All of us have read story after story after story about the 16 indictments leveled against Democrat Bill Jefferson, Representative of LA-02, a district encompassing parts of Jefferson Parish and the majority of Orleans Parish. The controversy surrounding Bill Jefferson's alleged misdeeds are not limited to the Orleans Parish Democrat, however; a certain Republican named Billy Tauzin, Jr., former Republican representative of LA-03, a southeastern Louisiana district now represented by Democrat Charlie Melancon, is also embroiled in the scandal.
The press, of course, has not exposed the obverse side of the story. After all, the legal woes of Jefferson, one article from February 2006 exclaims, provides fodder for the GOP. But instead of limiting ourselves to food meant for lazy cows who love to feed on the stereotype of corrupt Louisiana Democrats, let us read the more rigorous story published in today's edition of The Hill. Besides, who wants to starve oneself on the vacuous diet of a Fox News consumer?
Many of you may remember Billy Tauzin, Jr.: he is the one who assisted Tom DeLay as the latter steered the Medicare Prescription Drug Act through the House floor during the 109th Congress. Tauzin, in other words, is known for dirty, corrupt and venal politics. According to The Hill, Tauzin, Jr., not his son Billy Tauzin III, 2004 Congressional candidate and professional lobbyist, is the unnamed lawmaker in the Dept. of Justice's 94 page indictment of William Jefferson dated 4 June 2007.
Tauzin, Jr., penned a letter to iGate, the company from whom Jefferson allegedly solicited bribes. The letter, written at the behest of Jefferson, was issued through an aide on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee Tauzin, Jr., chaired in 2002 while a US Representative. Notice how that aide is now a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry. The letter penned on Tauzin's behalf praised iGate for their innovative technology, and Tauzin believed iGate's use of copper wiring for DSL could connect south Louisiana to the information highway.
Tauzin was introducted to iGate through bill Jefferson, and Tauzin's letter was crafted as a result of that meeting. Here are some quotes from and paraphrases of the 2002 letter:
“Following our meeting several months ago, Howard Waltzman of the Energy and Commerce Committee was assigned to examine iGate’s broadband technology, and the claims made by you and your staff regarding the technology’s viability,” opens the letter.
Tauzin’s letter was highly complimentary of iGate’s technology. The Louisianan congressman’s aide was “impressed with the transmission speeds that your technology achieved, and especially the fact that it was actually working in the field under difficult conditions,” according to the letter.
“I hope iGate continues to have success with its technology,” finished Tauzin’s letter.
Why, exactly, did Tauzin "hope iGate continues to have success with its technology?" What did Tauzin hope to gain from iGate's technology? And why is Tauzin not asked to testify during Jefferson's trial if he and his committee were so involved with iGate's copper wire technology? Jefferson, we all know, tried to secure lucrative contracts for iGate throughout Africa. Was Tauzin hoping to engage in the same in south Louisiana? And did he manage to secure government contracts? If so, was Tauzin hoping to profit from such arrangements? Did he?
That Jefferson was able to embroil Tauzin in his unethical dealings with iGate confirms the suspicion many of us have of the corruption coarsing through the veins of the Louisiana GOP. For we recall how the entire Republican delegation of Louisiana received large campaign contributions from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC during the 2004 campaign cycle. Jefferson's scandal is not just an example of what so many impetuously denounce as "Democrat corruption;" it is also a sordid tale of how one Democrat colluded with a Republican and a questionable company in order to earn money off of lucrative contracts both abroad and in our backyards. Perhaps Tauzin, Jr., should testify, for it seems he had a keen interest in iGate, and he was perfectly positioned to procure contracts for that company. But more importantly, the media should at least note how the man responsible for the onerous and dysfunctional Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is deeply implicated in the unscrupulous business that may land Jefferson 235 long years in jail if he is charged with all 16 indictments. As Fox News would say, it would only be fair and balanced.