Will this be the beginning of a new era in Louisiana politics? Will Governor Jindal come up with new recipe for Louisiana political gumbo?

BATON ROUGE — The Legislature convenes today for a three-month regular session in which Gov. Bobby Jindal’s priorities include revamping Louisiana’s job-training programs and upgrading mental health services in New Orleans.But the 85-day lawmaking period will have a decidedly different feel than the two special sessions that Jindal called shortly after taking office in January to pass stronger ethics laws, cut business taxes and spend a $1.1 billion surplus.

While special sessions allow governors to exert tight control over the agenda by limiting the subjects that can be debated, regular sessions are freewheeling affairs where the governor’s agenda competes with the priorities of 144 legislators.

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