Conflicted Libertarian

I read with satisfaction the editorial from the Alexandria Town Talk for April 28, 2009 (Our view: Memo to the Legislature: Let’s do this). I suggest it states it well – better perhaps than I could. Here are some key excerpts:

The first-term Republican governor brings exactly what the Bayou State needs. And guess what? The nation needs it, too.

Amen. That is why I am writing this blog.

He is first and now the governor of Louisiana. His message resonates with Middle America, starting right here with Middle Americans in Louisiana.

Preach it, brother!

Thank you, colleagues, for taking seriously the need to end corruption — and the perception of corruption — in Louisiana.

Thank you, colleagues, for collaborating on economic-development initiatives that have helped to keep Louisiana ahead of the nation during a time of real recession.

And thank you, colleagues, for learning from the mistakes we’ve made — individually and together — and for choosing to look ahead. We’ve got big problems that need solutions that work for all of Louisiana.

It is still breathtaking that the Huey Long era is over in Louisiana. (Now, let me add, it will take time for the new ethical upright Pelican State to be trusted – to even be put into practice. This may be the enduring legacy of Governor Jindal if he is a two term governor.)

The governor’s five-point legislative agenda includes changing the rules so the governor and Legislature can review spending in its entirety every year, require programs to justify their spending through performance, and allocate taxpayer funding where it is needed.

That should be tackled immediately. It is an essential first step toward rethinking state government, reducing its size and providing common-sense solutions to complex problems.

We will discuss in due time the five-point plan. The success of the governor will be measured by the session that just started. I would urge my readers to keep in mind, few chief executives get everything they want every year. They may end up with one or two clear successes and maybe serious compromises on other goals.

But the Alexandria media states the case well. Whether Governor Jindal runs for President or not, he brings new ideas and thinking to his home state.

Tags: alexandria-la, corruption, governor, Huey-Long, legislative, louisiana, middle-america, solutions, town-talk