JEANERETTE — Gov. Bobby Jindal stretched the cord of his microphone as close as he could to the packed audience at a town hall meeting Monday in Jeanerette, highlighting the year’s accomplishments and answering locals’ questions.

Many concerns had to do with aspects of health care during the event, which took place at the Ward 8 Recreation Center.

Marguerite Sereal, a retired Iberia Parish teacher and widow, said she can’t get her husband’s Social Security money because she was a teacher.

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Jindal said there are two “awful” federal laws called the “Government Pension Offset” preventing her from doing so. He said he co-sponsored repealing the laws, which affect state employees and teachers, when he was a congressman for Louisiana’s 1st District, but was never able to get the 218 votes necessary to pass the bills, partially because only a few states are affected by them.

“If you’ve worked and paid your payroll taxes, you should get what was promised to you,” Jindal said, recommending Sereal contact area congressmen. Jindal gave Sereal bill numbers after the talk.

Almetra Franklin, director of the St. Mary Community Action agency, voiced concern about high utility bills that she said are causing many to struggle.

Jindal said the HELP and HERO programs help decrease consumption and increase energy efficiency, and LAHEAT helps families pay utility bills.

He also said Louisiana gets a higher percentage of its energy from natural gas than other states and it was paramount that it diversify.

“I don’t think there’s one technology that’s going to be the best. I think we need to do them all,” Jindal said mentioning conservation, renewable energy, solar energy and nuclear energy. Nationally, Jindal strongly supports drilling for oil in the U.S.

One woman asked if Jindal planned to bring more cancer research to Louisiana.

Jindal said he has spoken to the head of the national cancer institute and asked what it would take to get a nationally certified cancer research center. He said all the research institutes working together could do so in five years or less.

The next step, said Jindal, would be to identify tax incentives to lure researchers.

“I hate to say it, but we got so many cancer patients in Louisiana ... research companies want to come,” Jindal said. “Unfortunately, we’ve got the patients they’re trying to treat.”

Another woman, whose child has bi-polar disorder, asked about care for the mentally ill. Getting care in Louisiana, she said, “is hell.”

“Our mental health care infrastructure in this state is in tatters,” said Jindal.

He said state officials have started reforms in southeast-ern Louisiana, training care providers and improving networks linking counseling and other services.

“We took a good first step this year, but we have a long way to go,” he said.

Margaret Trahan, executive director of the Iberia Council on Aging for 34 years, asked about health insurance for council employees.

Jindal said it was the first time he’d heard about that, and he would look into it to find out what is a federal and what is a state requirement.

In a talk before he answered questions, Jindal said Louisiana needs to stop “exporting its greatest asset” — young people who leave for jobs in other states.

The No. 1 thing Louisiana can do to encourage economic growth, said Jindal, is crack down on corruption.

At the beginning of the year, said Jindal, the national Center for Public Integrity ranked Louisiana in the worst 20 percent for disclosure by elected officials. It is now, he said, ranked first.

Jindal also addressed concerns with roads by saying all taxes meant for roads, such as on vehicles and gas, will be put into improving roads, for which he said the state gets “an F grade.” Jindal said the state will double what it spends on roads each year without raising taxes to improve them.

He “absolutely” supports the conversion of U.S. 90 to Interstate 49, adding the speed of the conversion depends on legislative support.                                                     

Education was a main theme. While Jindal thinks education is paramount and supports furthering it, “We’re not doing enough for kids today who aren’t going to college” but who still need more training after high school, he said.

State Rep. Simone Champagne, D-Jeanerette, said Jindal chose Jeanerette for his tour because it is a small community.

Champagne said there were people from many surrounding communities, such as New Iberia, Loreauville and St. Mary Parish, as well.

“We’re real fortunate he selected our community,” said Jeanerette Mayor Arthur Verret.

“We’re honored.”

Jindal said he heard several things unique to the area, such as concerns for individual roads and parks, but also themes common across the state, such as the need to diversity energy sources.

Jindal also reiterated that he is not interested in a vice presidential bid.

“This is a unique time in our state’s history,” he said. “I’m where I need to be.”