Jindal Plan Raises Questions (Legislators Block Governor's Stimulus Spending)
by MICHELLE MILLHOLLON - Advocate (excerpt)

Legislators on Friday blocked the Jindal administration’s plans for spending the state’s first batch of federal “stimulus” money. State Transportation Secretary William Ankner said he plans to regroup and talk to legislators. Gov. Bobby Jindal was less conciliatory.

During a nearly three-hour discussion, legislators complained about the Jindal administration’s proposed distribution of dollars and expressed a feeling that the governor left them out of the loop on decision making.

Lawmakers demanded answers on why parishes were excluded from the spending plan and why the administration wants to spend $1 million on a bridge at the end of a dirt road. They also wanted to know whether the governor plans to accept all of the money due to Louisiana in the “stimulus” package. Jindal was not on hand to answer any of those questions.