Bobby Jindal

Sept. 15 –– Bobby Jindal, a former Bush appointee who is running for Congress from the 1st District in Louisiana, has yet to win the seat come Nov. 11.

But his future Republican colleagues in the House have predecided his victory.

The Hill newspaper reported that Rep. Jim McCrery of Louisiana is lobbying legislators to put Jindal in one of any of the most important committees –– Appropriations, Ways and Means or Energy and Commerce. In its Sept. 15 issue, the paper says McCrery wants this freshman in an ‘A’ House committee because boy-wonder Jindal has broad experience in health care and education administration and is Washington savvy. Usually, a new Congressman has little chance of being in a prized and powerful committee.

Jindal was earlier the Assistant Secretary Health and Human Services. Prior to that, the Louisiana native had been executive director of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare and worked as a top health care adviser in the Bush administration. He was also incharge of Louisiana State’s university system.

Jindal quit last year and ran for Louisiana governor, only to lose by a small margin to the incumbent Democrat. The 33-year-old Jindal has been on top of most public opinion polls carried out over the last few months during his campaign.

“I think it is unusual for someone of Bobby’s talent to offer himself to public service, and in my opinion we ought to maximize his potential both substantively and policywise,” McCrery is quoted saying in The Hill. “I am hoping Republicans will recognize Bobby is not a typical freshman and will put him on a [top] committee right away. I am pushing for the House Energy and Commerce Committee so he can serve on the Health Subcommittee,” the Congressman said.

McCrery is himself a member on Ways and Means Committee.