[StBernard] Jindal to veto whistleblower bill

[Westley Annis]

Ms Hutter need to understand the need for confidentiality for these issues.
Perhaps someone could explain the concept of crimestoppers to her and she'd
"get it".  

JY




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	Jindal to veto whistleblower bill
	
	By MARSHA SHULER
	Advocate Capitol News Bureau
	Published: Jun 11, 2010 - Page: 8A
	
	Gov. Bobby Jindal will veto legislation that would allow the
identity of
	those who file ethics complaints against government officials and
employees
	to be disclosed, a governor's spokesman said Thursday.
	
	Jindal's press secretary Kyle Plotkin issued a statement in which he
said
	the governor shares Louisiana Board of Ethics concerns that the
change would
	deter the reporting of possible violations of ethics laws.
	
	House Bill 758 sponsor state Rep. Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette, said
Thursday
	she was surprised. She said she would try to convince Jindal to
reconsider.
	
	"The constitution guarantees you the right to know who your accuser
is,"
	Hutter said.
	
	The legislation received final legislative passage Wednesday when
the
	Louisiana Senate endorsed the House-passed measure on a 29-6 vote.
	
	Earlier, the Louisiana House approved the bill on a 91-3 vote.
	
	Jindal vetoed similar legislation by Hutter last year.
	
	Hutter said she "took Jindal at his word" about his objections to
her
	legislation last year and stripped it of the offensive provision to
make it
	more palatable. She said the governor said he supported the concept
in  last
	year's veto message.
	
	Jindal's office acknowledged the bill alteration.
	
	"While this bill is more limited, we share the Ethics Board's
concern that
	requiring the name of the complainant to be released could have a
chilling
	effect on reporting potential violations," according to a statement
issued
	by Plotkin.
	
	Opponents said disclosure could expose those filing complaints to
	retribution and people be less likely to come forward.
	
	Hutter said she disagrees. "Wouldn't you want the recognition and
'Thank
	you, Mary Smith?'," Hutter asked. "It's not to be onerous."
	
	The law would affect those who file conflict of interest, nepotism
or other
	complaints of unethical conduct against governmental officials and
	employees.
	
	Under HB758, once ethics cases are concluded, the accused can find
out who
	filed the complaint against them.
	
	Conclusion of the case means the Louisiana Board of Ethics could
have
	decided not to conduct an investigation; the time period for
investigating
	has elapsed; the matter is settled by a consent opinion; or a
decision has
	been reached about whether a violation has occurred.