A MESSAGE FROM THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Julie Vezinot

May 22, 2007 225-336-4155

A MESSAGE FROM THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

It is time for voters to stop buying into Bobby Jindal’s declaration of ignorance involving the formaldehyde odors in FEMA trailers and call him into question as to why he didn’t do something sooner.

The fact that he is now calling for Congressional hearings into this issue is a reckless and wasteful use of taxpayers’ dollars and nothing more than another calculated episode of showboating by Jindal. For someone who sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the agency over FEMA, Jindal simply needed to request information on the complaints by evacuees forced to live in the FEMA trailers – complaints that have been documented for over a year, instead of using his “newfound knowledge” of the situation as another media opportunity to flaunt his pretentious power in Congress.

If Jindal has actually visited a mere handful of his constituents living in FEMA trailers he would have had first-hand knowledge of the toxic effect of these odors long ago. As the sole congressman from Louisiana sitting on the committee, wouldn’t treatment of hurricane victims by FEMA be his utmost concern?

It appears not. Congressman Charlie Melancon, along with Congressman Henry Waxman called public attention to this issue last year and immediately contacted FEMA Director David Paulison for documentation of formaldehyde complaints – all done without grandstanding on their part and for the sole purpose to serve their constituents.

The question is why didn’t Jindal do something sooner? Is it the lack of knowledge on his part or is Jindal so focused on running for governor he is failing to the do the job for which he was elected?

Unaware of the issue? For a sitting member of congress from a Katrina-ravaged district and a current gubernatorial candidate that answer doesn’t wash and shouldn’t be acceptable with voters. If Jindal has not been able to enact the positive changes he says Louisiana needs while serving in Congress, what would make voters believe he can accomplish these things as governor? Rather than dealing with the issues at hand, Jindal has consistently and historically focused on his next political aspiration.

Enough is enough. Bobby Jindal should be called into question for his lack of assertiveness during and after Hurricane Katrina. Why didn’t he use his supposed influence with the White House to call for an immediate response by the Bush Administration to rescue and relieve the thousands stranded in New Orleans? Why didn’t he use his influence and have food, water, transportation and communications immediately provided to these people?

Instead, Bobby Jindal found the time and resourcefulness to appear on not less than six national television news/talk programs complaining about the lack of adequate response to the storm victims. Voters must look beyond the façade Jindal presents to the public and see the man for what he truly is – an opportunist determined to manipulate and exploit every situation facing Louisiana voters today for his own personal political gain.

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