Can Bobby Jindal catch on in 2016? Six things to know about his record
| Washington
Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, the latest entrant into the 2016 presidential race, was long known as the Wunderkind of the Republican Party.
Before many peers had even finished their schooling, Governor Jindal had run his state鈥檚 health department and university system, then served in the administration of the first President Bush.
Jindal鈥檚 first run for governor, in 2003, was unsuccessful, but he immediately pivoted toward Congress, won two terms in the House, then tried again for governor, this time successfully. Now he鈥檚 in his second term. And on Wednesday, he becomes the 13th 聽Republican to announce for his party鈥檚 presidential nomination.
At this stage, Jindal鈥檚 odds appear steep. He barely registers in polls of Republican voters. But it鈥檚 early, and he brings a rich conservative record to the race. This son of Indian immigrants also adds diversity to the GOP field, though he rejects a 鈥渉yphenated鈥� identity: Call him a just plain American, not an Indian-American, he says. As a child, he chose to be called Bobby 鈥� after the character on 鈥淭he Brady Bunch鈥� 鈥� and not his given name, Piyush.
Here are six things to know about Jindal鈥檚 record:
On Louisiana鈥檚 budget and taxes:聽Jindal is an avowed opponent of tax increases. When he took office in 2008, the state had a budget surplus and he sought tax reform. But his plan to eliminate the state income tax and replace it a with higher sales tax proved unpopular, and Jindal dropped the proposal. He also signed tax cuts for higher-end earners to the tune of $700 million a year. Meanwhile, relief money for hurricane Katrina dried up, and oil prices fell, sending the state鈥檚 budget deficit soaring to $1.6 billion.
Jindal鈥檚 solution has been a series of short-term measures that adhere to his anti-tax pledge: no increases in the tax rate without a correlative cuts in other taxes. But in the process, as he has traveled outside the state in preparation for his presidential run, he has become quite unpopular at home. In May, his job approval rating hit an of聽 31.8 percent.聽
In addition, Jindal-era cuts to the state budget have resulted in the loss of 30,000 state jobs, including teachers, health-care workers, and university employees.
On education:聽Jindal was once a staunch supporter of the state-driven education standards known as Common Core. But by April 2014, he had changed course 鈥� a he acknowledges, blaming the federal government for stepping in.聽Jindal has launched lawsuits and legislation against the initiative, saying it violates the Constitution. 聽
On health care:聽Given his background, Jindal probably knows more about the health-care system than his competitors. Not only did he hold state and federal government positions in health care, he also studied health policy as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. But in the end, he comes to the same conclusion as every other GOP candidate: The Affordable Care Act must go.
In its place, he proposes a that he says would bring down health-care costs.
On social issues:聽As a teenager, Jindal converted from Hinduism to 海角大神ity, and has been a devout Catholic since college. In 2008, Jindal signed a law allowing the teaching of Intelligent Design in Louisiana public schools. He opposes same-sex marriage and abortion without exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the woman鈥檚 health.
On foreign policy:聽Jindal鈥檚 fiscal conservatism contains an exception: He supports an He also believes Congress should have a say in any deal the US makes with Iran on its nuclear weapons capability. And he supports a more aggressive US stance against the Islamic State, with more air strikes.
Jindal鈥檚 limited background in foreign policy came back to bite him during a trip to London earlier this year, when he asserted the existence of Muslim 鈥渘o-go zones鈥� in Europe. Now he is making additional overseas trips to boost his credibility on foreign affairs.
On immigration:聽Jindal supports the GOP position of securing the US border first, then addressing the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country. he would immediately reverse President Obama鈥檚 鈥渦nconstitutional鈥� executive action granting deferred deportation to childhood arrivals (DACA) and to undocumented immigrants with family in the US legally (DAPA). 聽
Jindal has said he would be willing to grant guest-worker visas to illegal immigrants. He also supports a pathway to legal status and then citizenship for those in the US illegally. But a secure border must come first.聽
