Though Gov. Bobby Jindal is only calling for a study of a possible merger of the University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans, that small step puts him out front of a popular movement to restructure higher education. The battle lines already are being drawn, starting with unified opposition from the Legislative Black Caucus. Other than that and surprised LSU and Southern system leaders, political reaction has been strongly positive. It marks one key issue that joins the governor and Speaker Jim Tucker, who clashed over last year’s tuition increase bill. The merger and transfer of the new school to the University of Louisiana System requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, but observers see that as attainable in the House. The key vote will come in the Senate.
— Another recent poll shows Jindal with a re-elect percentage under 50%, but that figure has limited significance without a viable challenger on the horizon. In the Jan. 10-14 poll by Verne Kennedy, 49% of respondents said they would vote to re-elect Jindal, compared to 40% who want someone else as governor. The survey was commissioned by a group of politically involved subscribers. In a trial heat question against two unlikely opponents, Jindal leads at 51% over New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who has 25%, and Treasurer John Kennedy, with 10%.
They said it: “Get ‘er done.” —Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, chairman of House & Governmental Affairs Committee, opposing an idea to delay congressional reapportionment until 2012, in The Times-Picayune
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. He will be off next week; LaPolitics will return Feb. 4.)
