When will voters see through Louisiana Gov. Jindal's claims of transparency?
by JAMES GILL - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Some legislators doubt the sincerity of Gov. Bobby Jindal's commitment to the government "transparency" he bangs on about ad nauseam. According to his executive counsel, Jimmy Faircloth, Jindal is the "most open governor in Louisiana history." These opinions are not easy to reconcile. Maybe we should just meet in the middle and agree that Jindal is a transparent fraud.

Jindal's poll numbers remain robust, but they have dropped off some. A further decline might be expected as voters begin to see through the dipsy doodle.

It has taken a while, because Jindal possesses a great talent for advocating principles he would never let influence his own actions. Thus, he can, for instance, declare that ethics exemptions are an abomination just as he picks up a pen to sign ethics exemptions for his pals.

Jindal certainly does believe in transparency -- for other government officials. Last week, as he did last year, he managed to kill legislation that would have made his office subject to the state public records law.

That does not mean the administration wants to operate in secret, Faircloth told a House committee. Jindal objected only to "details" in the bill, filed by Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport. The boss is so keen to let in the light that he promises to back another bill, by Sen. Jody Amedee, D-Gonzales, that will achieve the same worthy goal.

Except, of course, that it won't. This administration really has the double talk down pat.

If Jindal is "the most open governor in Louisiana history, " that isn't saying much. The public records law exempts the governor's office entirely, save that "persons otherwise herein authorized so to do" can inspect records "pertaining to any money or monies or any financial transaction."

Both the Waddell and Amedee bills extend to "any person" the right to check on what the governor's office is doing with the moolah.

COMMENTARY BY C.B. FORGOTSTON: Only James Gill in his very British accent could articulate what some of us have come to know about Bobby Jindal.

In his column today, Gill calls Bobby a "transparent fraud."

There's nothing more to add except Amen Brother Gill, Amen.