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Bobby Jindal on Budget & Economy
Republican Governor; previously Representative (LA-1)
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Replace "obsession with zeroes" with growth strategy
Jindal presented a bit different approach from that taken by many other CPAC speakers. Jindal is a great believer in the strategy of growing our way out of fiscal crisis, rather than imposing severe spending cuts. "Today's conservatism is too wrapped up
in solving the hideous mess that is the federal government," the Governor judged. "Our objective is to grow the private sector. We must not become the party of austerity, we must become the party of growth."The debate between controlling government to
rein it in, or make it even larger, is a debate Jindal sees Republicans trying to fight on the Democrats' terms. It is a "very small and short-sighted debate," he said. "If our vision isn't greater than that, we don't deserve to win."
Jindal cited the
"fiscal cliff" as an example of conservatives falling into a "sideshow trap" & allowing Washington to take center stage over the rest of America. He doesn't see this "obsession with zeroes" and focus on spreadsheet politics as a winner for Republicans.
Source: 2013 Conservative Political Action Conf. in "Human Events"
, Mar 16, 2013
Invest the retirement benefits for teachers & state workers
We must also make investments in our state’s ever-growing cost of retirement benefits for teachers and state workers. This is a debt that will fall on our children if we do not make critical investments today. For every dollar we invest now,
Louisiana will save more than four dollars in interest, reduce the burden on future generations, and fulfill our promises to our teachers and state workers so they are secure in their retirement.
Source: Second Special Session Speech
, Mar 9, 2008
Encourage investment in our low-to-moderate income areas
We must also continue to encourage investment in our low-to-moderate income areas. New Markets Tax Credits encourage growth in lower income areas and investors responded--using the entire $50 million in credits authorized to attract $200 million in
investments. We must reauthorize this program so investors do not now turn to other states, like Mississippi, which has authorized $15 million in credits a year. This investment is important for our continued recovery and growth across the entire state.
Source: Second Special Session Speech
, Mar 9, 2008
Page last updated: Apr 24, 2013
