Legislative Update

Two north Louisiana legislators are working this session to open certain public records in the Governor's office. Gov. Jindal has pushed back hard in previous sessions successfully quelling attempts to open records  that might reveal information, such as who he invites to accompany him in the state's luxury box at the Superdome  to watch the New Orleans Saints play.   


Wonder if this double team approach will work this go around ... 

Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport

Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport, is behind HB501. Read the bill here: http://bit.ly/acYGV8. This isn't the first time in the lion's den for Waddell. His efforts last legislative session drew sharp criticism from the the Governor and his team, who were successful in killing Waddell's bill that would have made certain records on the Fourth Floor open to the public. 
The public needs the ability to "peek behind the curtain and see what the king is doing," Waddell says. Essentially, Waddell's argument is that the Governor's office should be subject to the public records law just the same as other state, parish and local offices. Read his commentary on this issue at: http://bit.ly/92dARY.

Sen. Robert Adley, R-Shreveport, is sponsoring SB593. The proposal (Read it at http://bit.ly/cZlRBx)  also targets the Governor's office opening up records, such as those used in the making of decisions and policies. "Sooner or later, they have to be open to reality," says Adley in acknowledging Gov. Jindal's resistance to efforts to open records in his office. 


 -- Posted by The Watchdog
April 5, 2010


Gannett capitol bureau reporter Mike Hasten contributed to this report