Leadership and Crisis, by Gov. Bobby Jindal: on Government Reform

Bobby Jindal: Federal government has become too expensive & too expansive

The federal government's response to the oil spill would not adjust to respond adequately to a crisis of this magnitude. We ended up writing our own plans. And some of the federal plans were, how can I say it? Crazy. If oil entered the marshes, the plan was to... burn the marshes! What? How about some Napalm?

Bobby Jindal: Make being a Congressman a part-time job

Why not pay members of Congress to stay out of Washington? For decades we have paid farmers not to grow crops. We should pay congressmen a decent salary and then deduct money for every day Congress meets in session. This would certainly be cheaper to the taxpayer than the cost of the schemes Congress concocts in Washington.

Bobby Jindal: Full financial disclosure for both legislators & lobbyists

During my 2007 campaign, I introduced a detailed plan for ethics reform based on five pillars:
1. You cannot be both a lobbyist and a legislator. In my view, this was an inherent conflict of interest that cost us business and hurt our reputation.
2. Legislators should be required to submit to financial disclosure. The best way to prevent corruption is to mandate transparency.
3. You cannot serve in government and do business with the government at the same time. You are elected to serve the public, not yourself.
4. Lobbyists must fully disclose all their actions. The public has a right to know who is lobbying whom and for what.
5. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. When the penalty for breaking ethics laws is a small fine or a slap on the wrist, the whole system becomes a joke. Severe offenses must be punished by expulsion and/or criminal charges.

Bobby Jindal: Line-item veto & single-item legislation

1. INSTITUTE TERM LIMITS, to force members of Congress to think of our nation's future rather than their own reelection.
2. MAKE CONGRESS A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE. Congress does less harm when it's not in session, so it should be out of session more often.
3. PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
4. GIVE THE PRESIDENT A LINE-ITEM VETO, to prevent sneaking in pork barrel projects. Most governors have it, so should the president.
5. FORCE CONGRESS TO HAVE SIMPLE UP OR DOWN VOTES ON SINGLE-ITEM LEGISLATION, to prevent Congress from hiding bad policy in "must pass" legislation.
6. LEGISLATE PAY-AS-YOU-GO BUDGETING.
7. REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY TO RAISE TAXES.

Bobby Jindal: Fighting big government is conservative missionary work

I want you to get in the game. We will not take our government back by sitting on the sidelines. Do it now--your country needs you.

Gerald Ford: A government that gives everything can also take everything

Economic independence is what allows people to protect their political rights and freedoms. Once the powerful hand of government subsumes our economic independence, it immediately becomes more difficult to stand up that government. The natural logic of capitalism requires democracy. Synchronously, if we over-restrict capitalism, our democratic logic is disrupted. Economic freedom and political freedom are indivisible. As President Gerald Ford said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have."

Too many people in Washington believe they can restrict our economic freedom without limiting our political liberties. They see the private sector as a threat, dangerous unless controlled.