Free Republic

La. GOP backs party primaries Group to target federal vote first By MARSHA SHULER mshuler@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau State Republicans voted Saturday to support a return to party primaries in federal elections, after abandoning the idea of including state and local elections as well. Meanwhile, the Republican State Central Committee also decided to investigate moving Louisiana's next presidential primary to February 2008 to bring more attention to the state and its voters' preference. The business marked the first meeting of the Republican leadership since the party scored major victories in fall elections. Party leaders rejoiced and there were plenty of...

Tauzin faces five opponents in bid to replace father By DOUG SIMPSON Associated Press writer HOUMA -- Some voters affectionately call him "Little Billy." A political rival calls him simply, "That Boy." Billy Tauzin III's name is as famous as any other in south Louisiana politics, familiar to the oilmen, shrimp fishermen and sugar cane farmers of Cajun towns like Houma and New Iberia. They know Tauzin's father, U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin Jr., a former oil rig worker who won a seat in Congress in 1980, was re-elected 11 times and, as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee,...

Tauzin advocates more local control of education dollars By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau Billy Tauzin III, candidate for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District, said Tuesday he wants to reverse the spending priorities of federal school accountability requirements and push for more local control of federal education dollars. Tauzin, a Thibodaux Republican and regional manager for BellSouth, is one of six candidates in the race to replace his father, U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-Chackbay, who is retiring. The other five candidates are fellow Republicans Kevin Chiasson, a former doctor from the Thibodaux area; state Sen. Craig Romero of New Iberia; and...

Tauzin unveils energy plan Incentives for deep wells in coastal shallows included By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau Billy Tauzin III, a Republican candidate for Louisiana's 3rd District congressional seat, said Tuesday he wants to give oil and gas companies reason to dig a little deeper closer to shore. Tax breaks and relief from royalty requirements for businesses willing to go to the extra expense of drilling deeper inshore and in the shallow coastal area of the Gulf of Mexico are part of the energy plan Tauzin unveiled this week. Tauzin, a Thibodaux Republican and lobbyist for BellSouth, is one...

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...