Some Want Louisiana GOP Committee to Reverse Tauzin Congressional Endorsement

Baton Rouge, LA, Morning Advocate ^ | 09-10-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Some want committee to reverse Tauzin endorsement

By The Associated Press

State Republicans meet Saturday in Baton Rouge, and a hot topic is certain to be the continuing squabble over the party's endorsement of a prominent name in the 3rd Congressional District race: Billy Tauzin.

But it's not the well-know senior congressman and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the party is endorsing; he's retiring. Rather, it's his son, a lobbyist for BellSouth Corp. who hopes to take over the seat.

Party officials, looking appreciatively over the younger Tauzin's high name recognition and favorable prospects in the south Louisiana district, gave him their seal of approval.

That didn't sit well with others backing Tauzin rival Craig Romero, a state senator. A resolution to be presented at Saturday's State Central Committee meeting seeks to rescind the endorsement.

Party executive director Jon Bargas doesn't think it stands much of a chance.

"From what I can tell, it's just a handful of people supporting it. Even if it comes to a vote, it's likely to be soundly defeated," Bargas said.

The author of the resolution, Roger Hamilton, concedes, "They have the numbers."

Hamilton is also demanding a Federal Election Commission investigation into what he says are suspicious ties between the party, and the elder and younger Tauzin. All sides vigorously deny it.