John Maginnis points out the loopholes in SB8, which imposes a $50 limit on meals lobbyists can buy legislators:
The Center for Public Integrity awards points for total disclosure of entertainment spending on officials, which Gov. Jindal did not propose, but gives no points for the spending cap he demands.
C.B. Forgotston and Clancy DuBos mounted a dual pronged, and at times entertaining, attack on Bobby Jindal’s ethical “Double Standard” this past week (Forgotston and DuBos have taken to calling it Jindal’s “Aluminium Standard”). Forgotston has long been a Jindal skeptic (at least when it comes to ethics reform), but DuBos is a newcomer to the fray. Gambit Weekly, which DuBos and his wife run, gave Jindal a ringing endorsement last fall:
In these times of ethical uncertainty, Jindal’s integrity is beyond reproach.
It’s probably a tad early to say DuBos has done a complete 180, but he’s certainly close. He struggled to contain his disdain over Montana-gate:
This week’s revelation that Bobby Jindal’s chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, razooed 3 tickets to the Hannah Montana concert for his brother — while everybody else either had to tell their daughters and granddaughters “sorry, dear, they’re just too expensive” or fork over hundreds of dollars to some online broker — is only the latest example of the “gold standard” that our new governor is delivering on the “ethics” front.
I find it strange that the “first” leges to ask for tickets just happen to be FOBs — Friends of Bobby.
But why do 90-day wonders in the Jindal Administration — who jawbone us about their so-called “gold standard” of ethics — get to watch the Hornets, Hannah and God-knows-who-else for free … and THEN claim they are so ethically pure?
Here’s Gov. Jindal’s response to The Times-Picayune’s questions about the obvious hypocrisy of Mr. Teepell and the Hannah Montana tickets: “We’re going to follow the law.”
Ah, the majesty of the law.
It seems the sanctimony of the Jindal administration is getting under Clancy’s skin (he’s not the only one!). Read more
We know judges are whining about having to disclose their incomes, and we know their reasoning is inspired by Louisiana’s constitution, rather than any major skeletons in their closet. Louisiana judges, after all, are the ethical standards by which Louisiana’s other branches of government should be measured - as they’ve proven again, and again, and again.
The newest ethics-reform detractors border on the ridiculous: the Louisiana Restaurant Association is trying to raise the $50 ceiling to $100. As the Times-Pic says:
Obviously at the urging of some Baton Rouge members, the group wants the proposed limit to wine and dine legislators set at $100 per feast. That’s double the $50 limit Gov. Jindal proposed.
One of the hottest tickets in the new Governor’s administration is a seat on the Louisiana Board of Commissioners Stadium and Exposition District or, as it is more commonly refered to, the Superdome Commission. An appointment that just so happens to come complete with its own luxury skybox for all Superdome events. After the jump, The Box takes a look under the lid.
According to the Advocate, Jindal Campaign Treasurer and Publisher Rolfe McCollister Jr., who also served as Jindal’s transition leader, is launching a political organization to promote the new Governor and his policies. While McCollister, in an email, promised that the group to be called “Believe in Louisiana” will be “transparent” he did not return calls for comment on the groups activities. Also not responding were McCollister’s partner in the venture, New Orleans financier David Voelker as well as Jindal’s office. Specifics as to what the group will be promoting and just how they will be promoting them are not being revealed.
For all us lowly types who didn’t get an invite to the Washington Mardi Gras, the Shreveport Times gives us a glimpse of all the fun we missed. Feel free to fill in your own captions!
Today’s Times-Picayune examines how the legendary Washington Mardi Gras skirts (or rather will skirt, in perpetuity) all ethics reform.
