Jindal doesn't tell Dardenne when he leaves the state

Gov. Bobby Jindal doesn't notify Louisiana's second-ranking official when he travels out of state, even though Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne technically becomes governor whenever Jindal leaves.

The Republican governor has been out-of-state more than 25 percent of the time since May, campaigning for Republican presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney, raising money for GOP causes and candidates and participating in conferences.

Dardenne told The Advocate that he's never received any notification that Jindal was traveling out of state since he's been lieutenant governor. Dardenne has been in the job since 2010.

Jindal spokeswoman Shannon Bates said in a statement that the governor remains governor wherever he is.

However, the Louisiana Constitution says, "When the governor is temporarily absent from the state, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor."