News -> INDReporter MON, JUN 28 8:24AM by Jeremy Alford

Jindal bans public from viewing oil spill records

Gov. Bobby Jindal quietly announced the veto of a highly controversial public records bill around 6:30 p.m. Friday, snuffing the collective hope of lawmakers who wanted to add more transparency in the way communications related to the BP oil spill are being handled by the executive branch. The provision was added to a House bill during the regular session’s closing days last week by Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, and produced a barrage of editorials statewide and endorsements from good government groups.

House Bill 37 by Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco, was originally filed to establish a timeline for how long the state has to maintain certain inmate records, but Adley’s amendment turned the bill into a legislative vehicle that spurred heated exchanges in both chambers.

In his official veto letter, issued after the State Capitol press corps typically retires for the weekend, Jindal called the Deepwater Horizon incident “a man-made event” and included only two sentences from the governor justifying the veto. “This bill would allow BP and other parties with potential liability to the state to obtain information retained by any state agency responding to this tragic event,” the governor writes. “Such access could impair the state’s legal position both in responding to the disaster that is unfolding and in seeking remedies for economic injury and natural resource damage.”

Adley, who could not be reached for comment Friday evening, said during the session that he wanted the amendment because the BP rig explosion and subsequent oil leak had become the “greatest catastrophe in the state’s history,” and it would go on to impact generations of residents. “The public should know what’s going on,” said Adley.

His amendment would have targeted “any records having been used, being in use, or retained for use by the office of the governor or any other executive branch agency in the usual course of the duties and business of the office or agency.”

Adley was among the lawmakers pushing to open up more records — in general — in the governor’s office this session, and it was a move Jindal opposed and the Senate rejected. Although Jindal has ushered in legislation to make the House and Senate two of the most transparent chambers in the nation, he has repeatedly opposed measures opening up records in his own office.

As a result, national rankings show some disparity. Earlier this year the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics named Jindal among its 11 worst U.S. governors, specifically noting the public records exemptions enjoyed by the executive branch.


Comments (10)add
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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , June 28, 2010 - 10:24 am
If we leave it to Jindal, all records pertaining to his administrations doings would be sealed in a time capsule, and buried for 100 years........
America set itself back 300 years by electing Obama and Jindal, what could you DA'S have been thinking. Reparation ?
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written by ragin_cajun , June 28, 2010 - 11:35 am
ummm....let me remind you, and all the other jindal bashers out there, that there were no better options for governor at any time that Jindal has run for governor. I voted for him over Blanco, and I was irate that the voters of this state chose blanco over jindal--and embarassed. If you think there's a better governor out there, then I'd like to hear it.

Jindal has done some pretty disappointing things, and I'm sure he'll do more. But he's still better than Blanco--by a mile. What is the alternative? Want Vitter for Governor? How bout Foster?
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written by Resident , June 28, 2010 - 12:26 pm
Hmm, Jindal "repeatedly opposed measures opening up records in his own office." Sounds like another one who relishes executive power and seeks to expand it, like Bush and Obama. Just another reason to keep Jindal away from the presidential ticket.
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written by Jason F , June 28, 2010 - 01:59 pm
Is this the same Robert Adley that tried to shut down the student run Law School Clinics in this state, those that service indigent and low-income community plaintiffs in their struggles to receive justice in courts of law against polluters?

Has he had some kind of change of thought or is this just a turf war battle for him?
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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , June 28, 2010 - 03:35 pm
Sometimes none is better than some.......Why is everyone on a guilty trip and wanting to be led around by a ring in their nose, just answer that for me.
i can't get into a debate over which was/is the better governor of the two, Blanco was a flighty female with no resolve to speak of, and Jindal has not one fng moral fiber in his composition make-up.......Mentally jindal is a giant compared to Blanco, and morally he is a prostituting male.....
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written by I Noticed , June 28, 2010 - 05:40 pm
I have noticed all politicians have one thing in common. They are hypocrites!!
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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN. , June 28, 2010 - 07:56 pm
Ha-Ha, my wife says they're going to come for me, i say they 're dumb, but they are not CRAZY ! i pay too much in taxes...........
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written by Morrow , July 01, 2010 - 06:58 am
Jindal's insistence o secrecy condems him. Why would an elected official want to keep his actions secret if they're legal? THIS SECRECY IS THE BEST REASON JINDAL SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
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written by ragin_cajun , July 01, 2010 - 04:09 pm
Morrow--

Be careful. I well remember what a corrupt crook Edwin Edwards was. I never would have voted for a two bit hustler like that, no matter how entertaining and quick witted. Then David Duke won the primary, and my choice was either Edwards or a White Supremacist. Remember the bumper stickers that said "vote for the crook, it's important"?

I stood in line at the courthouse in Lafayette for hours registering to vote so I could vote for Edwin Edwards. I literally felt dirty.

Similarly, I always said I'd never vote for an unprincipled, ineffective, Washington insider like John McCain. Then he won the nomination and it was either him or Obama. Once again, I felt dirty when I walked outta the booth.

I don't like Jindal, I don't think he's done what he said he would, and I'm very concerned that he's trying to hide something. But what if Ross Perot wins the Democratic Party's nomination for President, and you're faced with a choice between Jindal and Perot? :) You're gonna hold your nose and vote for Jindal--that's what you're gonna do. And I'm gonna be right behind you.

And don't laugh. Stranger things have happened.
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written by Morrow , August 04, 2010 - 04:23 pm
It should not be surprising Jindal would want to keep secrets to protect BIG OIL, rather than citizens of this state and along the coast. Jindal's head is so far up BIG MONEY'S BUTT, he had a hard time getting it out to make his sound bites in order to appear as though he gives a darn about any regular joes suffering during this catastrophe.....
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