Jindal’s connections to landfill company questioned
From The Gambit Weekly: A $50,000 contribution from Colorado-based landfill company Louisiana Land Systems will resurface as the company seeks to open a landfill just outside of Baton Rouge.
Corruption
Official: Ethics board lacks tools for new probe standards
From the Associate Press: Ethics Board administrator and general counsel Richard Sherburne says the Ethics Board is not equipped to prosecute ethics charges under the new ”clear and convincing” standard.
House kills “Clear and Convincing”
From the Associated Press: In a 45-42 vote, the Louisiana House returned the standard by which ethics complaints are judged to “any substantial evidence” from “clear and convincing.” The standard was raised at the last minute during last February’s special session, through an amendment submitted by Jindal floor chief Sen. Bob Kostelka.
Since the discovery of the change of standard, the Jindal administration has come under fire for essentially gutting the very ethics package he had been touting. Allegations that Jindal’s executive counsel, Jimmy Faircloth actually drafted the amendment has gone without comment by the Jindal administration.
The bill now goes to the Senate where it is likely that Kostelka will work to have the amendment, sponsored by State Rep. Cedric Richmond, stripped.
DHH chief Levine accused of “dubious” expense practices
From the Broward New Times: Alan Levine, Governor Jindal’s appointee to lead the state Department of Health and Hospitals collected $35,000 from Florida’s Broward County Community Hospital for moving expenses despite the fact that he never actually moved there.
Freedom’s Watch under the Microscope
From the Muckety: As the conservative attack group Freedom’s Watch scurries amid allegations of collusion with the National Republican Congressional Committee in the sixth district special election, its ties to the Republican Party are scrutinized.
Vitter “between a rock and a hard place”
From the Daily Advertiser: To take the fifth or not to take the fifth? That’s the question as Vitter stares down the “DC Hot Seat.”
Meanwhile, GOP flak Lee Fletcher at Townhallshow.com does his darndest to stem the calls from Democrats and Republicans for Vitter’s resignation. According to Fletcher, “Vitter is doing what the voters elected him to do,” though no one can seem to recall any “I will plead the fifth when called to testify in a prostituion ring trial” mandate coming out of his 2004 campaign. Read more
