Jindal preaches transparency, doesn't follow through
Ginger Gibson
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Opinion
Open government is a tricky thing. Or at least it seems that way when you look at the governor's administration's newly-formed track record on transparent government issues.
It seems the governor's office only wants transparency when it does not affect their office or when it appears to be helping their public image.
In the three months Gov. Bobby Jindal has been in office and in the months leading up to his election, he repeatedly touted the need for transparency in government. The problem is he's not putting his pen where his mouth is.
Two measures have been submitted to the Legislature that would impact open government, and Jindal's position on each is not coherent with his rhetoric of open government.
I know it is not popular to criticize the governor, and many of his fans lashed out at me with personal attacks the last time I did
But the honeymoon is over. And if Jindal wants to talk about open government and ethics, his office and supporters should be willing to handle the whole package, including criticism.
The first measure that went before the Legislature during the first special session and received opposition from the governor's office was a bill that could have removed some exemptions from the public records law. This was not the first time lawmakers had tried to change the public records law. Currently the public records law exempts every record held by the governor's office.
This means that not only does the public not have access to records from Jindal's desk, but they also cannot see anything from the Governor's Program on Abstinence, the Oil Spills Coordinator Office, the Louisiana Human Rights Commission and a long list of other programs.
The inability to scrutinize how the GPA is spending money on the only sex education program in the state is troubling.
And when the bill hit the floor, Jindal and his Republican buddies in the Legislature killed it and any hope of opening up government on the 4th floor of the capitol.
It seems the governor's office only wants transparency when it does not affect their office or when it appears to be helping their public image.
In the three months Gov. Bobby Jindal has been in office and in the months leading up to his election, he repeatedly touted the need for transparency in government. The problem is he's not putting his pen where his mouth is.
Two measures have been submitted to the Legislature that would impact open government, and Jindal's position on each is not coherent with his rhetoric of open government.
I know it is not popular to criticize the governor, and many of his fans lashed out at me with personal attacks the last time I did
But the honeymoon is over. And if Jindal wants to talk about open government and ethics, his office and supporters should be willing to handle the whole package, including criticism.
The first measure that went before the Legislature during the first special session and received opposition from the governor's office was a bill that could have removed some exemptions from the public records law. This was not the first time lawmakers had tried to change the public records law. Currently the public records law exempts every record held by the governor's office.
This means that not only does the public not have access to records from Jindal's desk, but they also cannot see anything from the Governor's Program on Abstinence, the Oil Spills Coordinator Office, the Louisiana Human Rights Commission and a long list of other programs.
The inability to scrutinize how the GPA is spending money on the only sex education program in the state is troubling.
And when the bill hit the floor, Jindal and his Republican buddies in the Legislature killed it and any hope of opening up government on the 4th floor of the capitol.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Biscuits McCoy
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:24 AM CST
Who cares what you people at the reveille think. As if this kiddy newspaper has any credibility and is anything more than a socialist mouthpiece. Go put your che guevara shirt back on and eat some granola. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:31 AM CST
Looks like ginger is back at it again. Aww, did someone hurt your feelings within the Jindal Administration? Please quit wasting our time with poorly conceived articles about how "awful and crooked" our new governor is. (Continued…)
Grass Roots Gus
posted 4/07/08 @ 12:38 PM CST
"I know it is not popular to criticize the governor, and many of his fans lashed out at me with personal attacks the last time I did"
Are you kidding me? I don't think the Editor of The Northside Journal is a fan. (Continued…)
Shenanigans
posted 4/07/08 @ 5:33 PM CST
Congratulations Ginger,
You have just failed to earn respect from anyone that reads your "opinion" piece. How could you honestly expect a comment from the Governor's Press Secretary after attacking her in your last piece?. (Continued…)
wesawthat...
posted 4/07/08 @ 6:33 PM CST
dear ms. gibson,
thank you very much for your articles on the questionable activities of piyush "bobby" jindal and his administration.
dont let your detractors get you down -- just remember that anyone that supports piyush has a lousy mind and cant think properly. (Continued…)
Gatorman
posted 4/08/08 @ 1:21 AM CST
Jindal does not back up his talk with his walk and thats for sure. Every day he looks more and more like a slick talking salesman out to screw you. When he talks about transparency, his reference is the Mississippi River water. (Continued…)
She's at It Again!
posted 4/08/08 @ 5:00 PM CST
Ahh, Ms. Gibson is so intellectually superior to us. She is so well-connected and "dancing with the stars" over at the state capitol. She is so BEYOND us that of COURSE the Jindal administration should bend over backwards to appear "transparent" to her. (Continued…)
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