Free Republic

Boustany driven to enter race Frustration in dealing with issues was spark By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau LAFAYETTE -- Retired heart surgeon Charles Boustany Jr. seems to be getting taken seriously in his first run for public office. The Lafayette Republican's candidacy in the Nov. 2 election for Louisiana's open 7th Congressional District seat has gotten the open backing of major figures in the national Republican Party -- including Vice President Dick Cheney -- hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign money and the targeted opposition of national Democrats. A year ago, Boustany, 48, was still a practicing heart...

Mount outlines her views Candidate decries jobs taken overseas By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau LAFAYETTE -- State Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles and a candidate in the 7th District congressional race, said Tuesday she wants to target the tax benefits of companies that send their jobs or money overseas. Mount rolled out her economic plan at a pair of stops in the population centers of the district -- Lafayette and Lake Charles. She said at a news conference at the Lafayette Museum of Natural History that she wants to study the tax structure to to find ways to cut...