At the urging of Governor Bobby Jindal the state Senate passed Senate bill 469 by a vote of 25-11 which if signed into law by Jindal would retroactively void the lawsuit filed by the SE Louisiana Flood Protection-East against 97 oil industry companies for damages to Louisiana's environment.
Those who supported and or voted in favor of the legislation showed just who they are accountable too, the oil industry and their campaign contributions. They have failed to represent the state and the people's interest for over 40 years by giving the industry a pass on their responsibility to clean up and repair the damage to the land caused by their operations.
Jindal, a day later announced he would not sign the bill until Attorney General Buddy Caldwell had a chance to review the bill and sign off on it because the bill might negate lawsuits filed against the BP spill of 2010. Thenty two law professors asked Jindal to veto the bill for the same reasons plus it may have conflicts also with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.
One would think that the governor and the legislature would have had the wisdom to check out the legality of the bill before they pushed it and passed it. Is that too much to ask of our public servants? They rushed to the defense of the oil industry as soon as the lawsuit was filed and their actions has been a disgrace on the issue.
The only honorable thing for Jindal to do is veto Senate bill 469 that he pushed for, put the interest of the state and its people first and let the oil industry defend itself in a court of law where the problem belongs. After all, state legislators have had more than enough time to live up to their responsibility and hold the industry responsible.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
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