At the Alliance for Good Government banquet the other night, several legislators complained that I was “too critical” and that I needed to stop “bashing the Legislature.” Why, should I when legislators give me so much material to work with? At this point, I would like to offer some friendly advice to my legislative friends. They should forgo the idea of a special legislative session and try to rehabilitate their poor image with the voters of Louisiana.

After Governor Jindal vetoed 258 bills using his line item authority, some legislators expressed outrage. In fact, yesterday, State Senator Yvonne Dorsey (D-Baton Rouge) called the Governor “asinine,” and said he was engaged in “political grandstanding.” Dorsey thinks that Jindal is pandering to the national Republican Party by trying to act like a conservative by cutting the budget. Dorsey believes that Jindal is “feeding his ridiculous Presidential ambitions.” Dorsey and many of her colleagues believe that Jindal cut worthy programs and the Legislature should convene in a special session to override these vetoes.

While Dorsey is right about Jindal’s presidential ambitions, she is dead wrong about an override session. Such a session would irritate an already irritated citizenry. In contrast, the Governor has restored some of his credibility by vetoing the pay raise bill and now he has enhanced his standing even more with most voters by casting these vetoes.

Our state budget has tripled in 12 years and stands at approximately $30 billion right now. There is no real justification for this massive increase in spending. The people in Louisiana have not benefited as the budget has soared. In fact, our economy and population have declined in that time period.

It is past time for our budget to go on a massive diet. We need to inject more funds into our struggling private sector. Jindal’s vetoes are a small step in the right direction, totaling only $16 million, which is approximately .000533% of the overall budget. In reality, the Governor needs to be cutting many more projects that do not deserve state funding.

The vast majority of these 258 vetoes were justified. There is no reason that selected non profit or religious organizations should be receiving state funds. For example, the Hot Air Balloon Festival should not be receiving a state allocation of $25,000. If events such as that festival are worthy of support, then funds need to be raised in the private sector.

I am sympathetic to some legislative complaints. For example, Representative Neil Abramson (D-New Orleans) placed a $50,000 allocation into the budget to assist Unity of Greater New Orleans move homeless people into permanent housing. There are also some other good groups that are worthy of support that were cut. But the vast majority did not meet the smell test.

Legislators would look foolish by convening another session. Voters are still upset about the last one. Another session would cost more money and involve spending more state funds. Legislators need to figure out how to deal with a combative Governor who has declared war on the legislative branch. Possibly, in 2009, when they meet in the next session, they can decide on the right strategy.

This year, legislators were on the losing end of public opinion and another session would just make the public even more upset. Better for legislators to move on and give the Governor this short term victory and prepare to continue the battle next year.

Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com