particularly pleased that the Senate passed legislation requiring significantly more transparency from lobbyists, banning of free tickets, ending lavish meals, and preventing conflicts of interest by ending the practice of legislators having contracts with the state. The House also passed one of the nation’s toughest financial disclosure forms and applied it to all elected officials and several appointed officials.  

These bills are the critical first step in turning our state around, and we are still working in order to ensure their overall passage. 

We have been given a unique opportunity to erase the sins of our state’s past, and build a better Louisiana for our children and grandchildren. Failure is not an option, and I will not rest until our state’s image has been rebuilt. 

While we have taken this important first step, we still need your help. Ethics reform is not something that can be accomplished without strong public support, and I encourage you to continue to let your elected officials know that Louisiana is ready for change and that you agree with the strong legislation moving through the Legislature. I have also included a link below that I think you may find interesting regarding our ethics package. 

“Cozy Corruption Should End Soon,” New Orleans City Business 

Taking FEMA to Task 

Many of you may have seen the announcement made last week by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that they have discovered high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. As a Congressman, I called for Congressional hearings to investigate this matter almost a year ago, and it is absolutely unacceptable for there to be such a delay in addressing this situation. 

The federal government must now provide care to those living in FEMA trailers that were affected by this mistake, as well as provide more in-depth details as to their plans for relocating the 36,000 people living in temporary housing along the Gulf Coast. It has been over two years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the time for talking is over. Action must be taken.

 Honoring Louisiana’s Longest-Married Couple 

Supriya and I were honored to be joined by Ferdinand and Emily Cavalier, Louisiana’s longest-known married couple, at the Governor’s Mansion on Valentine’s Day. The Cavaliers, of Schriever, were married in 1931, and have since been joined by ten children, two dozen grandchildren, three dozen great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. 

It was great to see a husband and wife still so much in love after 77 years of marriage, and it truly speaks to the power of this great institution. Supriya and I wish them many more years of happiness.  

Sincerely,

 Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal

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