Governor Jindal came on after the Great American Panel about 9:45PM EDT.  A few notes:

Bobby Jindal is in NYC after campaigning for Chris Christie in NJ!  (He has already TWICE campaigned for Bob McDonnell!)  Jindal suggests that there is a mirror to 1993 – VA and NJ went for the GOP and this led to taking over the House in ‘94.

“We can’t just print the money” Jindal says.  Cong. Ron Paul could not have said it better!  Jindal says the GOP has great candidates and in 1994 some of those candidates came about after the 1993 elections.  Hannity asked about if the Republicans have repented of their big spending ways.  Jindal suggests they have.  I am not sure I am persuaded.  Jindal asserts that the highest tax rates in some states will be higher than France if Obamacare passes! 

The governor thanked President Obama for keeping his word and coming to New Orleans.  Hannity immediately  asked Governor Jindal about Louisiana.  The governor quickly cited several statistics in a row about the Pelican State that I could not keep up with.  (A recent blog entry spoke to that!)  Ethics reform, best government in the South, etc.  The Wonk is in the house!

This is an excellent presentation!  Much better than a certain speech made earlier this year.  My only criticism is Governor Jindal talks fast and is hard to live blog!  But the meat of his message is clear even if he speaks fast. 

We ‘ll try to get a video of this interview.

Here’s the video: 

I am pleased and surprised about the positive comments.  The mostly partisan crowd applauded at the reference to the Governor but some booed at the President’s first compliment (Jindal’s doing a fine job) but recovered a bit when President Obama said that Jindal has sincere concern and is working hard for the state. 

Wouldn’t it be great to see a debate between President Obama and Governor Jindal?  In 2012 it can happen.  We’ll see…

Louisiana, and in particular the New Orleans region, has been blessed with incredible assets that should insure that we are one of the most prosperous regions of our Country. For many reasons we have experienced the opposite, years of economic and social decline resulting in wealth stagnation and population out-migration unmatched by other Southern states. In just the last few years our state has undertaken a new way of doing business and is concentrating on capitalizing upon its assets instead of just ignoring economic realities. The future has begun to look much brighter than it has in decades.

This is in no small part to the election and accomplishments of both Governor Jindal and the willingness of the people and legislature of Louisiana to strike out in a new direction.  Ethics reform.  Business-friendly tax and regulatory environment.  Attracting and keeping jobs in the state. 

Senator Appel urges Landrieu to act in the best interests of her state:

In the strongest terms I am pleading with you to assist the hard working people of Louisiana in turning back some of the Washington generated wave of regulation and taxation that threatens to swamp our economic life. Please help us defeat both the healthcare reform initiative as it is drafted and the Cap and Trade Bill. As our Senator there is nothing more important that you can do for the future of our state beyond helping us stop these misguided bills. I know that you will do the right thing.

Senator Landrieu has tried to stake out a centrist position in the Senate.  I believe she will listen.  I urge all my Louisiana readers to contact her office and let her know you agree with Senator’s Appel’s letter.

(I thank the Republican Party of Louisiana as the source for Senator Appel’s letter.  You can get their materials by email.  www.lagop.com)

I would add that Senator Appel is a strong supporter of Governor Jindal.  His website has a great quote in support of the Governor.

Besides HB898, the governor signed HB458 by Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, extending the sound recording production and infrastructure tax credit program; SB277 by Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, extending and expanding the digital interactive media tax credit; HB790 by Rep. Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge, extending the research and development tax credit; HB110 by Rep. Jane Smith, R-Bossier City, providing a tax credit for clean burning motors; and HB215 by Rep. Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette, creating a cargo and infrastructure tax credit for Louisiana ports.

The Governor was quoted as saying this would improve the Pelican State’s competitiveness with other states. 

I can suggest several fine movie topics:  the Reconstruction era carpetbag Governor Henry Clay Warmoth, the first African-American Governor (P.B.S. Pinchback), anything about Huey Long or his brother Earl, (I especially enjoyed Blaze and not for the reasons you might expect a male to do so – it showed Earl Long in a positive light), Katrina recovery, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band,  and finally the Saints!

Jindal in the interview was poised, relevant and persuasive.  I hope more people will get to see this documentary – check your local listings for repeats.

From Jindal’s office:

This is a huge win for New Orleans, but also the entire state of Louisiana. There’s no doubt that the spirit of our people who persevered through four storms in just over three years played a critical role in securing the Super Bowl.

This win shows that New Orleans is a premier host for major sports and entertainment events – and will be a perfect backdrop when the eyes of the world are upon us.

Indeed, Louisiana is committed to making sure the 2013 Super Bowl is unparalleled. That’s why it was critical for the state to come together with the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Superdome to establish a long-term agreement that will save taxpayers money, significantly improve the playing venue and dramatically revitalize the stadium area and the surrounding neighborhood.

From the Senate President’s office:

This is terrific news for New Orleans and Louisiana. New Orleans has long been a natural host city for events big and small, and the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans will undoubtedly be the best game yet. Our city has built back stronger than before and thanks to the hard work and dedication of our people, we are competing with cities all across the country to host nationally important events like the Super Bowl.

The new agreement we have proposed to make investments in the Superdome is a critical part of making this event a success and I applaud the legislators who continue to work tirelessly to finalize this legislation.

This is significant because Senate President Chiasson is a Democrat.

If you need more information, try this analysis by John DeShazier of the Times-Picayune from April 29, 2009 (Proposal a Win-Win for Louisiana, New Orleans Saints):

But when you add in the deal is structured so the state’s financial obligation to the Saints considerably is lessened, down from the current $23.5 million the state owes this year under terms of the current agreement, to no more than $6 million per year under the proposed agreement, then it becomes that much more attractive.

And that $6 million could shrink, depending on whether the team can increase its revenue.

The state will pay at least $85 million in Superdome improvements, including added seating and suites, to help provide an avenue for the increase. And Saints owner Tom Benson will buy New Orleans Centre and Dominion Tower, and will lease to the state 320,000 square feet at Dominion Tower for state agencies.

DeShazier’s conclusion is favorable (especially for a public rightly skeptical of stadium deals):

But this ought to be bought because, really, it appears to be a good deal for the state and for the franchise.

This is another example of the new way of thinking that Governor Jindal is bringing to Louisiana.

The problem is that New Orleans is a small market for a professional franchise and it is difficult to build the fan (that’s paying fan) base to keep a quality operation in town. The Green Bay Packers had the same problem – but they are publicly traded and could not easily move. The Saints are several moving vans away from being a former Louisiana resident. What to do? Most localities beg with tax dollars the teams to stay. Libertarians and many others disagree. I side with the libertarians. Enter Governor Jindal…

The Associated Press however reported recently that the Saints and the state signed a deal to keep the team in the Big Easy until 2025 and that the Saints’ owner, Tom Benson, will take over two other nearby buildings. Governor Jindal also reported that this deal would save Louisiana over the next 17 years the sum of $280,000,000. While not a huge sum, that is great compared to the usual sweetheart deals most governments make to keep pro teams in town. Jindal also asserted that no new tax dollars were spent to keep the team in New Orleans nor will there be a new stadium.

Maybe Governor Jindal should wait after all until 2016 to run for President! He is a great governor now. I applaud his vision to keep the team in town without giving away the store. Now if he could make the Saints a consistent winner, that would be an accomplishment…

photo by JaseMan

However, in 2003, I heard about (through a column that I cannot find) to a candidate for governor of Louisiana who had an audacious plan to clean up politics in Louisiana and make the state a leader in a number of items including ethics reform. I felt that anyone with that sort of vision was worth looking into. Especially when he was a conservative Republican.

When I heard Jindal’s resume, I was again impressed. He is an intellectual who won a Rhodes Scholarship and, unlike a certain other Rhodes Scholar from a neighboring state, actually graduated from Oxford. At 32, Jindal had already been a state cabinet secretary (Health and Hospitals), the president of a leading university system (Louisiana State University) and a federal sub-cabinet official (Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation).

Jindal lost the election and I was disappointed until Katrina hit. I think that 2003 loss was a blessing in disguise. Jindal was elected twice to Congress and then came back to run for governor of Louisiana. This time he won in the first primary.

Jindal was able to push through the legislature in three sessions, ethics reform, reform of taxes unfriendly to business interests, and one time infrastructure projects that were needed and for which a budget surplus existed. Almost immediately, Jindal was instrumental in persuading Albemarle Paper Co. to move its office from Richmond, VA! (Ouch! He could have started somewhere else!)

I did hope Senator McCain would appoint Jindal to be his running mate. No one could have made fun of Jindal in the way they (unfairly) did Governor Palin. I further believe his extraordinary success story, an Indian-American son of immigrants, achieving the American Dream, could be a great role model for youth and a force to revive the Republican Party WITHOUT compromising traditional conservative positions.

Jindal is staunchly pro-life, against gay marriage, has an evangelical Christian testimony, and favored the balanced teaching of intelligent design in the schools. Jindal voted against funding embryonic stem cell research and also voted against the S-CHIP children’s insurance program. He is solidly pro-Second Amendment rights. I may be able to discuss some of these issues in later blogs.

The end of the Kingfish era in Louisiana seemed like a dream on the scale of Lithuania seceding from the Soviet Union. Jindal, however, seems to have started the effort to clean up bayou politics and make the state work. Even his foes agree he seems to know how to gets things done, as described by Deepa Fernandes in the Nation magazine article of July 21, 2008:

“Given Louisiana’s harsh economic landscape and its conservative tilt, many Democrats there seem willing to sacrifice an unattainable agenda for these immediate results.”

Here are specific examples from the Nation article:

“Nonetheless, his Democratic successor as health secretary, David Hood, has nothing but praise for Jindal, calling him “the best secretary of DHH that I have seen in thirty years in state government.” Hood says that Jindal was organized, able to generate excitement among staff and had long-term vision.”

“Political consultant Cheron Brylski, a fierce advocate for women’s rights, is just as laudatory of Jindal. “Even as a liberal,” she says, “I felt that Bobby Jindal was the person who offered the most hope for Louisiana at this time.” Despite years of “butting heads” with him, Brylski fully supports the new governor. When asked why she endorses a man who has voted to restrict and outlaw abortion at every chance available to him, Brylski responds, “He’s smart, and he has good connections in Washington.”"

Lithuania is now independent. Louisiana may be well on her way to ending the Kingfish era. I believe Governor Jindal has ended the Huey Long era in Louisiana. He can get results in Washington. Whether he runs in 2012 or later in life, he will be both a formidable candidate and, if elected, a wise President. Now about the Saints…