Viewpoint: Showing some real backbone

Last week, in the face of declining poll numbers and a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, Gov. Bobby Jindal showed some real backbone, writes Gambit Weekly columnist Clancy Dubos. The governor announced his support for the potential merger of the University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans. Dubos says the sudden announcement caught even supporters of the idea off guard, and it triggered the expected howls from members of the Legislative Black Caucus, who consider Louisiana’s historically black colleges and universities a sacred cow. Technically, Jindal announced his support for the idea of the merger; he asked the state Board of Regents to study it and report back by March 1. Even if the regents report favorably, Jindal faces a tough legislative fight. The proposed merger requires a two-thirds vote among lawmakers. To get it done, the governor will have to spend some of that precious political capital he’s been hoarding for the past three years. That will mark a significant change in Jindal’s approach to governing, Dubos says, but it will be good for him. He’ll learn the value of spending time with lawmakers, which he’ll have to do to get his proposal passed, but a win will set him up nicely as a budget hawk — just in time for his re-election campaign. To read the full column, click here.