Jindal Discusses Budget With Education Leaders

The governor is continuing his meetings to solicit budget ideas.

Gov. Bobby Jindal gathered Wednesday with several members of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and leaders of the House and Senate education committees to talk about next year's budget shortfall.

A day earlier, Jindal sat down with higher education officials, and on Thursday, he planned to meet with health care leaders.

Jindal says he's using the meetings to get suggestions and ideas from "stakeholders" in the budget process, as the state faces a $1.6 billion shortfall in the upcoming 2011-12 fiscal year that begins July 1. The governor's budget proposal is due to lawmakers in March.

The meetings also come as Jindal has received criticism for his out-of-state travel and book promotion efforts.