Louisiana Senate Votes To Limit Jindal's Travel Funds
The Louisiana Senate passed a bill Monday that would restrict who can pay for the security detail sent to protect Gov. Bobby Jindal as he travels outside of Louisiana on a likely 2016 bid for president. The law would prohibit the Louisiana State Police from paying for the hotels, travel and salaries necessary to keep the governor safe if the event is a campaign stop outside of Louisiana.
The vote gained bipartisan support and followed a recent state House measure that similarly sought to restrict Jindal's expenses.
The bill, which the governor’s office called partisan and “shocking,” gained a 29-5 vote in favor. It’s not the first time state lawmakers have stepped on Jindal’s presidential-aspiring toes. In May, after he said that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was unfit for the presidency, Democrats in Louisiana called for an investigation into him using the governor’s platform for politics.
Jindal has been traveling more and more in recent months as he considers a long-shot run for the Republican presidential nomination. Since Jindal took his governor’s seat in 2008, the expenses related to his out-of-state travel have noticeably increased. In 2008, expenses for his out-of-state travel totaled $1.8 million. Jindal has already spent $2.2 million on travel expenses for the current fiscal year, which concludes at the end of the month. In January, Jindal went on a 10-day trade trip to Europe that cost $73,000, all paid for out of the Louisiana State Police budget.
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http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/louisiana-senate-votes-to-limit-jindals-travel-funds/ar-BBkQDxN
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