State Auditor: Jindal Administration Refusing Records for Privatizing Insurance

Louisiana’s Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration has refused to hand over some information about a proposal to hire a private company to run a state worker health insurance program.

Purpera says without the information, his auditors can’t determine whether the privatization would be beneficial for the state.

The auditor says Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater, the governor’s top budget adviser, says some of the records sought are exempt from review under public records laws.

But Purpera says another area of the law gives the auditor the ability to review confidential documents.

Jindal says the program currently run by the Office of Group Benefits could be run more effectively by a private company. Critics say the move could cut health benefits and increase premiums on employees.