Mr. Jindal and Doctor Bobby: The Transparent and Not-Transparent sides of the LA Governor
Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is a well-liked guy, but you wouldn’t know that from speaking to some transparency advocates.
Jindal certainly started off in the right foot. He signed an executive order and sponsored a state law that gave the state of Louisiana a transparency website, the Louisiana Transparency & Accountability portal, known as LATRACT. Jindal’s office was also responsible for the Legislature passing legislation that has in the past two years opened up more of the government, including the governor’s office.
Or maybe it hasn’t. Because several Republican senators allege the legislation has tightened the governor’s control over records, when the spirit of open records laws presumes openness. These senators have proposed bills that would lessen Jindal’s control over records, which they see as a practice that encourages secrecy.
One senator, Senator Robert Adley, has been very vocal in disagreeing with the governor on his transparency record. The senator has stated “The Louisiana Legislature ranks at the top in disclosure, which I am proud of. The executive branch in Louisiana ranks dead last.” The senator also said transparency is important because secrecy is often an element in corruption but “sunshine is the best disinfectant.”
Jindal certainly had his heart in the right place with his vocal support of transparency, and the efforts he has undertaken to make other government offices meet high transparency standards. However, with charges of secrecy sprouting up again and with , the Governor should see this call for more transparency as an opportunity, not as an accusation.
The governor should embrace attempts to open his office’s records so that citizens have a check on the government. Ensuring citizens have this power is part of the government’s responsibility to citizens, and as the executive, the governor cannot brush aside calls for more transparency. While there are instances where documents cannot be released, these instances are the exception. The rule is openness.
We hope that the Governor continues in the same spirit of his LATRAC initiative, which is to include citizens in the conversation and to understand that collaboration goes both ways. What are your thoughts on Governor Jindal’s transparency efforts to date?
