Jindal pays visit to K & B Machine Works

U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, a Republican from Metairie who is the top candidate for Louisiana governor, arrived in East Houma Friday to talk to workers on the floor at K and B Machine Works.

Owner Kenny Wood Jr. invited Jindal to speak after Wood attended a fundraiser for the candidate.

Jindal talked only about problems current in Louisiana, and the nation, in his speech to the workers. He did not mention specifically issues facing the Tri-parish area.

Jindal said he recently helped pass a law, which ensures a greater flow of oil and gas royalty payments to the Louisiana treasury.

“This is the best chance of our lifetime,” he said. “We won’t get this chance again.”

He said that Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey told him, “Don’t give the money to Louisiana, they’ll waste it.”

“We better not waste this money,” Jindal said.

He mentioned bumper stickers formerly prevalent in the state, which read, “Give us one more oil boom.”

Now, “we’re getting billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue,” he said.

Jindal said that, as governor, he would dedicate the extra oil and gas royalties by bonding out the money.

Speaking on other topics, Jindal asserted that faith-based volunteers have done most effectively in post-Katrina recovery efforts.

He also advocated harder discipline in Louisiana public schools, and greater technical education for high school students “so they can work on the first day,” he said.

“In our lifetime, we’ll never get a better chance to change the state,” Jindal said.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal was in East Houma Friday, and paid a visit to workers at K and B Machine Works on Grand Caillou Road. During the visit, the congressman stumped for the governor’s seat, reminding workers of problems facing the state and nation. * Photo by MIKE BROSSETTE.