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Thursday, June 28, at 3:12 in the afternoon. It was at that exact moment my lunch left the cozy, chemical confines of my digestive system and hurled across the keyboard of the PowerBook G4.

The cause of this less-than-pleasant projectile explosion was this e-mail from the Blanco press office:

VIEW LIVE: Governor Blanco discusses historic investments in Louisiana’s future

BATON ROUGE—Following adjournment of the legislature today Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, joined by members of her cabinet and legislative leaders, discusses historic investments in Louisiana’s future achieved during the 2007 Regular Session.

Oh … my … God!

The press release was right on this count: It was “historic” because this session—with its record spending and huge number of deferred tax cuts—will be remembered for accelerating Louisiana’s descent toward fiscal disaster.

No doubt, Blanco’s swan song session was a personal triumph. She got almost everything she wanted, meaning the budget soared to $30 billion, including roughly $1 billion in new recurring expenditures for next year—which she won’t have to deal with.

Moreover, pretty much anyone who gets their paycheck from the taxpayers got a raise. While some, like those for teachers, are justifiable, the reality is they can’t be rescinded regardless of where the state’s finances go from here.

Essentially Blanco faced two choices heading into the session: Spare no expense and party like it’s 1999 or do future generations a favor and lay a solid, fiscally sound foundation for the future. The Queen Bee, when not swooning over Tony Bennett in restaurants, karaoked Prince.

Then you’ve got the Republican legislators who, after loading up with their own pork projects, suddenly remembered they were fiscal conservatives, passing $450 million in tax breaks.

Expressing concern for the next governor, Blanco says she will review all tax bills. What she won’t apparently do is review the spending largesse.

Remarkably, what with all the long-term spending obligations being heaped upon the next governor, it’s puzzling why Blanco and friends failed to support and approve a well-reasoned, long-term road-funding plan. As much as everyone complains about our crumbling roads you would have thought this was a no-brainer.

Less puzzling was the Legislature not finding the time to significantly strengthen the ethics code, which wouldn’t have cost a dime unless you’re a public official with a hidden interest in nursing homes, have scores of friends and family members holding state-related contracts or love making it rain with lobbyist’s money.

If you’re looking for good news, here it is: Significant investments were made in education across the board, Pennington Biomedical finally got its $25 million for expansion, much-needed insurance reform was approved and cockfighting—which apparently is the only thing holding this state back—was outlawed.

That’s it … that’s the list.

While Blanco was giddy, one has to assume Bobby Jindal grew increasingly depressed watching the events unfold from the confines of his Washington, D.C., office.

As the heavy favorite to become our next governor, it will be left to Jindal to clean up this and other messes left behind by Blanco and this legislative group.

Facing that prospect—as well as the reality that our economy isn’t booming the way Blanco would have you believe—you have to wonder why Boy Wonder wants the job.

We’re moving closer and closer to the iceberg and those in control show no signs of changing course.

If two devastating hurricanes, the death of Louisiana’s signature city, the loss of a steel mill and the mass exodus of residents (especially young professionals) to other states couldn’t get this government to change its ways, what chance does Jindal or any other candidate stand?

They say real change doesn’t happen until one hits rock bottom. Are you telling me it can get worse than this?