The Double Talker

It seems as though Governor Bobby Jindal is exposing himself as quite the double-talker and he can thank his own spineless self for it.

Senator Ann Duplessis, Democrat, Senate District 2 (Eastern New Orleans, Holy Cross, and the Lower Ninth Ward) introduced Senate Bill 672 to give Louisiana State Legislators a 300% increase in their base salary. While it is true that they have not received a pay raise since the early 1980's, they do get a per diem.

In 1997 they tied their per diem to the travel rate the federal government pays federal employees who have to stay overnight in Baton Rouge. In 1997 that rate was $75. In 2008 it is $143 per day and will reset on October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year.

During his campaign for election, Jindal release a six page brochure in which he stated:
Prohibit Legislators from giving themselves pay raises that take effect
before the subsequent election.
Any increase in salary approved by the Legislature should take effect after the next
election so the public can decide who deserves that compensation.

After the legislators have now approved their pay raise, he has issued a press release stating:
"I will keep my pledge to let them (legislators) govern themselves and make their own decisions as a separate branch of government."

The question now becomes, which promise should Jindal keep? Is he more beholden to the citizens of the State of Louisiana or the Legislature?

If this pay hike is allowed to go through, Jindal will follow the path of his predecessor Kathleen Blanco and become a one term governor.

Considering his history of not staying in one position for too long, it would not surprise me to learn he was only planning on staying for one term. Although, I do hope for his sake he is not counting on being John McCain's running mate. This presidential election may very well hinge on fewer votes than the Bush-Gore vote of 2000.