Ferriday — Pledging to wage war on corruption, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Bobby Jindal made two stops in the Miss-Lou Wednesday as a part of his Fresh Start Tour of the state.

He had a morning meet-and-greet session at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center and addressed the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon.

Jindal played an important role in getting funding from Washington for the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, and has made more stops in the area than any other politician, Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

Ferriday Chamber of Commerce President Liz Brooking said she appreciated the trip.

“We appreciate having someone spend time up here and taking our interests at heart,” she said.

Currently serving a term in the House of Representatives, Jindal said congress often reminds him of his children.

“They will fight over a toy, and they don’t care if they get it as long as the other one can’t have it,” he said. “We don’t need that attitude in Washington or Baton Rouge.”

Jindal promised to declare war on incompetence, corruption and out of control spending.

“For too long we’ve been the butt of too many jokes,” he said. “I’m not sure it was ever funny.”

Corruption is costing the state jobs, Jindal said.

Louisiana State University took a survey of business owners, and they said the biggest hindrance to developing new business is corruption, he said.

“I have developed a 31-point plan to set the gold standard of ethics for Louisiana,” Jindal said.

One of those points includes not allowing state legislators to be lobbyists.

“Legislators need to decide who they work for,” he said.

Other points include not allowing state employees to be awarded state contracts, requiring income disclosure by legislators and requiring special interest groups to disclose their spending in Baton Rouge, he said.

“Another point is having real penalties for those who break the law and break the rules,” he said.

The legislature should also have to disclose how tax dollars are being spent, Jindal said.

“They spent every single dollar they could get their hands on last session,” he said. “When reporters went to ask them what some of the special projects were, the legislators told them it wasn’t public record.

“Why not? It’s our tax dollars.”

All of that aside, Louisiana is a great state, Jindal said.

“We’re not a poor state, we’re blessed,” he said. “We should be running circles around other states when you look at the resources we have.”