Senator’s move in contrast with governor’s actions: U.S. Sen. David Vitter is supporting Gov. Bobby Jindal’s reelection bid, a sharp contrast to Jindal’s refusal to publicly back the scandal-plagued Vitter a year ago in his Senate race. Vitter was releasing an e-mail to his supporters today announcing his Jindal endorsement. An advance copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press by someone with close ties to the senator. “I am strongly endorsing Bobby Jindal for governor. I hope you will join with me in doing everything we can to ensure a particularly strong victory for Bobby and our state,” Vitter says. Jindal didn’t endorse Vitter in his reelection effort last year against Democrat Charlie Melancon, an election that came three years after Vitter was tainted by a 2007 prostitution scandal. Vitter easily won a second term. While not effusive in his praise of the governor, Vitter’s says Jindal is “honest and competent. He wants to make government leaner and smarter, not more bloated and intrusive. We must stay on this path.” The e-mail also seeks support for Vitter’s group, the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, which is working to elect more conservative state lawmakers.
Hanging on the line: Louisiana state government agencies spent more than $8 million on cell phones and wireless devices last year, and an audit says a quarter of those devices weren’t used for 10 to 11 months. More than 9,900 workers—or 11% of state employees—have a state-issued cell phone, wireless broadband card or other wireless device, according to a review by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office. More than a quarter of the devices had no activity for 10 or more months but still cost the state nearly $591,000. Some are stockpiled for disaster recovery needs, but others just weren’t monitored, the audit says. The governor’s financial office says state agencies will develop policies to monitor the use of wireless devices and cancel those that aren’t needed.
Tsonga pulls off upset: Roger Federer lost in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the second straight year, squandering a two-set lead against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The six-time Wimbledon champion barely looked challenged while winning the first two sets against the Frenchman. But Federer, who had been 178-0 in matches in which he had won the opening two sets at a Grand Slam tournament, was broken one time in each of the last three sets.
