[StBernard] JINDAL UNVEILS ETHICS PACKAGE

[Westley Annis]

JINDAL UNVEILS ETHICS PACKAGE

Byline: Michelle Millhollon

The Advocate

 

U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal unveiled the ethics reform package Monday that he
plans to pursue if elected governor.

Jindal, R-Kenner, wants to require legislators and statewide elected
officials to disclose their income, assets and liabilities in ranges.

He said he would stop short of pushing for disclosure of income tax returns,
saying he does not want to violate someone's privacy during a news
conference at the Louisiana State Museum.

Jindal's platform echoes a push by local business leaders through LA Ethics
1 and Blueprint Louisiana to expand disclosure of elected officials'
personal finances.

It is the first plank of his campaign platform. If elected governor this
fall, he said he plans to call a special session on ethics reform.

"This isn't campaign rhetoric," Jindal said.

One of Jindal's opponents in the governor's race, state Sen. Walter Boasso,
accused Jindal of not backing up his ethics reform message with his votes in
Washington.

Boasso, D-Arabi, contended in a prepared statement that Jindal "voted to
weaken ethics rules, kill ethics investigations of lawmakers and even
opposed ending the revolving door between lobbyists and lawmakers."

New Orleans area businessman John Georges, a Republican, and Public Service
Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Bossier Parish Democrat, also plan to be on
the Oct. 20 ballot.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco is not seeking a second term.

During the recent legislative session, a bill to require legislators and
legislative candidates to disclose their income and other financial dealings
died in the final hours of the Legislature.

A dispute erupted after legislators amended the bill to include statewide
and local elected officials.

Lawmakers did agree to a new law requiring education on ethics and
campaign-finance laws for elected officials and government employees.

The Legislature did not fund the training.

Jindal characterized the session as an ethics reform disaster.

When asked about expanding financial disclosure to include local officials,
he said he philosophically agrees with that.

Jindal said the state should set "a great example."

He said he wants to:



*	Prevent legislators from working for a lobbying firm, even as a
consultant. 

*	Require full financial disclosure by legislators. 

*	Prevent companies owned or partially owned by legislators and their
families from doing business with government. 

*	Require public disclosure of business relationships between elected
officials and lobbyists. 

*	Stiffen penalties for ethics code violations.