“Arrogant” and “cynical”—that’s what Gov. Bobby Jindal called President Barack Obama last fall after the president issued an executive order addressing the hot-button social issue of illegal immigration.
The Associated Press reports Jindal is now on the receiving end of the same type of criticism after issuing his own executive order protecting those who object to same-sex marriage.
The governor’s order came hours after a House legal committee on Tuesday voted down a divisive religious objections bill that Jindal, who is courting Christian conservatives for a likely presidential bid, had made a top priority. Jindal’s order seeks to enforce the spirit of the failed bill.
Now, some are questioning the weight of Jindal’s order, and whether he overstepped his authority by adopting a proposal the Legislature voted down. In response to Jindal’s order, at least two New York lawmakers have called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to “ban all non-essential state-funded travel to Louisiana.”
In a statement issued with the executive order Tuesday, Jindal said he was ordering it “to prevent the state from discriminating against people, charities and family-owned businesses with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
However, some question whether Jindal’s order will have any impact.
“On its face, Gov. Jindal’s executive order is overreaching and more than likely unenforceable,” said Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, the second-highest ranking House member. “It is deeply disappointing that he has taken this extreme action.”
Stephen Perry, a vocal critic of the defeated bill, heads up the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. He dismissed Jindal’s order as having “very little practical impact.”
“Any belief that the executive order could enact law similar to that proposed by Rep. [Mike] Johnson is simply unfounded and would not survive a court test,” said Perry, who was chief of staff to former Gov. Mike Foster.
In a written statement, Jindal spokesman Mike Reed says the order prevents state agencies from penalizing people for a “religious belief in traditional marriage.”
“Let me make this clear,” Reed says. “Our executive order does not create new law. It protects religious liberty as provided in our Constitution.”
