From WAFB: Chairman Henry Perret (left), Vice Chairman John Green, Chief Counsel Richard Sherburne along with board members Gwendolyn Hamilton and Joanne Ferriott announced their resignations from the state ethics board amidst complaints that changes to ethics laws touted by Jindal have actually hindered the ability of the ethics board to perform its functions.
From the Advocate: As much as anything, Bobby Jindal’s tenure as governor as been marked (and plagued) by the seemingly inescapable baseball metaphor. But after a (self proclaimed ) home-run in February the ‘ole wunderkind has more or less watched as he’s been dusted off the plate time and again by a knuckleballing legislature. Now after bobbling a salary cap busting raise that would make Steinbrenner blush, the question is whether Bobby can ever dust himself off and realize his big dream of making it to the show.Â
You’ll remember back in March there were rumors the Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Pascal Calogero, was about to resign due to allegations the court’s decisions were being influenced by campaign contributions.
So far, Calogero has not resigned, but yesterday he launched a blistering broadside on Tulane Law School professor Vernon Valentine Palmer and Loyola University business professor John Levendis, whose research prompted the allegations.
From the Advocate: Measure reduces disclosure rules for members of state boards and commissions.
From the Advocate: Jindal executive counsel Jimmy Faircloth accused of stealing client.
From We Saw That: Questions over Jindal executive counsel Jimmy Faircloth’s dealing with the Coushatta tribe and a Texas law firm find their way into court.
From the Advocate: Adding to the issues of transparency in the Governor’s office and the standard by which ethics charges are prosecuted is Governor Jindal’s opposition to legislation that would take away the Governor’s powerful control over “capital outlay” projects and the control over state legislators that comes with it. Â
From the Advocate: While leaving the standard of proof for prosecuting ethics charges, Senate panel limits gives the ethics board better tools.
From the Times Picayune: In his ongoing effort to shield the Governor’s office from the type of transparency Governor Jindal campaigned on, Senator Bob Kostelka, a Jindal ally, cast the tie breaking vote to kill legislation that would provide fewer exemptions for public records requests.
Times-Picayune: “U.S. Attorney Jim Letten is expected to announce this afternoon that 4th District Assessor Betty Jefferson, an elder sister of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, has been indicted on fraud-related charges by a federal grand jury.”
