Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is so intent on shutting down Common Core initiatives in his state that he has made it next to impossible for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to do things as simple as purchase computers. The BESE voted on July 1 to hire outside lawyers to sort out the mess that is Common Core versus state-created standards and assessments. While Gov. Jindal has publicly made his intention to rid of Common Core in Lousiana, BESE has countered his claims — saying that the standards are already in place and are in the best interest of the students in the state.

In what appears to be retaliation regarding BESE’s viewpoint (and its move to hire legal assistance), Jindal has reduced the spending threshold on a variety of school supply necessities, including computers. Previously, BESE schools could spend up to $20,000 at a time on contracts without state approval. That number has now been reduced to just $2,000.

Gov. Jindal has even taken a few direct stabs at the legal assistance BESE is seeking. There have been offers for free help, according to BESE, but even those offers must be approved by the governor himself.

During the spring legislative session, Gov. Jindal failed in his attempt to drop Common Core requirements in Louisiana, so it appears that he is now taking new measures. His goal? To have state-specific standards and testing — much of which would parallel Common Core standards anyway, critics say. Gov. Jindal signed on to implement Common Core four years ago, but had a change of heart earlier this year fueled by angry parents and conservative groups.