Jindal blocks opening of records from oil spill
BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to veto legislation calling for transparency in the state's dealing with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is "the height of hypocrisy," says Sen. Robert Adley.
Adley, R-Benton, got overwhelming approval in the House and Senate to add that provision to another bill. It was lauded by numerous lawmakers as a way show that Louisiana has nothing to hide in dealing with the spill.
But in a veto message issued late Friday,
Jindal said the provision could damage the state's position in any legal battles because BP and other parties could see what the state is doing.
"The Deepwater Horizon incident is a man-made event with responsible parties that will create long-term challenges for the State of Louisiana," the governor's veto message says. "This bill would allow BP and other parties with potential liability to the state to obtain information retained by any state agency responding to this tragic event. Such access could impair the state's legal position both in responding to the disaster that is unfolding and in seeking remedies for economic injury and natural resource damage."
Adley said of Jindal's veto message: "His excuse that it might allow BP to get off on what the record shows is ridiculous. How in the world would allowing our records to be public give BP an advantage?" Attorneys in lawsuits always petition records from the other party.
Adley said he wasn't surprised by the veto, but he is disappointed.
"I'm saddened because it's a black eye on Louisiana," he said. "The whole world is watching, and we have refused to make our records public. I've always been taught that justice comes from truth, and the way you find truth is through transparency," the senator said.
"My position is secrecy in government leads to corruption," and he questions what's behind Jindal's constant fight against opening governor's office records.