Crossing Jindal has consequences

Education questions still remain for Jindal
June 26, 2012
LETTER TO EDITOR: Kyl a great choice for VP
June 26, 2012
Education questions still remain for Jindal
June 26, 2012
LETTER TO EDITOR: Kyl a great choice for VP
June 26, 2012

Gov. Bobby Jindal appears to have little tolerance for differences of opinion or disruptions to his carefully crafted political strategy, a lesson his agency chiefs and lawmakers who disagree with the governor continue to learn.


Some examples from recent months:

Jindal’s allies fired an outspoken LSU System president who regularly criticized the governor’s policies.


Jindal’s hand-picked House speaker removed legislative leaders who voted against bills backed by the governor.


And Jindal ousted an agency leader who spoke out against a reorganization plan.

Most recently, Jindal’s revenue secretary appears to have been edged out of her job for expanding a tax break without Jindal’s knowledge. The expansion could have drained millions from the state treasury and received criticism it could worsen the state’s precarious budget situation.


Crossing or embarrassing Jindal has consequences.


That reality became clear soon after the Republican governor took office in 2008, when the Department of Social Services’ response to Hurricane Gustav came under fire for problems in handing out food stamps and setting up shelters for evacuees.

Department Secretary Ann Williamson resigned within days of getting heavy criticism from Jindal, who greeted the resignation by saying the pair “agreed that this was the right time to make a change.”


A day after Williamson left, the agency’s deputy secretary and undersecretary were forced out.


In 2010, Louisiana’s transportation secretary, William Ankner, resigned in a quick, unexpected departure from the Jindal administration and without public explanation for the decision.

Ankner wouldn’t answer when asked if Jindal asked him to quit, usually a surefire sign someone didn’t leave a job under the best of circumstances. His resignation followed actions in his agency that generated criticism for Jindal. Ankner left the post within days of receiving sharp complaints from lawmakers for awarding a road construction contract to the highest-priced proposal.


More recently in March, Jindal fired the head of his Office of Elderly Affairs, a day after she criticized his budget plans for the agency.

Martha Manuel told lawmakers the governor’s plan to merge the elderly affairs office into the Department of Health and Hospitals would damage services for senior citizens, a position at odds with statements by other Jindal administration leaders. Lawmakers later refused the move.

A month after Manuel was sacked, LSU System President John Lombardi was fired by the system’s governing board, a move Lombardi supporters said was orchestrated by Jindal after continued clashes between Lombardi and the administration over higher education policy.

All of the governor’s appointees voted for the ouster. Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said the administration supported the board’s decision.

Then, earlier this month, Revenue Secretary Cynthia Bridges abruptly resigned without explanation.

Bridges has refused to discuss her decision. Her letter of resignation touted her achievements rather than explaining why she was leaving.

Her unexpected decision, however, came one day after a tax credit expansion she issued was rescinded by Jindal amid complaints it could damage the state budget. Jindal’s chief budget adviser said he only learned of the tax break expansion from lawmakers, not from Bridges.

The trend isn’t limited to agencies under Jindal’s control. Crossing the governor appears to have gotten two lawmakers ousted from leadership posts in the Legislature this year as well.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, elected to the House’s top job with Jindal’s backing, has removed two lawmakers who voted against the governor’s initiatives.

In March, Kleckley stripped Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa, of his position as vice chairman of the House Insurance Committee, a day after voting against a Jindal-backed tax-break bill.

Earlier this month, Kleckley ousted Rep. Jim Morris, R-Oil City, as vice chairman of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Morris was an outspoken critic of Jindal’s budget proposals and voted against the governor’s centerpiece education bills.

Kleckley won’t comment on why he removed the men from their jobs, but both ousted lawmakers said they assume they were removed because of their votes against the governor, a view widely held by other lawmakers.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Melinda Deslatte covers Louisiana politics for The Associated Press.