Chairman Buddy Leach to Jindal: Time Put Louisiana First
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal just can’t say no-- no to desperately needed federal funds for his state unfortunately. Jindal’s recent squandering of $80 million dollars in broadband funds for northern Louisiana is just the latest in a dangerous string of lost or refused federal dollars for Louisiana. [The Times-Picayune, 11/9/11] At a time when most states are doing anything they can to seek more federal funding during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, Bobby Jindal continues to put his radical politics ahead of Louisianans’ needs.
“Governor Jindal has now refused or lost more than $600 million dollars in federal funds for the citizens of Louisiana and it’s simply inexcusable,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Buddy Leach. “I am calling on the Governor to put an end to this dangerous behavior immediately, and to start putting Louisiana and the needs of our citizens first. How can Louisiana expect to receive the funding we need from the federal government for coastal restoration and other critical projects when all Governor Jindal does is reject federal assistance for obvious political posturing? The problem is we can’t until Governor Jindal starts focusing on Louisianans’ needs instead of the national agenda of the extreme right wing of the Republican Party.”
In addition to losing the $80 million in broadband funding, Governor Jindal also recently refused to seek $60 million in early childhood education funding from the federal government. [New Orleans City Business, 10/24/11] Governor Jindal also refused $300 million for high speed rail between New Orleans and Baton Rouge without holding public forums for the citizens and businesses of the affected area to express their transportation needs. In addition, the Governor’s refusal of $98 million for state unemployment insurance, $9.5 million for Medicaid and $55.3 million to help uninsured Louisianans and the grand total of lost or refused federal dollars by the Jindal administration surpasses $600 million. [The Independent Weekly, 04/22/10]