[StBernard] Notes from the Louisiana Legislature

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Mon Jun 23 00:38:08 EDT 2008


Notes from the Louisiana Legislature
6/22/2008, 10:30 p.m. CDT
The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - With little explanation, Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed
two bills Sunday that would have created exceptions to new restrictions on
elected officials' ability to accept free meals or free tickets to
fundraising events.

The measures would have weakened legislation passed in Jindal's first
special session this year, which focused on changes to the state ethics
code.

One bill (House Bill 278) would have created an exception to restrictions on
elected officials' acceptance of free food and drink. The measure, by Rep.
Karen St. Germain, D-Plaquemine, would have excepted events "related to
recruitment, fundraising or philanthropic activities by or on behalf of an
agency."

The other (House Bill 947), by Rep. Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette, would have
allowed elected officials to accept free tickets to fundraisers held by
educational institutions or a "nonprofit organization which conducts
educational programs."

Jindal issued the same explanation for each veto: "I do not see the need to
create this exception."

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