Morris: Reasons given for ouster are 'bogus'

A spokesman for Gov. Bobby Jindal, Kyle Plotkin, says the governor's office did not ask for a northwest Louisiana lawmaker—and vocal critic of Jindal's budget proposals—to be removed from his leadership position in the Legislature. But after being stripped of his position as vice chairman of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Oil City Republican Rep. Jim Morris says he'd be surprised if Jindal's office didn't either "make the call" or get involved in it. Morris says he's been told he was removed from the position because he hasn't shown interest in the job or attend chairmen's meetings with House Speaker Chuck Kleckley—a Jindal ally who gained his leadership job with the support of the Republican governor. Morris terms those reasons "bogus," adding, "It's either the votes I cast, or they didn't like what I was doing in the committee. Kleckley is keeping tight-lipped on the move. "I don't talk about those issues, those personnel issues. I have no comment," he says. Morris says he tried to resign as vice chairman in April, after Kleckley told him he needed Morris' vote on the governor's education bills. But Morris says Kleckley refused his resignation at the time, which made him surprised to learn this week that he was stripped of the job. Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, says a decision hadn't been made yet about Morris' replacement. While he wouldn't comment on the ouster, he called Morris a "good friend." Check out the full story here.