Bobby Jindal

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Bobby Jindal
Image:Bobby Jindal, official 109th Congressional photo.jpg

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2005
Preceded by David Vitter
Succeeded by Incumbent
Taking office
January 14, 2008
Lieutenant(s) Mitch Landrieu
Succeeding Kathleen Blanco
Born June 10 1971 (1971-06-10) (age 38)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality American Image:Flag of the United States.svg
Political party Republican
Spouse Supriya Jolly Jindal
Religion Roman Catholic

Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (born June 10, 1971, in Baton Rouge) is the Republican Governor-elect of the U.S. state of Louisiana. He is currently a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Louisiana's 1st congressional district, where he was elected in 2004 to succeed current U.S. Senator David Vitter. Jindal was re-elected to Congress in the 2006 election with 88 percent of the vote. On October 20, 2007 he was elected the first non-white governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction and the first elected Indian American governor in U.S. history. He will take his oath as governor on January 14, 2008.

He is the only Indian-American currently serving in Congress, and the second in congressional history after Dalip Singh Saund, a Democrat who represented California's 29th District from 1957 to 1963.

He was chosen by Scholastic Update magazine as "one of America's top 10 extraordinary young people for the next millennium."[citation needed]

He was India Abroad Person of the Year in 2005.[1]

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Jindal (pronounced /ˈdʒɪndəl/) was born in Baton Rouge to recently arrived Punjabi Indian immigrants, Amar and Raj Jindal, who were attending graduate school. His family is of Punjabi ancestry, his father left India in the 1970s and his ancestral family village of Khanpura.[2] According to family lore, Jindal adopted the name Bobby after watching The Brady Bunch television program at age four. He has been known by that name ever since, as a civil servant, politician, student, and writer. Legally though his name remains Piyush Jindal.[3]

Jindal was a Hindu but converted to Catholicism. [4] He has also offered testimony before Baptist and Pentecostal congregations since the beginning of the 2007 campaign season.[5] He attended high school at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and graduated at 16. In 1991, he graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, with honors in biology and public policy. Afterwards, he received a master's degree in political science from New College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. While at Oxford, he wrote an article for the New Oxford Review in which he claimed to have witnessed a friend being possessed by a demon.[6] After Oxford, he joined McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm. In this capacity, he advised Fortune 50 companies.

In 1997, Jindal married Supriya Jolly (born 1972). The couple has three children, Celia, Shaan, and Slade.

On August 15, 2006, he assisted in delivering his third child when his wife awoke, in labor. The child was born before ambulances had time to respond.[7]


[edit] Government service

In 1995, U.S. Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA) introduced Jindal to Republican Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr..[8] In 1996, Foster appointed Jindal to be Secretary of Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, an agency then representing about 40 percent of the state's budget. During his tenure as Secretary, Louisiana's Medicaid program went from bankruptcy with a $400 million deficit into three years of surpluses totaling $220 million. In 1998, Jindal was appointed Executive Director of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, a 17-member panel charged with devising plan to reform Medicare.

In 1999, at the request of the Louisiana Governor's Office and the Louisiana State Legislature, Jindal volunteered his time to study how Louisiana might use its $4.4 billion tobacco settlement. That same year, Jindal was appointed to become the youngest-ever president of the University of Louisiana System. In March 2001, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of Health and Human Services. [9] He was later unanimously confirmed by a bipartisan vote of the United States Senate and began serving on July 9, 2001. In that position, he served as the principal policy advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.[10] He resigned from that post on February 21, 2003 to return to Louisiana and run for Governor.[11]


[edit] 2003 campaign for Governor

Jindal came to national prominence during the 2003 election for Governor of Louisiana.

In the jungle primary, Jindal came in first place with 33 percent of the vote. He received endorsements from the largest paper in Louisiana, the New Orleans Times-Picayune; the newly-elected Democratic mayor of New Orleans, C. Ray Nagin; and the outgoing Republican governor, Mike Foster. In the second balloting, Jindal faced the outgoing Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Lafayette, a Democrat. Despite winning in Blanco's hometown, he lost many normally conservative parishes in north Louisiana, and Blanco prevailed with 52 percent of the popular vote.

Political analysts have speculated on myriad explanations for his loss. Some have blamed Jindal for his refusal to answer questions about his record brought up in several advertisements,[12] which the Jindal Campaign called "negative attack ads". Others note that a significant number of conservative Louisianans remain more comfortable voting for a Democrat, especially a conservative one, than for a Republican. Still others have mentioned the race factor, arguing that many voters are uncomfortable voting for a non-white person; this theory has lost some support in light of the 2007 election results. Finally, favorite-daughter voting for Blanco in southwestern Louisiana, a swing region of the state, may have contributed to the outcome in 2003.

Despite losing the election, the run for governor made Jindal a well known figure on the state's political scene. He formally declared his intention to run again on January 22, 2007 and eventually won the race for governor.

[edit] Congressman of the first district

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2006

A few weeks after the 2003 gubernatorial runoff, Jindal decided to run for Louisiana's 1st congressional district. The incumbent, David Vitter, was running for the Senate seat being vacated by John Breaux. He moved to Kenner to run for the congressional seat. He was endorsed by the Louisiana Republican Party in the primary despite the fact that Mike Rogers, also a Republican, was running for the same seat. The 1st District has been in Republican hands since a 1977 special election and is widely considered to be the most Republican district in Louisiana. Although Democrats have a plurality in registration, the 1st tends to vote for socially conservative candidates. Jindal also had an advantage because his campaign was able to raise over $1 million dollars very early in the campaign, making it harder for other candidates to effectively raise funds to oppose him. He won with 78 percent of the vote.

He was elected Freshman Class President and appointed to the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Committee on Resources, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Furthermore, he was made the Vice-Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attacks.

[edit] Governor of Louisiana

See also: Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2007

On January 22, 2007, Jindal announced his candidacy for governor.[13] Polling data showed him with an early lead in the race, and he remained the favorite throughout the campaign. He defeated eleven opponents in the jungle primary held on October 20, including two prominent Democrats, State Senator Walter Boasso of Chalmette and Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of Bossier City, and an independent, New Orleans businessman John Georges.

Jindal finished with 699,672 ballots. Boasso ran second with 226,364 votes (17 percent). Georges finished with 186,800 (14 percent), and Campbell, who is also a former state senator, ran fourth with 161,425 (12 percent). The remaining candidates collectively polled three percent of the vote. Jindal polled pluralities or majorities in 60 of the state's 64 parishes. He lost narrowly to Georges in Orleans Parish, to Boasso in St. Bernard Parish, and in the two neighboring north Louisiana parishes of Red River and Bienville located south of Shreveport, both of which are historically Democratic and supported Campbell. In the 2003 contest with Blanco, Jindal had lost most of the northern parishes.[14]

Meanwhile, Jindal remains a congressman but will assume his position as governor when he takes the oath of office on January 14, 2008. At 36, he will be the youngest sitting governor in the United States. He will also be Louisiana's first non-white governor since P. B. S. Pinchback served for 35 days during Reconstruction.[15]

[edit] Choosing legislative leaders

Jindal tapped[citation needed] Jim Tucker, a Republican from Terrytown in the New Orleans suburbs, to become the first Republican Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Democrats actually control the House, 53-50, with two "No Party" members, but in Louisiana the governor's wishes are followed in selecting the Speaker.[citation needed] Tucker had already claimed the support of 70 members from both parties. For President of the State Senate, Jindal tapped[citation needed] Democratic member Joel Chaisson, II, of Destrehan, also in the New Orleans suburbs. Democrats control the Senate, 23-16.

[edit] Positions on selected issues

Jindal has stated that he is "100 percent against abortion, no exceptions."[16]During his 2003 run for governor he distinguished himself from Blanco, who is also pro-life, by stating that he supports an abortion ban without exceptions for the life of the woman, the health of the woman, rape, or incest. His definition of abortion differs from the medical community as it only includes procedures that target the embryo or fetus, a definition that excludes procedures, such as a salpingectomy, that do not target the embryo specifically but may result in what the medical community would call an abortion [17]. He has stated that he would allow emergency contraception, which some pro-life groups consider morally equivalent to abortion.[18] He has voted with the Republican Party on all abortion related issues.[19][20]

Jindal opposes using taxpayer money to fund human embryo experimentation that involves the cloning and destruction of human embryos and he supports the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.[21]

As a private citizen, Jindal voted for the "Stelly Tax plan",[22] a referendum named for former state Representative Vic Stelly of Lake Charles, which swapped some sales taxes for higher income taxes. Whether or not the "Stelly Plan" is giving the desired results is still hotly debated statewide. Early Republican challenger Steve Scalise challenged Jindal on his vote for this tax plan before Scalise dropped out of the congressional race in 2004.

Jindal supported a constitutional amendment banning flag burning[citation needed], and the Real ID Act of 2005[citation needed]. Jindal has an A rating from Gun Owners of America.

He is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee.[23] In 2006, Jindal voted with the Republican Caucus 97 percent of the time during the 109th Congress.[24] In 2007, Congress.org, a nonpartisan group, ranked Jindal 432 out of 439 in terms of overall effectiveness in the House during the 110th Congress.

Jindal also supports co-payments in Medicaid.[25]

In 2006, Jindal sponsored the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act (H.R. 4761), a bill to eliminate the moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling over the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, which prompted the watchdog group Republicans for Environmental Protection to issue him an environmental harm demerit.[26] Jindal's 2006 rating from that organization was -4, among the lowest in Congress. The nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters also censured Jindal for securing passage of H.R. 4761 in the House of Representatives; the group rated his environmental performance that year at seven percent, citing anti-environment votes on 11 out of 12 critical issues. Jindal's lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters is seven percent.[27] Despite claims that Jindal's bill was successful[28] H.R. 4761 was actually replaced by S 3711 (known as the Domenici-Landrieu Fair Share Plan). The Senate version was the actual legislation that was passed by both houses of Congress, word for word, and signed by President Bush.[29]

In 2005, Jindal led other freshman Republican House members in dipping their fingers in purple dye to celebrate the 2005 Iraqi national elections.[citation needed]


[edit] Electoral history

Governor of Louisiana, 2003

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, October 4, 2003

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Bobby Jindal Republican 443,389 (33%) Runoff
Kathleen Blanco Democratic 250,136 (18%) Runoff
Richard Ieyoub Democratic 223,513 (16%) Defeated
Claude "Buddy" Leach Democratic 187,872 (14%) Defeated
Others n.a. 257,614 (19%) Defeated

Second Ballot, November 15, 2003

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Kathleen Blanco Democratic 731,358 (52%) Elected
Bobby Jindal Republican 676,484 (48%) Defeated

U. S. Representative, 1st Congressional District, 2004

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, November 2, 2004

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Bobby Jindal Republican 225,708 (78%) Elected
Roy Armstrong Democratic 19,266 (7%) Defeated
Others n.a. 42,923 (15%) Defeated

U. S. Representative, 1st Congressional District, 2006

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, November 7, 2006

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Bobby Jindal Republican 130,508 (88%) Elected
David Gereighty Democratic 10,919 (7%) Defeated
Others n.a. 6,701 (5%) Defeated

Governor of Louisiana, 2007

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, October 20, 2007

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Bobby Jindal Republican 699,672 (54%) Elected
Walter Boasso Democratic 226,364 (17%) Defeated
John Georges Independent 186,800 (14%) Defeated
Foster Campbell Democratic 161,425 (12%) Defeated
Others n.a. 23,682 (3%) Defeated

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bobby Jindal is India Abroad Person of the Year 2005 Rediff, December 16, 2005
  2. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2478529.cms
  3. ^ [1] "He is Piyush, not Bobby," Rediff India Abroad, 16 November 2003
  4. ^ Whoriskey, Peter. "Jindal Wins Louisiana Race, Becomes First Indian American Governor", Washington Post, 2007-10-21. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  5. ^ [2]"Jindal Throttles Back His High-Energy Style," Times Picayune, 13 June 2007
  6. ^ [3] "BEATING A DEMON: Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare," New Oxford Review, December 1994
  7. ^ Rep. Jindal Delivers Son After Wife Wakes Up in Labor Fox News, August 15, 2006
  8. ^ "The Louisiana wunderkind: beholding Rep. Bobby Jindal", National Review
  9. ^ Biography of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, US Department of Health and Human Services. c. 2001. Accessed 25 Oct 2007.
  10. ^ http://www.bobbyjindal.com/bobby/bobby_experience.aspx
  11. ^ BOBBY JINDAL ANNOUNCES HE IS STEPPING DOWN AS HHS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION, US Department of Health and Human Services. February 13, 2003. Accessed 25 Oct 2007. "Jindal's resignation is effective Feb. 21."
  12. ^ Jindal counters Demo attacks http://www.nola.com
  13. ^ Jindal quietly begins his run The Times-Picayne, January 23, 2007
  14. ^ http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=102007
  15. ^ Whoriskey, Peter. "Jindal Wins Louisiana Race, Becomes First Indian American Governor", The Washington Post, Washington Post Company, 2007-10-21, p. A8. Retrieved on [[2007-10-21]]. 
  16. ^ http://www.siecus.org/policy/Pupdates/arch03/arch030075.html
  17. ^ Politics with a Punch: AM 690, January 2004
  18. ^ Conceiving DifferencesGambit Weekly, December 2, 2003
  19. ^ AbortionOn the Issues
  20. ^ 2005 — Abortion Issues Vote Smart Project
  21. ^ The Second Coming of Bobby Jindal http://www.time.com
  22. ^ Steve Scalise 2004 campaign commercial.
  23. ^ RSC official site
  24. ^ http://www.aboutbobby.com
  25. ^ Bobby Jindal 2004 Congressional Campaign Website
  26. ^ Republicans for Environmental Protection 2006 Scorecard
  27. ^ [League of Conservation Voters 2006 National Environmental Scorecard]
  28. ^ The hard work pays off
  29. ^ U.S. Senate Passes Domenici-Landrieu "Fair Share" Plan in Early Morning 79-to-9 Vote

[edit] External links

[edit] Articles

Preceded by
David Vitter 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 1st congressional district
2005 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Kathleen Blanco 		Governor of Louisiana
scheduled to assume office January 14, 2008 		Governor-elect
Louisiana's current delegation to the United States Congress
SenatorsMary Landrieu (D), David Vitter (R)
Representative(s)Bobby Jindal (R), William J. Jefferson (D), Charles Melancon (D), Jim McCrery (R), Rodney Alexander (R), Richard H. Baker (R), Charles Boustany (R)
All delegationsAlabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands
v • d • e
Current Statewide Executive Officials of Louisiana
Taking office on January 14, 2008
Governor

Bobby Jindal (Republican)

Other Executive Officials

Lieutenant Governor: Mitch Landrieu (Democrat) • Secretary of State: Jay Dardenne (Republican) • Attorney General: Buddy Carter (Democrat) • Treasurer: John Neely Kennedy (Republican) • Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry: Mike Strain (Republican) • Commissioner of Insurance: Jim Donelon (Republican)

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