Nearly $300,000 in contributions show ties that bind, especially on legacy issue.

While most Republicans are known for their hands-off approach to relationships with trial lawyers, Gov. Bobby Jindal has managed to develop close ties with the bunch without upsetting his base.

Well, almost. Over the past few weeks, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a fellow Republican, has accused Jindal of creating a “trial lawyer bonanza” by not taking a stronger stance on the way contaminated oilfields — known as legacy sites — are litigated and mitigated.

Back home in Louisiana, it hasn’t attracted much attention. But in the national press, which has been cheering Jindal lately for his bold education reforms, reporters and columnists have taken notice.

The Politico, for one, has wondered how Jindal was able to pull off a fundraiser last year with Burton LeBlanc, the vice president of the American Association of Justice. It was billed as a $5,000 per couple affair.

Meanwhile, Forbes magazine questioned why Jindal chose the Dallas firm of Baron & Budd to represent the state against BP in the wake of the tragic oil spill that commenced one year ago this week. The firm came into a fortune on the back of asbestos litigation and raised money for likes of President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

If there were ever a relationship that could be a liability for Jindal on the national GOP stage, it could be this. His former executive counsel Jimmy Faircloth is representing landowners during the ongoing legacy debate, and they’re closely aligned with the trial lawyers involved. At some point, Jindal may be forced to publicly pick sides — just as the Republican convention  is approaching.

Campaign finance reports, however, show Jindal is already well stocked in terms of supporters who are also trial attorneys, landowners and other individuals involved with the legacy issue. From 2008 through 2011, these parties donated nearly $300,000 to Jindal’s gubernatorial campaign.

And by no means were these small donations. Of the nearly 100 contributions, the average size was roughly $3,300.

Here’s a rundown:

– Christopher Beary, New Orleans, La, 8/7/08, $2,500.00

– Stephanie Bruno, New Orleans, La, 8/8/08, $1,000.00

– Bice Palermo & Veron, Lake Charles, La, 10/8/08, $5,000.00

– Pivach Pivach Hufft Thriffiley & Nolan, Belle Chasse, , La, 10/10/08, $1,000.00

– Gray Law Firm, Lake Charles, La, 10/21/08, $1,000.00

– Orrill Cordell & Beary, New Orleans, La, 10/28/08, $1,000.00

– Landry & Swarr, New Orleans, La, 11/12/08, $1,000.00

– Tony Clayton, Port Allen, La, 12/15/08, $5,000.00

– Mr. Richard J. Dodson, Baton Rouge, La, 12/16/08, $5,000.00

– Cossich Sumich Parsiola & Taylor, Belle Chasse, La, 12/18/08, $5,000.00

– Orrill Cordell & Beary, New Orleans, La, 12/25/08, $1,000.00

– Wall & Bullington, New Orleans, La, 12/26/08, $5,000.00

– Mr. Joseph M. Bruno, New Orleans, La, 12/30/08    , $5,000.00

– F. Gerald Maples, New Orleans, La, 1/8/09, $5,000.00

– Kleinpeter & Schwartzberg, Baton Rouge, La, 1/8/09, $5,000.00

– Matthew E. Lundy, Houston, Tx, 1/12/09, $1,000.00

– Hunter W. Lundy, Lake Charles, La, 1/12/09, $1,000.00

– Ronnie G. Penton, Bogalusa, La, 1/14/09, $2,500.00

– Calvin Fayard, New Orleans, La, 1/15/09, $5,000.00

– Brooke Andry, New Orleans, La, 1/16/09, $5,000.00

– Kanner And Whiteley, New Orleans, La, 1/16/09, $2,500.00

– Kanner And Whiteley, New Orleans, La, 1/16/09, $2,500.00

– Mumphrey Law Firm, Slidell, La, 1/16/09, $5,000.00

– Talbot Carmouche & Marcello, Gonzales, La, 1/19/09, $5,000.00

– Craig J. Landry Attorney, Houma, La, 1/19/09, $5,000.00

– Jody Amedee, Gonzales, La, 1/21/09, $2,000.00

– Jody Amedee, Gonzales, La, 1/21/09, $470.89

– Gauthier & Amedee, Gonzales, La, 1/26/09, $823.48

– Donald G. Cave, Baton Rouge, La, 1/28/09, $2,500.00

– Dumas Associates Law Firm, Baton Rouge, La, 2/17/09, $5,000.00

– Frances Fayard, New Orleans, La, 2/19/09, $1,000.00

– Gauthier Houghtaling & Williams, Metairie, La, 3/11/09, $5,000.00

– Stephanie Bruno, New Orleans, La, 3/12/09, $2,500.00

– Usry Weeks & Matthews, New Orleans, La, 3/26/09, $1,000.00

– Sherwood Gagliano, Baton Rouge, La, 4/24/09, $1,000.00

– Merlin Law Group, Tampa, Fl, 10/7/09, $5,000.00

– Larry A. Roach Inc., Lake Charles, La, 11/25/09, $1,000.00

– Rock Palermo, Sulphur, La, 11/25/09, $2,000.00

– Fayard & Honeycutt, Denham Springs, La, 12/14/09, $5,000.00

– Pivach Pivach Hufft Thriffiley & Nolan, Belle Chasse, La, 12/10/09, $1,000.00

– The Dudenhefer Law Firm, New Orleans, La, 12/15/09, $5,000.00

– Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards, Lafayette, La, 3/16/10, $5,000.00

– Robert H. Schmolke, Baton Rouge, La, 3/17/10, $2,000.00

– Bruno & Bruno, New Orleans, La, 3/19/10, $5,000.00

– Donald T. Carmouche Attorney, Gonzales, La, 3/22/10, $2,000.00

– Rock Palermo, Sulphur, La, 3/22/10, $3,000.00

– Walter C. Dumas, Baton Rouge, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Allan Kanner, New Orleans, La, 3/22/10, $2,000.00

– Blayne Honeycutt, Denham Springs, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Andry Law Firm, New Orleans, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Michael C. Palmintier, Baton Rouge, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Victor L. Marcello Attorney, Gonzales, La, 3/22/10, $2,000.00

– John H. Carmouche Attorney, Gonzales, La, 3/22/10, $2,000.00

– The Knoll Law Firm, Marksville, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Mckernan Law Firm, Baton Rouge, La, 3/22/10, $5,000.00

– Mudd And Bruchhaus, Lake Charles, La, 3/22/10, $2,500.00

– Sarah K. Palermo, Sulphur, La, 3/23/10, $2,000.00

– Frank C. Dudenhefer, Jr., New Orleans, La, 3/24/10, $3,000.00

– William J. Dore, Sr., Lake Charles, La, 8/3/10   $5,000.00

– Allan Kanner, New Orleans, La, 8/17/10, $3,000.00

– Jerald P. Block, Thibodaux, La, 8/19/10, $5,000.00

– Glenn Armentor, Lafayette, La, 8/31/10, $5,000.00

– Degravelles Palmintier Holthaus & Fruge, Baton Rouge, La, 9/3/10, $5,000.00

– Phil Cossich, Belle Chasse, La, 9/7/10, $5,000.00

– John Houghtaling, Metairie, La, 9/7/10, $5,000.00

– Leger & Shaw, New Orleans, La, 9/7/10, $5,000.00

– Jonathan Andry Attorney At Law, New Orleans, La, 9/20/10, $1,000.00

– Chaisson & Chaisson, Destrehan, La, 9/27/10, $1,000.00

– Ranier Law Firm, Lake Charles, La, 9/27/10, $2,500.00

– Raleigh Newman, Lake Charles, La, 9/27/10, $2,500.00

– Cox Cox Filo Camel & Wilson, Lake Charles, La, 9/27/10, $2,500.00

– Mudd And Bruchhaus, Lake Charles, La, 9/27/10, $2,500.00

– Scheuermann & Jones, New Orleans, La, 9/29/10, $1,000.00

– The Dugan Law Firm, New Orleans, La, 9/29/10, $2,000.00

– The Law Offices Of Jack M. Bailey Jr., Shreveport, La, 11/4/10, $1,000.00

– F. Charles Marionneaux, Baton Rouge, La, 11/4/10, $5,000.00

– Salario Law Firm, Marksville, La, 11/29/10, $1,000.00

– Russell W. Budd, Dallas, Tx, 12/15/10, $5,000.00

– Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, Houston, Tx, 12/15/10, $5,000.00

– Dumas Law Firm, Baton Rouge, La, 12/29/10, $500.00

– Sherwood  Gagliano, Baton Rouge, La, $3,500.00

– Murray Law Firm, New Orleans, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Dodson Hooks & Frederick, Baton Rouge, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Lundy Lundy Soileau & South, Lake Charles, La, 8/31/11, $2,500.00

– Gordon J. Mckernan, Baton Rouge, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Due Price Guidry Piedrahita & Andrews, Baton Rouge, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Walters Papillion Thomas Cullens, Baton Rouge, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Morrow Morrow Ryan & Bassett, Opelousas, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00

– Tomeny Law Firm, Baton Rouge, La, 8/31/11, $5,000.00