Here are some tidbits from articles in the Sunday edition of the New Orleans Times-Picayune concerning that bunch 'representing' us in Washington:
Sen. John Breaux said he is deciding this weekend whether he will retire after his term is up in 2004 or run again. A public announcement will come soon, he said.
Breaux said the Medicare bill was without question the most significant piece of legislation he has worked on during three decades in Congress. Its passage has fueled speculation that he might step down when his term expires at the end of 2004.
But he also said he is ready for a new legislative crusade. He has long talked about the need for universal health insurance coverage and proposes mandating that everyone own a policy, just as they are required to have car insurance.
Two members of the Louisiana congressional delegation, Reps Chris John, D-Lafayette, and David Vitter, R-Metairie, probably would run for the job, leaving open seats.
And this:
Cockfighters nationwide can breathe a sigh of relief because they won't face jail time for shuttling birds across state lines. The worst they would face is a fine. Purveyors of the bloody sport in Louisiana and New Mexico never had to worry because they live in the only two states where cockfighting is still legal. In an attempt to stamp out the practice last year, Congress made it a misdemeanor to transport the fighting birds. The bill passed over the objections of Rep. Chris John, D-Lafayette, cockfighters' best friend in Congress. This year, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., a veterinarian, tried to raise the stakes. His legislation would have made it a felony to transport animals for fighting and even the implements, such as the spiked and razor-sharp gaffs cockfighters tie to roosters' legs during matches. Ensign attached the provision to a bill aimed at reducing fires in national forests. It was stripped from the bill in a conference committee by negotiators who said it wasn't relevant.
And this:
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be noteworthy that Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-Chackbay, who is immensely proud of his French-Canadian roots, had joined the congressional French Caucus. But earlier this year, Tauzin added to the anti-French rhetoric after President Jacques Chirac's refusal to support the US-led war in Iraq. Tauzin had some tough words for the French and defiantly yanked his French-language web site. . . . Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who ordered the House cafeterias to serve "freedom fries" and "freedom toast," is also a new member of the caucus.
And this:
Energy businesses have poured $136 million into federal campaigns since 1999 . . . Louisiana's nine congressional members, all of whom backed the recent $31 billion energy bill, were major beneficiaries. Sen. Mary Landrieu received $538,191 from energy interests between 1999 and 2003, second only to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Sen. John Breaux received $74,170. Rep. Billy Tauzin, one achitect of the energy bill, received $553,582, second among the 435 House members. Rep. Chris John received $296,062 and Rep. David Vitter received $190,789.
These people make me sick.