Sen. David Vitter criticized Gov. Bobby Jindal Thursday for not taking the lead on the high-stakes “legacy lawsuits,” saying that his inaction aids landowners and trial lawyers at the expense of oil exploration. “I don’t think the governor is that neutral,” Vitter told LaPolitics. “If the governor wanted to get everyone together to forge a compromise, it would get done.” Vitter says the lack of a legislative solution helps the landowner/lawyer side by maintaining the status quo of what he calls a “trial lawyer bonanza.” The governor’s press office responded with a statement: “David Vitter is misinformed. Governor Jindal tasked Secretary (Scott) Angelle with negotiating an agreement between all the different stakeholders several months ago. They have been working diligently and are close to an agreement.” The legacy lawsuit issue will get a public airing in two legislative committees next week. In House Civil Law on Tuesday, the oil industry is supporting House Bill 460 by Chairman Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, which would establish a procedure for the state to submit a cleanup plan for remediation in court. Up to 10 other bills, approaching the issue from different sides, also will be up for consideration. Before then, the Joint Natural Resources Committee will hold an informational hearing on Monday, during which the landowners’ plan will be presented by Jimmy Faircloth, attorney for major landowner Roy Martin III. He has drafted Senate Bill 528, which has been filed by Sen. Gerald Long, R-Natchitoches, who chairs the Natural Resources Committee.
They said it: “I have no problem being mistaken for anyone else. I’m the only one in captivity.” —Sen. Robert Kostelka, R-West Monroe
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)
