Cuts prove Jindal retaliated against McPherson, say legislators
by Billy Gunn - The Town Talk (excerpt)

Rapides Parish's share of a diminishing state funding pie got leaner after Gov. Bobby Jindal took a scalpel and cut out hundreds of thousands of dollars for the area associated with Central Louisiana's senior legislator.

Sen. Joe McPherson, a Democrat from Woodworth who's been in the Senate 23 years, bucked the governor in the legislative session that ended late last month when he led a successful effort to roll back an increase in driver's license fees. Two other longtime legislators -- Sen. Robert Adley from Benton and House Speaker Jim Tucker from Terrytown, both Republicans -- also went against Jindal's wishes and paid through the governor's veto pen.

During the session, which ended late last month, McPherson also used a derogatory term in describing some of the governor's actions. McPherson later apologized. But the senator, who is known for speaking his mind, still is critical of Jindal and the way he and his administration deal with the Legislature.