Facts Check for Jindal's Claims

In response to yet another poll of Louisianans indicating strong disapproval of Jindal as governor, he responded by stating that he doesn’t care about polls because the only numbers that matter are jobs created, graduation rates, student test scores, and the number of kids formerly trapped in failing schools who are getting the opportunity for a good education.  Bobby firmly stated, and I quote, “Those are the numbers that matter to me and the people of Louisiana.”

Talk is cheap and our governor is never at loss when it comes to stretching the truth.

Let’s examine the facts regarding those numbers that matter to Governor Jindal:

Jobs Created:  Louisiana’s unemployment rate has risen sharply since Jindal took office, from 3.8 percent in January, 2008 to 6.8 percent in May, 2013.   To be fair, the national unemployment rate has also risen during that time, from 5 percent to 7.6 percent, but not as fast as Louisiana’s.

Graduation Rates:  Rates are rising.  But the figures are a lie.  With his massive budget cuts Jindal has done little to improve public education.  What he calls educational reform is nothing more than striking a deal with our colleges and universities whereby they could raise their tuitions by 10% if they raised their admission standards, and eliminated freshman remedial courses for students not fully prepared for some course work.  On paper the graduation rates rise,  but beneath those stats the crappy high schools that failed to properly educate these students still exist.  He hasn't attack the root cause of why more students aren't better prepared so they can attend and graduate from college.  The only accomplishment of Jindal's education reform plan is that more students are now being pushed out of a chance to attend a four year college, and instead into trade schools that don’t count in the nationally reported state graduation figures.  He is simply shifting the students around.

Student Test Scores:  In the most recent national assessment of the 50 states for 4^th and 8^th graders our 4^th grade students tied for last place in math skills, and ranked 48^th in reading skills.  Eight graders  were tied for 48^th in math and reading.

Voucher  Program , or as Jindal defines  it, the number of kids trapped in failing schools who are now getting the opportunity for a good education:  The most recent figures available from the Louisiana Department of Education indicated at least 45% of the nearly 5,000 students participating in the voucher program last year transferred from their assigned neighborhood schools into schools rated a “D” of “F” on the state’s rating scale.  I wouldn’t classify this as evidence of  an increase in an opportunity to get a good education.

Unfortunately,  the real facts of Jindal’s failures as a governor seldom leave the confines  of our state so Jindal is able to continue to push these areas and others as examples of his  great reforms to the national audience in his quest for president.

It is becoming more and more apparent to me that you have to be somewhat delusional to be a good politician.