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Gov. Jindal Will Sign Louisiana’s Birther Bill If It Gets To Him

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) may have vetoed her state’s so-called birther bill, but a spokesman for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said Monday that Jindal would sign Louisiana’s own version of the bill if it reaches his desk.

“It’s not part of our package, but if the Legislature passes it we’ll sign it,” said Kyle Plotkin, Jindal’s press secretary, the New Orleans Times Picayune reports.

State Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R) and state Sen. A.G. Crowe (R) cosponsored the bill, which was filed last week, and would require candidates to present a birth certificate before they could get on the state’s ballot. Each candidate must prove their citizenship, age and residence through a birth certificate and a sworn statement of residence.

Like Arizona’s legislation, HB 561 doesn’t mention President Obama specifically. But it is almost certainly inspired by the birther movement, which propagates the theory that the President wasn’t born in the U.S. This theory has been repeatedly debunked.

The bill will be debated when the legislature convenes on April 25.

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