Jindal (R-Terrified Of La. Legislature) update: Recall petition!

[KamaAina]

Louisiana Gov. Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (R-Pick Me, John! Pick Me!) has somehow managed to go from landslide victor to subject of a recall petition in a matter of months, a feat that took California's Gray Davis nearly a full term.

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/recall_petition_filed_against.html

Ryan and Kourtney Fournier have submitted paperwork to the Secretary of State's office Friday that allows them to attempt to collect enough signatures over the next 180 days in an effort to get a recall election for the governor.

Public anger over a legislative pay raise has bubbled up in the past two weeks, with several House members targeted with recall petitions. Lawmakers raised their base salary from $16,800 to $37,500 during the recently ended legislative session.

Jindal, too, has been criticized for his inability to stop the raise before it was passed and his refusal to veto the pay raise bill. The bill will become law unless he vetoes it by July 8.

And the money quote (are you lurking, McSatan veep vetters?):

"The voters of our state are angry that the legislature more than doubled their own pay and I agree with them. It was excessive and they should reverse it. I'm sure more voters will take extraordinary steps to show their anger over the pay raise before this is all said and done - that's how a democracy works," Jindal's statement said.

They should reverse it? Aren't you in a position to reverse it, you snivelling little toady? Ye gods!

[sharesunited]

1. There are plenty of reasons to want Jindal out.

But this is way down the list.

[KamaAina]

2. True. This just happens to be the one that ticked someone off enough to file papers.

http://adrastos.blog-city.com/unsigned_in_red_stick_update.htm

Well played, Meemaw. (former Gov. Blanco -Ed.) Of course, PBJ (Piyush "Bobby" Jindal -Ed.) is quite happy to sign atrocities like the creationism by stealth bill. I was hoping he'd betray his religious right allies once in office but instead he's sticking the shiv in his goo-goo (good-government types -Ed.) followers. Wise choice: the bible thumpers are much meaner than the goo-goos. They'd smite his skinny little ass and all the goo-goos do is lecture...

Hmm, I wonder if PBJ was chemically castrated by Chief of Staff Timmy Teepell and his little winger buddies? One thing's for sure: nobody will ever sign a document with a flourish and say: "There's my Bobby Jindal." John Hancock lives.

[papapi]

3. Can we say failure?

[AZ Criminal JD]

4. He should not reverse the pay raise

The amount they are paid now - $16,800 - is ridiculous. That means only the independently wealthy and those who are retired can afford to run for office and serve. Legislators should reflect the population and not have to be rich in order to serve in office. Grow up.

[KamaAina]

5. The merits of the pay raise aren't really at issue here

it's Jindal whining that the legislators should reverse it when he has until July 8 to veto it. He's clearly terrified that, if he does so, the legislators will retaliate by not rubber-stamping his wingnut agenda (witness the recent "creationism by stealth" bill).

Come to think of it, that might not be such a bad thing...

[Super Soaker Sniper]

6. If Jindal vetos the pay raise

then the Legislators who voted for it have cover. By making them reverse it, each member has to stand by his own vote.

[KamaAina]

13. Interesting analysis.

Now that he has, in fact, flip-flopped and vetoed the raise, I guess we'll never know if he would have used that line of reasoning.

[Spouting Horn]

7. That's assuming

that being a State Rep is a full time job.

It isn't, and should not be, because once a political office becomes a "full time job" they forget about the people, and the goal becomes self-enrichment.

Have the Legislature meet one time, for 6 weeks out of the year, and be done with it. That's how many (if not most) states do it. People running for those offices should be ordinary, everyday people, serving one or two terms because of civic duty, rather then using it as a pathway to riches..

[Hippo_Tron]

15. And that would essentially make the Governor into a dictator

Plus how many "ordinary people" can just go take off of work for 6 weeks every year.

[jus_the_facts]

9. Where in this country does a NON independently wealthy person get elected?!

NO WHERE...that's where...AND it's not their JOB it is a community service anyway. :eyes:

[AZ Criminal JD]

10. So you go do it.

We'll see how much of "community service" you do.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Plenty of members of congress are not independently wealthy

Russ Feingold, Paul Wellstone, Dennis Kucinich, John Kerry (until he married Teresa), Barack Obama (until his book deal) are all examples of people who have served without having independent wealth.

So no, you don't have to be independently to serve if the compensation is reasonable enough to cover your living expenses.

[tammywammy]

16. It's only for 3 or 4 months worth of work

That seems like an adequate pay to me, well more than what I would make in the same time period.

[AZ Criminal JD]

17. Then run for the job and get a pay raise

But of course a working person can't take off for 3 or 4 months. Now can they? So you really could not afford it. Maybe we should make them work for free and you will be even happier.

[ihavenobias]

8. Come on, is Jindall really that bad?...

He seems like a reasonable guy: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=147032&mesg_id=147032

[AZ Criminal JD]

11. Jindal vetoed the raise. Hope you are happy.

[KamaAina]

12. Flip-flop!

Again, the merits of the raise aren't at issue. It's just that he couldn't possibly have handled this any worse if he were a Dem mole trying to make the repukes look bad.

[AZ Criminal JD]

18. You wanted him to be tough and veto it. Well he did.

How does that make him look bad?