Jindal was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Amar and Raj Jindal, who came to the United States as immigrants from Punjab, India.

Jindal attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School, graduating in 1988. "He always had his eye on, first of all, where he wanted to go, and second, how he was going to get there," said a former teacher. He competed in tennis tournaments, started a computer newsletter, a retail candy business, and a mail-order software company. He spent his free time working at the concession stands during LSU football games. Bobby Jindal Biography - Who Is Republican Governor Bobby Jindal? - Esquire Jindal was one of 50 students nationwide admitted to the elite PLME program at Brown University, guaranteeing him a place in medical school. He was interested in public policy. Jindal also completed a second major in biology. He graduated in 1991 at the age of 20, with honors in both majors. Bobby Jindal Biography - Who Is Republican Governor Bobby Jindal? - Esquire Governor Bobby Jindal

Jindal was named a member of the 1992 USA Today All-USA Academic Team. He was accepted by both Harvard Medical School and Yale Law School, but studied at New College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He received an M.Litt. degree in political science with an emphasis in health policy from the University of Oxford in 1994 for his thesis "A needs-based approach to health care". He turned down an offer to study for a D.Phil. in politics, but instead joined the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

Jindal was raised in a Hindu household, but converted to Christianity while in high school. During his first year at Brown University, he was baptized according to the Roman Catholic rite. His family attends weekly Mass at Saint Aloysius Parish in Baton Rouge.

Jindal's father, Amar Jindal, received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Guru Nanak Dev University. The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab Bobby Jindal Biography - Who Is Republican Governor Bobby Jindal? - Esquire Jindal's mother, Raj (Pal) Jindal, is an information technology director for the Louisiana Department of Labor and served as Assistant Secretary to former State Labor Secretary Garey Forster during the administration of Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr. Prior to immigrating to the United States, his parents were both lecturers in an Indian engineering college. Bobby Jindal Biography - Who Is Republican Governor Bobby Jindal? - Esquire According to Jindal, his mother was already four months pregnant with him when they arrived from India.Jindal has a younger brother, Nikesh, who is a registered Republican and supported his brother's campaign for Governor. Bobby Jindal Nikesh Jindal - $4,000 in Political Contributions for 2004 Nikesh went to Dartmouth College and then Yale Law School, where he graduated with honors. He is now a lawyer in Washington, D. C..

Jindal's nickname dates to his childhood identification with a sitcom character. He has said, "Every day after school, I'd come home and I'd watch The Brady Bunch. And I identified with Bobby, you know? He was about my age, and 'Bobby' stuck." He has been known by his nickname ever since, though his legal name remains Piyush Jindal.

In 1997, Jindal married Supriya Jolly who was born in New Delhi, India and moved to Baton Rouge with her parents when she was four years old. Meghan McCain Interviews Supriya Jindal, First Lady of Louisiana They attended the same high school, but Supriya's family moved from Baton Rouge to New Orleans after her freshman year and they did not begin dating until later, when Jindal invited her to a Mardi Gras party after another friend had canceled. Supriya Jindal earned a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University. She will receive a Ph.D. in marketing at Louisiana State University when she successfully completes her dissertation. Mom Congress Advisor: Supriya Jindal - Parenting.com She created The Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana's Children, a non-profit organization aimed at improving math and science education in grade schools. They have three children: Selia Elizabeth, Shaan Robert, and Slade Ryan. Shaan was born with a congenital heart defect and had surgery as an infant. The Jindals have been outspoken advocates for children with congenital defects, particularly those without insurance. In 2006, Jindal and his wife delivered their third child at home. Barely able to call 911 before the delivery, Jindal received medical coaching by phone to deliver their eight-pound, 2.5 ounce boy. 10 Things You Didn't Know About Bobby Jindal - US News and World Report

In 1993 U.S. Representative Jim McCrery (whom Jindal had worked for as a summer intern) introduced him to Governor Mike Foster. In 1996 Foster appointed Jindal as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, an agency that represented about 40 percent of the state budget and employed over 12,000 people. Jindal was the youngest ever Secretary of the DHH at 25. Bobby Jindal set to enjoy his big GOP moment in US Congress During his tenure, Louisiana's Medicaid program went from bankruptcy with a $400 million deficit into three years of surplus totaling $220 million. Rush Limbaugh defends Bobby Jindal - Congressman Bobby Jindal - Zimbio Jindal was criticized during the 2007 campaign by the Louisiana AFL-CIO for closing some local clinics to reach that surplus. Under Jindal's term, Louisiana nationally rose to third place in child healthcare screenings, with child immunizations rising, and introduced new and expanded services for the elderly and the disabled. Governor Bobby Jindal | State of Louisiana In 1998, Jindal was appointed executive director of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, a 17-member panel charged with devising plans 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 share of the tobacco settlement. In that same year, at only 28 years of age, Jindal was appointed to become the youngest-ever president of the University of Louisiana System, the nation's 16th largest system of higher education with over 80,000 students per year. In March 2001 he was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation. He was later unanimously confirmed by a 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. He resigned from that post on February 21, 2003, to return to Louisiana and run for governor.

2003 campaign for Governor

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

In what Louisianans call an "open primary" (but which is technically a nonpartisan blanket primary), Jindal finished first 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, 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 targeted at his religion and ethnic background brought up in several Democratic advertisements, Catholic Culture : News Features which the Jindal Campaign called "negative attack ads." Others note that a significant number of conservative Louisianans remain more comfortable voting for a conservative Democrat, than for a Republican. Still others maintain that his defeat in typically conservative parishes in the northern portion of the state as evidence of racial prejudice against the Indian-American Jindal.Despite his losing the election in 2003, the run for governor made Jindal a well-known figure on the state's political scene and a rising star within the Republican party.

Congressman of the first district

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. The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed him in the primary although 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 staunchly conservative. Jindal also had an advantage because his campaign was able to raise over $1 million very early in the campaign, making it harder for other candidates to effectively raise funds to oppose him. He won the 2004 Election with 78 percent of the vote. Jindal secured reelection in 2006 with an overwhelming 88 percent of the vote.

He was appointed to the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Committee on Resources, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He was made Vice-Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attacks. Jindal served as President of the incoming Freshman class of congressmen in 2004. He was elected to the position of House Assistant Majority Whip, a senior leadership role; he served in this capacity from 2004-2006.

2007 campaign for Governor

On January 22, 2007, Jindal announced his candidacy for governor. 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 nonpartisan blanket 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 votes (54 percent). 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 (equivalent to counties in other states). He lost narrowly to Georges in Orleans Parish, to Boasso in St. Bernard Parish (which Boasso represented in the Legislature), 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. This marked the first time that a non-incumbent candidate for governor was elected without a runoff under the Louisiana election system. Governor Bobby Jindal

Governorship

As governor-elect Jindal named a new ethics team, with Democratic Shreveport businesswoman Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee, the first woman to have served in the state senate, as the vice chairman of the panel. Jindal assumed the position of governor when he took the oath of office on January 14, 2008. At thirty-six, he became the youngest sitting governor in the United States. He is also Louisiana's first non-white governor since P. B. S. Pinchback served for thirty-five days during Reconstruction, and the first non-white governor to be elected (Pinchback succeeded to the position of Lieutenant Governor on the death of Oscar Dunn, then to Governor upon the impeachment of Henry Clay Warmoth).

In a salute to the 2007 LSU Tigers football national championship team during his January 14, 2008 inauguration speech, Jindal stated in part "...They revere our athletes. Go Tigers...."

On May 3, 2008 a special election was held to determine Jindal's replacement in the 1st Congressional District. Steve Scalise, a state legislator, was elected with 75 percent of the vote over University of New Orleans professor Dr. Gilda Reed.

On June 27, 2008, Louisiana's Secretary of State confirmed that a recall petition had been filed against Governor Jindal in response to Jindal's refusal to veto a bill that would more than double the current state legislative pay. During his campaign for Governor, Jindal had pledged to prevent legislative pay raises that would take effect during the current term. Jindal responded by saying that he is opposed to the pay increase but that he had pledged to let the legislature govern themselves. On June 30, 2008, Governor Jindal reversed his earlier position by vetoing the pay raise legislation, stating that he made a mistake by staying out of the pay raise issue. In response, the petitioners dropped their recall effort.

The Standard and Poors raised Louisiana's bond rating and credit outlook from stable to positive in 2009. In announcing this change, the organization gave credit to the state’s strong management and “commitment to streamlining its government functions.” 2theadvocate.com | News | State’s bond rating upgraded again ... Baton Rouge, LA Jindal met with President Barack Obama in October 2009 where the governor pushed for increased federal dollars to cover rising Medicaid costs, speeding the construction of hurricane-protection barriers, and financing the proposed Louisiana State University teaching hospital. During a town hall meeting, Obama praised Jindal as a "hard working man who is doing a good job" for the State, and expressed support for the Governor's overhaul of the State's educational system in the area of increased charter schools.

Louisiana state government watchdog C.B. Forgotston, former counsel to the House Appropriations Committee who supported Jindal's election in 2007, has expressed disappointment with the governor in regard to the legislative pay raise and other fiscal issues. Forgotston, said he would grade Jindal an A+ in public relations and a D in fiscal performance in office.

Jindal negotiated an agreement whereby Foster Farms, a private chicken processor, would receive $50 million in taxpayer funds to purchase a chicken processing plant owned by bankrupt Pilgrim's_Pride. Some have argued that there is a conflict of interest in that Pilgrim's Pride founder Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim contributed $2500 to Jindal's campaign in 2007. Other contributors to Jindal's campaign who benefited from economic development spending include Albemarle and Edison Chouest Offshore. Jindal however released a statement saying that this legislation saved over 1,000 jobs, serves as a stimulus to Louisiana's economy, and had wide bipartisan support. Governor Bobby Jindal

Hurricane Gustav

Jindal oversaw one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history (nearly two million people) in late August 2008 prior to the Louisiana landfall of Hurricane Gustav. He issued mandatory evacuation orders for the state’s coastal areas and activated 3,000 National Guardsman to aid in the exodus. He also ordered the state to purchase generators to provide needed power to hospitals and nursing homes without power. Government officials vacated hospitals and nursing homes and put the poor, the ill, and the elderly on buses and trains out of town. The evacuation was credited as one reason that Gustav only resulted in 16 deaths in the U.S. The state's successful response to Hurricane Gustav was in stark contrast to the failed hurricane response system for Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jindal received bipartisan praise for his leadership during Gustav. Bobby Jindal's hurricane handling comes in for more praise - news Jindal had been scheduled to address the Republican National Convention, but cancelled his plans to focus on Louisiana’s needs during the storm.

Speculation over vice presidential nomination

On February 8, 2008, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh mentioned on his syndicated show that Jindal could be a possible choice for the Republican vice presidential nomination in 2008. He said that Jindal might be perceived as an asset to John McCain's campaign because he has wide support in the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party and his youth offsets McCain's age. If McCain had won the presidency, he would have been the oldest president ever inaugurated to a first term. Heightening the speculation, McCain invited Jindal, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and McCain's former rivals Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee to meet at McCain's home in Arizona on May 23, 2008, according to a Republican familiar with the decision; Romney, Huckabee, and Pawlenty, all of whom were already well acquainted with McCain, declined because of prior commitments. The meeting may have served a different purpose, such as consideration of Jindal for the opportunity to speak at the 2008 Republican National Convention, in a similar fashion to Barack Obama at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, cementing a place for him in the party and opening the gate for a future run for the presidency. Speculation was fueled by simultaneous July 21, 2008, reports that McCain was making a sudden visit to Louisiana to again meet with Jindal and that McCain was readying to name his running mate within a week. However, on July 23, 2008, Jindal said he would not be the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008. Jindal added that he "never talked to the senator [McCain] about the vice presidency or his thoughts on selecting the vice president." Ultimately, on August 29, 2008, McCain chose then-Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin as his running mate. While Jindal was given a prime time speech slot at the party convention, he was not offered the prominence of delivering a keynote speech. During the presidential campaign, Jindal has expressed admiration for both Senators McCain and Obama, and maintained that both have made positive contributions to the nation. Bobby Jindal: Obama 'greatest' speaker: The Swamp

Republican response to President Obama's address to Congress

On February 24, 2009, Jindal delivered the official Republican response to President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress. Jindal called the president's economic stimulus plan “irresponsible” and argued against government intervention. He used Hurricane Katrina to warn against government solutions to the economic crisis. "Today in Washington, some are promising that government will rescue us from the economic storms raging all around us," Jindal said. "Those of us who lived through Hurricane Katrina, we have our doubts." He praised the late sheriff Harry Lee for standing up to the government during Katrina. The speech met with biting reviews from some members of both the Democratic and the Republican parties. Referring to Jindal as "devoid of substantive ideas for governing the country", Democratic political commentator Rachel Maddow summarized Jindal's Katrina remark as follows: "[Jindal states that] since government failed during Hurricane Katrina, we should understand, not that government should not be allowed to fail again, but that government...never works. That government can't work, and therefore we should stop seeking a functioning government." David Johnson, a Republican political strategist criticized Jindal's mention of Hurricane Katrina, stating "The one thing Republicans want to forget is Katrina." While Jindal's speech was poorly received by many Democrats and Republicans, others argued that the speech should be judged on substance rather than delivery style. Some conservative commentators were among his harshest critics, with one calling his speech "a disaster for the Republican Party". CNN political Analyst Candy Crowley said that "Politicians often come back from moments such as these...there is a lot of time left for rehabilitation."

Jindal's story of meeting Lee in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was questioned following the speech, as Jindal was not in New Orleans at the time. On February 27, 2009, a spokesman for Jindal clarified the timing of the meeting, stating that the story took place days after the storm. Jindal aides clarify Katrina story - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

Use of state helicopters

In mid-2009, The Advocate, a Baton Rouge newspaper, reviewed records obtained through a public information request and reported that between March 2, 2009 and July 20, 2009, Jindal had used state helicopters and State Police pilots to travel to various parts of the state to attend church services and meet with community officials. In total, 14 trips were taken with a cost of $1,200 per hour to operate — about $45,000 in total. Jindal stated the Sunday services were not political, and he was invited to meet with rural worshipers. He said that these events are valuable to "hear what the people have to say". After the services, Jindal scheduled meetings with local officials who showed him schools, roads, and factories and shared with him their concerns. State Sen. Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth, said Jindal is a very accessible governor and that these Sunday trips provide an opportunity to reach out to the community.

Jindal appointments

Governor Jindal appointed both Democrats and Republicans to prominent state posts. He named outgoing Republican State Senator Gerald Theunissen of Jennings to his education transition advisory council. He retained 23 appointees of former governor Kathleen Blanco. One of Jindal's first high-profile appointments was former Republican State Senator Robert J. Barham of Morehouse Parish as secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Another term-limited representative, Joseph F. Toomy of Gretna in Jefferson Parish, was named to the five-member New Orleans Port Authority.

Former Republican State Representative Henry "Tank" Powell of Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish (1996—2008) along with former Democratic Sheriff Leonard "Pop" Hataway of Grant Parish (1976—2008) were appointed to the influential Louisiana Board of Pardons. Democrats Sydnie Mae Durand and Chris Ullo were appointed to the state Pharmacy Board and the Crescent City Connection board, respectively. Jindal also re-appointed Democratic Community and Technical College members Michael Murphy of Bogalusa and Stephen Toups of Baton Rouge. 2theadvocate.com | Politics | Jindal sends Senate list of appointees ... Baton Rouge, LA Jindal and Speaker Jim Tucker named the Democrat James R. Fannin of Jonesboro as chairman of the critical House Appropriations Committee.

Speculations about political future

Jindal has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the 2012 presidential election. On December 10, 2008, Jindal indicated that he would likely not run for president in 2012, saying he will focus on his re-election in 2011 and that this would make transitioning to a national campaign difficult, though he later attempted to leave himself open to the opportunity to change his mind in the future - he did not rule out a possible 2012 presidential bid.Speculation increased when Republicans chose Jindal to deliver the response to President Obama's first address to a joint session of Congress.

The Jindal for President Draft Council Inc. PAC has been formed to raise funds for a future presidential run. Jindal claims to have no involvement with the PAC.

In April 2010, while speaking at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, Jindal ruled out running for President in 2012.

Abortion and stem cell research

Jindal has a 100% pro-life voting record according to the National Right to Life Committee. He opposes all abortions without exception, but does not condemn medical procedures aimed at saving the life of the mother that indirectly result in the loss of the unborn child. In 2003, Jindal stated that he does not object to the use of emergency contraception in the case of rape if the victim requests it. While in the House of Representatives, he supported two bills to prohibit transporting minors across state lines to obtain an abortion; the bills aimed to prevent doctors and others from helping a minor avoid parental notification laws in their home state by procuring an abortion in another state. He opposes and has voted against expanding public funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Same-sex marriage

Jindal opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage. He has voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment to restrict marriage to a union between one man and one woman. In December 2008, Jindal announced the formation of the Louisiana Commission on Marriage and Family, including individuals representing organizations that oppose same-sex marriage.

Government ethics and corruption

Governor Jindal has voted to mandate lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations and has supported legislation to protect whistleblowers from employer recrimination. He has vetoed state legislation to increase pay for state legislatures. Jindal vetoes legislative raise | NOLA.com Bobby Jindal on the Issues Governor Jindal has voted to restrict no-bid defense contracts in the military. He has signed legislation requiring financial disclosure for officials, prohibiting conflicts of interests, closing loopholes on free tickets, ending lobbyist-funded lavish meals, and the establishment of the Inspector General Office as an independent body to root out corruption in government. The Louisiana Governor's office has been ranked last for transparency in the United States as reported by the WDSU I-Team after legislation removing certain government records from the public domain passed the legislature and signed into law by Jindal. I-Team: Governor's Office Ranks Last In Transparency - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans

Second Amendment rights

Jindal has stated his support of the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. He has opposed efforts to restrict gun rights and has received an endorsement from the National Rifle Association. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Speaks at the NRA Annual Meetings - Mixx Jindal earned an A rating from Gun Owners of America. while he was in Congress.

Tax policy

As a private citizen, Jindal voted in 2002 for the Louisiana constitutional amendment known as the Stelly Plan, named for its author, State Representative Vic Stelly, a Lake Charles Republican, which lowered some sales taxes in exchange for higher income taxes. As governor, Jindal initially opposed reforms to the Stelly plan that would have resulted in over $300 million in tax cuts, on the basis of budget concerns. He later agreed to the tax cut after the legislature appeared headed to eliminating the entire personal income tax, which Jindal also opposed.

Since taking office, Governor Jindal has cut taxes a total of six times, which included the largest income tax cut in Louisiana's history - giving back $1.1 billion over five years, along with accelerating the elimination of the tax on business investments.

Education

Jindal has promoted private-parochial scholarships as part of a statewide bid to increase educational access and choice. He has signed into law a $10 million scholarship fund to increase educational opportunities for inner city students; in addition, he has increased the number of charter schools in the state from 42 to over 100, which has drawn praise from President Barack Obama et al. Governor Bobby Jindal He has also supported increasing GED scholarships for state residents. Jindal has promoted performance-based initiatives for teachers and supports tax deductions for tuition and other qualified educational experiences. He has also signed legislation increasing teachers' salaries by over $1,000 per annum. The Governor led the passage of a "Teacher's Bill of Rights,” which supports teachers in keeping their classrooms a safe learning environment for children, without destructive student behavior. Governor Jindal has increased funding for the Fast Start Program and Workplace Training Rapid Response Fund which are targeted towards cultivating a positive Louisiana business environment. He has also partnered with the state's community and technology college system to promote a "Day One Guarantee" for employers, to provide additional training at no cost to graduates who do not demonstrate reasonable standards of performance on the job. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and LCTCS President Joe May - Day One Guarantee Press Conference

Civil liberties

Jindal opposes race-based social entitlements, and has voted against distributing race-based college grants. Bobby Jindal on the Issues He also opposes the Fairness Doctrine on the grounds that it is a violation of the Constitution's guarantee of free speech and vowed protection of property rights. Jindal voted to extend the PATRIOT Act, voted in favor of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, supported a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, and voted for the Real ID Act of 2005. In the 2009 legislative session, Jindal expressed support for a bill by State Representative James H. "Jim" Morris of Oil City, which would permit motorcyclists to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Morris' bill easily passed the House but was blocked in theSenate Health Committee.

Illegal immigration

As a son of immigrants, Jindal has stated that legal immigration brings many benefits to the United States. He has, however, criticized illegal immigration as a drain on the economy, as well as being unfair to those who entered the country by legal means. He has voted to build a fence along the Mexican border and opposes granting amnesty for illegal aliens.

Health care

Jindal supports increased health insurance portability, laws promoting coverage of pre-existing medical conditions, a cap on malpractice lawsuits, an easing of restrictions on importation of prescription medications, the implementation of a streamlined electronic medical records system, an emphasis on preventative care rather than emergency room care, and tax benefits aimed at making health insurance more affordable for the uninsured and targeted to promote universal access. Since Governor Jindal has taken office, over 11,000 uninsured children have been added to the State's Children's Health Insurance Program. He opposes a federal government-run, single-payer system, but supports state efforts to reduce the uninsured population. He has also supported expanding services for autistic children, and has promoted a national childhood cancer database. In collaboration with Health Secretary Alan Levine, Governor Jindal has drafted the Louisiana Health First Initiative. This plan focuses on expanding health insurance coverage for the state's indigent population, increasing Medicaid choice, reducing fraud, authorizing funding of a new charity hospital, and increasing transparency in Medicaid by making performance measures available over the internet. Louisiana Health First - Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Jindal supports co-payments in Medicaid.

Environmental issues and offshore drilling

Governor Jindal has promoted nuclear and renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric. He has issued an executive order increasing office recycling programs, reducing solid waste and promoting paperless practices, offering tax credit for hybrid fuel vehicles, increasing average fuel economy goals by 2010, as well as increasing energy efficiency goals and standards for the state. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Announces Executive Order on Environmentally Friendly Government | All American Patriots: Politics, economy, health, environment, energy and te... He has stated his opposition to and voted for the criminalization of oil cartels such as OPEC. As a representative in the House, he supported a $300 million bill to fund Louisiana coastal restoration. In addition, he was the chief sponsor of successful legislation to expand the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park by over . House Committee Unanimously Approves Rep. Jindal Legislation To Expand Jean Lafitte Barataria Preserve - Us Fed News Service, Including Us State News | Highbeam Research - Fre... Jindal has pledged state support for the development of economically friendly cars in northeastern Louisiana in conjunction with alternative energy advocate T. Boone Pickens. Miata Designer Matano, T. Boone Pickens Part of Start-Up Car Company - Auto Observer Jindal voted to censure a website which promoted the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

Earmarks

In 2007, Jindal led the Louisiana House delegation and ranked 14th among House members in requested earmark funding at nearly $97 million (however in over 99% of these requests, Jindal was a co-sponsor and not the primary initiator of the earmark legislation). Bobby Jindal's secret love affair with earmarks added up to more than $97 million in FY '08 | BuzzFlash.org $5 million of Jindal's earmark requests were for state defense and indigent healthcare related expenditures, another $50 million was for increasing the safety of Louisiana's waterways and levees after breaches following Hurricane Katrina, and the remainder was targeted towards coastal restoration and alternative energy research. Bobby Jindal: Campaign Finance/Money - Other Data - Earmarks 2008 | OpenSecrets Bobby Jindal - House Defense Appropriations, FY2008 - EarmarkWatch.org As Governor in 2008, Jindal used his line item veto to strike $16 million in earmarks from the state budget but declined to veto $30 million in legislator-added spending. Jindal vetoed over 250 earmarks in the 2008 state budget, twice the total number of such vetoes by previous governors in the preceding twelve years.

Intelligent design

Jindal signed a law that permits teachers at public schools to supplement standard evolutionary curricula with analysis and critiques that may include intelligent design. The law forbids "the promotion of any religious doctrine and will not discriminate against religion or non-religion." Louisiana ACLU Director Marjorie Esman says that if the act is utilized as written, it is on firm constitutional footing, but there is the potential for abuse. Despite calls for a veto from groups such as the National Review, and some of Jindal's genetics professors at Brown University, Jindal signed the Louisiana Academic Freedom Act which passed overwhelmingly with bipartisan support with a vote of 94-3 in the State House and 35-0 in the State Senate in 2008. As a result of this, the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology rejected New Orleans as a site for their 2010 meeting and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will not conduct future meetings in Louisiana.

Crime and punishment

On June 25, 2008, Jindal signed the bipartisan Sex Offender Chemical Castration Bill authorizing the chemical castration of those convicted of repeat violent sex offenses. He also provided additional funding for State Police in order to place new troopers on the roads.

He has voted to expand services to facilitate offender re-entry and rehabilitation into society. As governor, he signed legislation providing additional infrastructure for criminal investigations, including $1.8 million for the state's DNA Unit and Physical Evidence Unit, to promote more timely and accurate identification of criminals. This law was hailed by defendant rights advocates as a safeguard against errors in sentencing.

Jindal has voted against giving the federal government jurisdiction to help local law enforcement with hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability. He believes local and state law enforcement agencies are competent and financed enough to deal with such cases and that the federal government should instead focus on issues such as border security and national defense.

Opposition to Recovery Act

Jindal has been an opponent to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on the basis that it is not accompanied by revenue increases and that it will further exacerbate the burgeoning national debt. Citing concerns that the augmentation of unemployment insurance may obligate the state to raise taxes onbusinesses, Jindal had indicated his intention to forgo federal stimulus plan funds ($98 million) aimed at increasing unemployment insurance for Louisiana. Louisiana has since been obligated to raise taxes on businesses because the unemployment trust fund had dropped below the prescribed threshold. Louisiana was set to receive about $3.8 billion overall. Jindal intends to accept at least $2.4 billion from the stimulus package. He called parts of the plan "irresponsible", saying that "the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians."Some have criticized Jindal for publicly issuing funds from the governor's office for "jobs, jobs, and jobs" in Louisiana, half of which is from the stimulus package.

A list of Jindal's published writings up to 2001 can be found in the hearing report for his 2001 U.S. Senate confirmation. They include newspaper columns, law review articles, and first authorships in several scientific and policy articles that have appeared in the prominent Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Association, and Hospital Outlook.

Jindal’s pre-2001 writings include several articles in the New Oxford Review, one of which later made news during his 2003 gubernatorial race. In that 1994 article titled "Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare", Jindal described the events leading up to an apparent exorcism of a friend and how he felt unable to help her at the time. However, Jindal questioned if what he saw was actually an example of "spiritual warfare".

Governor of Louisiana, 2003

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First Ballot, October 4, 2003

Second Ballot, November 15, 2003

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

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First Ballot, November 2, 2004

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

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First Ballot, November 7, 2006

Governor of Louisiana, 2007

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First Ballot, October 20, 2007