SEN BREAUX (D-LA) ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Sen. Breaux's Website ^ | Dec 15, 2004 | Sen. Breaux

[RobFromGa]

JOHN BREAUX ANNOUNCES HE WILL RETIRE FROM THE U.S. SENATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/15/03

WASHINGTON (Dec. 15) - U.S. Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) today announced he will not seek re-election to the United States Senate after serving 31 years in the United States Congress.

"There comes a time in every career when it is time to step aside, and let others step up and serve," Sen. Breaux said. "And for my family and me that time has arrived. I will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate."

Sen. Breaux, 59, talked about his long career in government saying,"it's been a great 35 years - a few as a staff person, 14 years as a member of Congress, representing southwest Louisiana, and it will be 18 years as a U.S. senator, representing our state of Louisiana. I had the privilege of serving with five governors and seven presidents."

Sen. Breaux is a long-time moderate Democrat, a founder of the Democratic Leadership Council, and co-chairman of the Senate Centrist Coalition.

"Throughout my years in Congress, I have been guided by a simple philosophy - to make government work for everyone," he said. "My sincere hope is that future Congresses will be able to pursue the center-out coalitions that I advocated. It is my hope that cooperation and legitimate compromise between our political parties will not be seen as political failure, but rather as a means of building a stronger democracy that serves our nation."

Sen. Breaux's record of accomplishments and results include:

* Imposing budget discipline and passing targeted, responsible tax cuts to the people and businesses who could do the most good.

* Expanding trade opportunities for Louisiana industries, while fighting to protect growers and workers from unfair and illegal foreign trade practices.

* Expanding the energy industry, while seeking alternative energy sources.

* Reforming the nation's welfare system - emphasizing more work, but increasing funds for training, education and childcare.

* Securing funds to preserve and restore Louisiana's wetlands, and educating the nation about the importance of protecting vanishing coastlines.

* And, making healthcare more affordable and more accessible, and most recently - adding a prescription drug benefit to a reformed and modernized Medicare program.

Sen. Breaux thanked his wife Lois saying, "I could not have asked for a more helpful and supportive partner and friend. No one has been more lucky and fortunate than me in finding you."

He also recognized his four children, three grandchildren, father, mother-in-law, staff, colleagues, friends and supporters.

Sen. Breaux concluded by saying: "I'm not leaving today. There is still a lot to get done this Congress. We have to get the energy bill passed, and I want to get started on legislation for the 40 million Americans who have no health insurance. And, I look forward to co-chairing with Governor-elect Kathleen Blanco the very important summit meeting on healthcare in Louisiana.

"So, this is not goodbye. After working for more than half my life on issues important to Louisiana, I intend to continue that involvement in the future, but in a different capacity. But for now - thank you for the privilege and honor of serving Louisiana and our country."

###

[cfrels]

The senate has a lot of slugs in it that drive us crazy(ie. Kennedy, Schumer, Daschle, McPain, Durbin, Harkin, Snow, Collins, Chafee, I could go on and on...and of course Ms. clinton).

It is a shame to se the good ones retire; Zell Miller, Breaux, Nickles, Fitzgerald, Allen Simpson, Nunn, others. I sure wish we had it the other way around. Many of those old gasbags are certainly not our best and brightest. Sigh.....

[gatorbait]

empty-skulled racist bitch we just elected governor. Assuming, of course, I haven't come to my senses by then and moved back to Texas.


You're being too kind to squatting Edwin.

[gatorbait]

warning Louisianans that Bush will (once again) destroy the sugar industry. A much-too-large percentage of us will wolf the propaganda up.

You forgot the part about duck hunting, Charity Hospital"cuts" and Bill Jefferson/Cleo Fields getting Orleans Parish school busses hustling through the projects.

[happygrl]

Class act.

[happygrl]

What's Al Hirt doing these days, LOL.

Pushing up daisies....

[MinuteGal]

Well, even pushing up daisies, Hirt would do a better job than some new brain-dead liberal DemoRat senator!

Leni

[MHT]

Why would a class act like Jindal want to do another statewide race on the heels of getting beaten by that witch? I'm afraid this time, Breaux is exiting just at the right time for the LA party Dems. They might lose the rest of the South, but lizard-head Carville will keep his home state in their corner.

[BerniesFriend]

He'll probably get job working for the Bush 2004-2008 administration.

Hardly..I know the Breaux's..he is going into lobbying..he wants to earn the cash..wife has been on his case to earn the bucks..now let's hope that President Bush can carry Vitter to victory in 04...

[aquaculture]

Well-said!

[Hank Rearden]

Well said post #8! Breaux is still a RAT. If he had such good common sense he wouldn't be a member of that stinking party.

Yeah, but the odds are 100% that when this old parasite finally kicks the bucket and gets off our asses and out of our wallets for good, we'll hear the same old bullsh#% from both Big Stupid Government parties about what a magnificent human being he was and how he "gave" so much to so many.

Broadly speaking, I can't wait until 99% of all politicians are worm food. The problem is they usually get replaced rather than having their stupid jobs downsized.

[nickcarraway]

Well, maybe President Bush could have a talk with Tauzin. Mary Landrieu wasn't going to run in '96. Until Clinton convinved her.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I hardly think 59 is old, especially in the world of politics. I still think something else, besides the "wants more time with the grandchildren" rap is iinfluencing his decision.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

He's been wanting to retire for years now. He was going to retire in '98 before Clinton and the RATS convinced him he was needed. Then Clinton stabbed him in the back on Medicare and Social Security reform.

Throw in the fact that the few remaining "moderate" RATS are retiring from the Senate, and almost no chance of retaking the majority next year, and he decided he'd had enough. I was not the least bit surprised by his decision.

[Flux Capacitor]

----But don't stop in Texas until you see some prickly pear. East Texas is just as bad.----

Yeah, East Texas is more or less just an extension of Louisiana, without the income tax (nothing to sneeze at there, of course).

I could go back to my adopted hometown of Houston, but I see they passed up on Orlando Sanchez once again -- in favor of this schmuck. It's funny; I remember it being said that Houston would likely never again elect a white mayor.... the local pundits forgot that as long as the minority candidates are Republicans, white Democrats can hold the office as long as they like.

-Dan

[Flux Capacitor]

----I'll take a RINO any day in favor of a so-called "good Democrat."----

As will I. No matter how conservative the Democrat might be, and no matter how good he or she sounds on the issues, at the end of day he or she will vote to make Tom Daschle the Senate Majority Leader, or Nancy Pelosi the Speaker of the House. You've gotta keep your eye on the big picture -- one "good Democrat" isn't worth the risk of a Congress controlled by socialist lunatics.

-Dan

[Conservative til I die]

Republicans haven't done too well statewide in Louisiana outside the Presidential race recently....

Considering the GOP hasn't held a Senate seat in Louisiana since Reconstruction, I'd say pulling in 48% to 49% of the vote *is* doing well recently.

[Flux Capacitor]

----As I said on another thread, now that Breaux has made it official, then I think the Rats will not even try to monetarily defend Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and instead spend all their money on saving their seats in LA and FL.----

That is one heartening fact. Even if Louisiana ends up screwing the pooch on its third statewide election in as many years, a strong GOP candidate will force the DSCC to expend precious cash and resources here, something it wouldn't have had to do if Breaux were running again.

And frankly, I think the Dems would have had to open up the pocketbook for Graham even if he were to run again. From what I understand, that "moderate's" bizarre, hard-left, short-lived presidential campaign alienated a lot of the folks back home.

-Dan

[1Old Pro]

An excellent chance for another GOP senate seat.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Thanks for filling me in. I havent been paying attention to the life and times of Breaux for a couple years. What you told me makes sense. I take back my original comment.

[wideminded]

Some years ago there was a TV expose about how some large corporations invited members of congress to all-expenses-paid "seminars" at luxury resorts. The stated purpose of the seminars occupied very little of the time, allowing the senators and representatives and their families to enjoy the accomodations, free food, golf, etc. Sen. Breaux was featured prominently on this show, although he did have the merit of being one of the few who allowed himself to be interviewed. Whenever his name has come up since I can't help thinking of how he smilingly justified this form of bribery.