The $500,000 would have been new funding for the independent movie theater, which opened last month on Texas Street.

The appropriations bill used surplus money from the state budget to help non-governmental agencies. Jindal said he did not feel the film center meet the criteria to get state funding. The Robinson center was among 22 line-item vetoes.

Those criteria include statewide or substantial regional impact, discussion during the legislative session and the item funded should be a state agency priority, Jindal said in his veto announcement today.

"Some of these programs pursue good and worthy goals -- and that is not my objection to their inclusion in this law," Jindal said. "The state will never have a shortage of good ideas looking for state funding. To make sure we treat them fairly and perform our duty as watchdogs for the taxpayers, the Legislature should follow the simple criteria I have outlined for considering NGO funding."