Louisiana’s well-publicized looming fiscal woes have Gov. Bobby Jindal and his administration considering some drastic cost-cutting measures, including converting the entire legislative branch of state government into a private entity.

Jindal’s Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said that with the state facing a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, no idea to help fill the gap is off the table, no matter how radical, unless that idea involves raising taxes.

“By allowing a private company to operate the legislative branch of government, the state could save on the order of $10 million annually,” Nichols said. “When you consider the salary and per diem of 144 legislators, their staffs, and all the full-time state employees who work for the Senate and House of Representatives, a for-profit entity would undoubtedly jump at the chance to enact legislation for a fraction of the cost.”

The company submitting the lowest bid would assume all constitutionally prescribed duties of the entire legislative branch after taking the oath of office in January.

While many details have yet to be hammered out, Nichols explained one scenario being discussed would involve drawing up legislative operations contract specifications during the upcoming legislative session, as well as canceling this fall’s subsequent legislative elections, which would be replaced with a competitive bid period.

The company submitting the lowest bid, Nichols said, would then assume all constitutionally prescribed duties of the entire legislative branch after taking the oath of office in January.

When asked about the potential for corruption in bidding out the work of creating law and representing the citizens of Louisiana to a private company, Nichols reassuringly replied, “There’s no need to worry. CNSI will get the contract fair and square this time.”