Milo Nickel column

Well. It looks like Governor Jindal is in a heap of trouble. Every newspaper and every columnist in the state is on his back for a number of things from dealing loosely with the truth, not returning his friends phone calls vis-à-vis Buddy Roemer, and being inaccessible to the voters or his constituents among other complaints.

However, the straw that broke the camel’s back is no doubt the egregious bill that the legislators passed giving themselves a 100% raise in salary.

The bill is not only obscene in its greed; it will substantially increase retirement benefits which, by any other name, can only be called self-serving.

As I have said many times, I don’t like to criticize elected officials unless I can do better. This is one of those times. The Administration gives the appearance of being in disarray, disorganized, poorly managed and lacking in protocol: almost arrogant.

The bill was a poorly conceived idea compounded by those who voted for it. To their credit, those who voted against it exhibited legislative wisdom and perhaps common sense that should have been apparent to all with an ounce of sense.

However, I believe the fix was in and they all knew the bill would pass so they could vote against it, ingratiate themselves with the voters and still get the benefits of the raise.

Those, whose term limit will prevent them from running again, took advantage of the largess to substantially increase their retirement benefits.

Others who voted for or against the bill could increase their chances for reelection if they gratuitously refuse to take the increased salary. Only the most naïve believe voters will forget by the next election.

On the other side of the horn, one swallow does not a summer make and five months into a four year governor’s term does not necessarily mean that Jindal will be an ineffective leader or a poor governor. It is premature to make that judgment and I believe voters should hold judgment in abeyance until the end of his four year term.

I have not talked to the Governor and I would never presume to tell him how to run the state. Although, I do not offer advice to Jindal, I believe if he decides to veto the pay package, it would be justifiable on the grounds that the legislature has put him in an untenable position and in fact, purposely or not, betrayed his trust. I believe if anyone is at fault, it is the senators and representatives who put him in a trick bag; a trick bag where he can’t win for losing.

Perhaps, Governor Jindal believes that in yielding power to the legislature, he is providing a more independent and democratic legislative branch of state government. Maybe so, but he was elected to run the state, not the legislators. Neither the state nor any business can be run by committees. It’s been said, God appointed a committee to make a horse and they ended up with a camel! Let’s hope that with this legislature, we don’t end up with a monkey. Let’s also hope Governor Jindal gets his house in order and goes on to make up for a less than propitious start. I still believe he can.

A side bar: Part of the problem is that the state is flush with money and some greedy legislators want a piece of the action, unlike when the state was broke.

The state is reaping billions of dollars in revenue because of a little known fact involving a former governor who many believe was the greatest governor the state ever had.

The state is flush with beaucoup cash coming into the state treasury due to the wisdom and foresight of a former governor to whom the news media and current citizens fail to give credit.

Before this governor changed the law, a change that was severely criticized by the press and many in the state at the time, Louisiana received only 25 cents on each barrel of oil and only 2 cents per thousand cubic feet of natural gas produced. The legislature, at the insistence of the then governor, changed the formulas to 12 ½ percent of the value of oil and 7 cents per thousand cubic feet on the value of natural gas.

As a result of the former governor’s vision and change in the law, the state now receives 12 1/2 % on $140 a barrel oil or $17.50 per barrel vs. the 25 cents a barrel before and 7 cents a thousand cubic feet on natural gas vs. 2 cents before. Today, the state receives about 56 cents per one thousand cubic feet because natural gas is selling at $11 per thousand cubic feet from the $1 it was selling for at the time: an increase of 2,800%.

It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to figure that the billions of dollars the state has enjoyed to date is a result of one governor’s powerful intellect and vision: too bad so very few of our people know about it today or even care.

The best part of the deal is that this tax money is paid mostly by people who use Louisianan oil and gas products but who live outside the state.

If I was predisposed to give Governor Jindal free advice, it would be to do the best job he can for his people but not to expect any gratitude or appreciation. That’s another lesson he will learn over time.

And that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Milo A. Nickel is the former President and COO of Louisiana State Newspapers.