Political moves

State political commentator John Maginnis of Lapolitics.com says there is a feeling that Gov. Jindal is behind the removal of key committee members by Speaker of the House Chuck Kleckley.

A look at recent committee moves found that back in June,  Rep. Jim Morris of Oil City, was stripped of his Vice Chairman post on the House and Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

Before his ouster, Morris criticized many of Jindal's budget and education proposals. Morris's fall was preceded in the spring by, Democrat Harold Ritchie of Bogalusa. The representative lost his Vice Chairmanship of the House Insurance Committee the day after his vote against a tax break bill supported by Jindal. More recently, Kleckley removed two republican lawmakers this month from the House Appropriations Committee the day after they opposed the Governor's plan to privatize state benefits with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Lawmakers on the decisive committee then reconvened and the Governor's measure was approved.