Governor Bobby Jindal, Republican House Speaker Jim Tucker and Democrat Senate President Joel Chaisson all had a big day Monday with victories in their first full legislative encounters in their respective roles as leaders in the new government.
In both the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees, the Governor passed legislation led by Tucker and Chaisson.
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The House Governmental Affairs Committee, supported Tucker’s legislation that would require judges, and other elected officials to disclose their sources of income, their loans, debts and purchases over $1000.The legislation moves to the Senate floor.
However, as expected judges are opposed to the legislation and they insist upon separation of powers and self-policing. The question arises whether there will be a legal challenge should the legislation be passed by both Houses and signed by the Governor.
Judges are opposed to the bill, arguing that the Legislature does not have authority to impose financial disclosure rules on the judicial branch.
The House panel also approved another Tucker bill that would transfer the office of the inspector general out of the governor's office and make the office a separate state agency. That bill also moves to the House floor for debate.
The Jindal-Chaisson team also passed one of the Governor’s key ethics reform bills.The legislation bars lawmakers from accepting free tickets to football games, and other events.That legislation has been sent to the full Senate.The bill eliminates an exception to current Ethics Law that allows these gifts under certain caps.
The same committee also passed Senate Bill 4 which Proposes a constitutional amendment that would require approval by a 2/3 vote of the elected members of each house of the legislature for enactment of an exception to any provision of the Code of
Governmental Ethics after December 1, 2008.If passed by the legislature, the bill would go to the voters at the statewide election to be held November 4, 2008.
Another Chaisson bill SB 5 also passed the Senate Committee.This bill would prohibit a legislator and other elected officials from voting on legislation where they might have a possible conflict of interest.Currently, the law allows for disclosure but does not mandate recusal
None of the legislation had any serious opposition, however, the legislative control over the judiciary is certainly one to watch in the Courts should it pass and signed by the Governor.
I wanted SB 5 to be a lot more restrictive than it is. It could have restricted anyone that sits on a contact community; their family could not bid on any state works contracts. The voting part doesn't mean much when a legislator has his voice to asure a family member secures a government contact. I believe if you have family in government, legislative, you shouldn't be able to bid on any government contact within the state. Louisiana has a terribly record on this and it seems for years no one really cared. Written by Ben
on 2/12/2008
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It is going to be up to you journalists to keep a watch on the hen house and the foxes. If this ethics thing is going to pass with teeth then you guys have got to expose the foxes. Especially those who switched offices, legislature to senate and senate to legislature. these guys are responsible for the mess anyway. watch them. Make them expose their income. I am tired of hearing them cry about good men would not run if that happens. I have not seen any of them resigning, have you? If you guys have everf watched the hen house, now is the time. This may be the last chance. thnks Written by bobby
on 2/12/2008
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Governor Bobby Jindal, Republican House Speaker Jim Tucker and Democrat Senate President Joel Chaisson all had a big day Monday with victories in their first full legislative encounters in their respective roles as leaders in the new government.
