[StBernard] Louisiana Election Buzz: Boasso, Jindal, Campbell

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Election Buzz: Boasso, Jindal, Campbell 

Written by: BayouBuzz Staff
<http://www.bayoubuzz.com/Author.asp?Name=BayouBuzz Staff>  


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Gubernatorial candidate, Walter Boasso on the back of his recent poll
showing that his attacks on Bobby Jindal are having an impact, launched
another one.  Boasso said on Thursday in a written statement that
"Congressman Bobby Jindal stood with President Bush in voting against an
appropriations measure that will provide needed funds for the defense of
Louisiana against future hurricanes and floods.   The measure (HR 2461)
provides funds in excess of those requested by the President to bolster
efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection efforts,
hurricane preparedness as well as the Houma Navigation Canal Dredging
Account. 
 
In standing with the President, Jindal voted against the majority of the
Louisiana delegation including Republicans Charles Boustany and Richard
Baker. The final vote on the measure was 312-112 which is enough to override
a Presidential veto in the House. 
 
This vote comes on the heels of Jindal's opposition to recent appropriations
measures that will fund an increase in security at the state's ports, oil
refineries and chemical plants as well his most recent vote against
environmental protections off Louisiana's coastline. 
 
State Senator Walter Boasso (D-Arabi), Democratic Candidate for Governor,
called this most recent vote just another example of how Congressman Jindal
has decided to put the whims of the President over the interests of
Louisiana. 
 
"In vote after vote with the President, Bobby Jindal is letting Louisiana
down time and again," Boasso said. "How can we trust someone who is
incapable of simply voting for our interests as a Congressman to fight for
our interests as Governor?" 
 
During his statewide tour, Bobby Jindal said that he will be releasing a
detailed report on issues and his position on those issues.  While the
claims by Boasso might have merit, it is now time for Walter Boasso to begin
to detail what his administration would look like should he be elected.
Throughout his legislative career he has high marks as a Republican.  Now
that he is a Democrat, he needs to tell us what is his own vision of the
future of the state, to provide details on the hard issues, to provide his
voting record since he switched parties and also to point out the positions
of his opposition-which is what he has been doing.  
Walter Campbell has issued a statement concerning his campaign.  Campbell
who is running for Louisiana Governor said, "You probably noticed that Bobby
Jindal made a tour of the state yesterday announcing the obvious - that he's
a candidate for Governor. Of course, he's been running for almost five years
now, spending millions he's raised from special interests on his various
campaigns.
He may not have many accomplishments in government, but you can say he's
been good at raking in the special-interest money.
Now he says that his first action as Governor will be to propose a strong
ethics package for the Legislature to pass. He can join the crowd that
includes me and at least two statewide groups that have made ethics reform a
key priority for the state.
You also may have noticed also that he ducked questions about the ethics of
his Republican colleague, Mr. Vitter.
Let me call your attention to the ethics reform statement I made earlier
this month. In addition to those reform issues, I will propose to keep
lobbyists off the floor of the state House and Senate, where they distract
legislators from doing the people's business while they do the bidding of
special interests. Moreover, I will limit the number of bills each
legislator can introduce, forcing the Legislature to deal with only the most
important issues.
               "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Foster Campbell said
Thursday he will pressure the Louisiana Legislature to pass significant
ethics reform legislation in 2008 when he is elected  governor.
               Campbell, a Public Service Commissioner and long-time State
Senator, said he supports the movement by the LA Ethics 1coalition and
Blueprint Louisiana to require financial disclosure
               by legislators and other officials.
               "It's past time for Louisiana citizens to know how their
elected  officials earn their living and to make sure that their decisions
are  based on the welfare of the state, not on their own financial
situation," Campbell said.
               "We have a reputation as a state where people with power
corrupt                the system to pursue their own goals," he said.
"Financial  disclosure is a good and necessary step in getting rid of that
reputation."
               Campbell said that as governor he will propose legislation
banning gifts to legislators, providing stronger protection to
whistleblowers and increasing access to public records.
               "Ethics reform is one of the key building blocks to making
Louisiana a more attractive place for new businesses and industries," he
said.
               "Stronger ethics requirements, combined with eliminating the
income tax, will move Louisiana forward toward being one of the  most
progressive states in the South," he said."