Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal announced his 25-point plan to control runaway spending in Louisiana. As Jindal puts it, “We have a state government that has grown addicted to spending.”

The 25-point agenda is based on four themes:

• Elimination of slush funds by increasing transparency in government spending
• Eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies
• Demanding a responsible accounting system for all government spending
• Making state legislators more accountable, in part by requiring all Legislative floor proceedings and committee hearings to be broadcast free of charge over the Internet.

Included in Jindal’s plan is the creation of a comprehensive online database where the citizens of Louisiana can access detailed information on all government grants, contracts and bond allocations.

Jindal plans to increase efficiency in the state’s old bureaucratic institutions by requiring every cabinet secretary to conduct a department-wide audit within 6 months. Each state department will also be called to conduct regular customer service surveys and post the results on the department’s website. “Any appointment in my administration will know that improving government performance and slashing red-tape is a top priority,” Jindal says.

Fiscal responsibility is long over-due in Louisiana. The state budget has tripled in the last 12 years and it does not appear to be slowing down. The 2007 budget increased state spending by 17.9%, nearly twice the national average.

Despite his growing popularity, Bobby Jindal will be fighting an uphill battle as the race grows more and more malicious. His opponents have stepped up the attack ads against him, even accusing him of religious bigotry. Nevertheless, I have faith that the people of Louisiana will see through the fog and elect a candidate who will truly improve the deplorable conditions in the state.