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• Jun 30, 2011 LA Democrats Announce 2011 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner Louisiana Democrats Announce the 2011 Thomas Jefferson - Andrew Jackson Dinner honoring Our Democratic Mayors for their dedicated service to Louisiana. Featuring special guest U.S. Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware and honoring with our second annual Lifetime Achievement Award Honorable...    more...  
• Apr 26, 2011 Louisiana Dems Oppose Jindal's Health Care Privatization Push "Bobby Jindal's plan to sell the Office of Group Benefits could jeopardize the quality of health care received by more than 250,000 active and retired Louisiana workers and their dependents," Leach said in a statement.    more   
• Apr 22, 2011 Jindal's Birther Bill is a Masquerade for bigotry "Piyush Amrit Jindal is the last man in America who should give his blessing to a birther bill."    more   
• Apr 21, 2011 Critics Blast Jindal's Hush-Hush Health Care Privatization Push With his state facing a $1.6 billion budget hole, Governor Bobby Jindal is pushing to privatize the agency that manages Louisiana state employees' health insurance, even though -- or perhaps, because -- it's managed to amass a half billion dollar surplus. The Jindal administration is keeping...    more   
• Apr 14, 2011 New Congressional Map Sets Up Landry/Boustany Battle "I don't feel like I can trust anything he says," Fleming said of Boustany late last week. "Everything he told me, he reneged on."    more   
• Apr 14, 2011 Speaker Tucker Hires Republican Firm to Present Redistricting Maps You're tax dollars are being used to pay a Republican law firm in DC to argue that the House redistricting plan is legal because Speaker Jim Tucker's chief non-partisan adviser says it isn't.    more   
• Apr 10, 2011 AG Caldwell Funneling BP Cash to Campaign Contributors The Louisiana Attorney General's Office has spent $4 million and counting of BP's money to hire outside lawyers and accountants to help piece together lawsuits against the company. Five of the seven law firms hired poured more than $80,000 total into Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's campaign...    more   
• Apr 4, 2011 Jindal boosts partisanship in remapping BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal said weeks ago that he knew his boundaries in the remapping of state political districts, and they didn't include much involvement in the redesign efforts. Jindal's boundaries apparently have expanded since then.    more   
• Apr 3, 2011 Some loopholes suit Gov. Bobby Jindal just fine So it's safe to say that Jindal knew something back then about federal funding of health care, and about loopholes. It's safe to say that, now that he holds Foster's old job, he still does -- not just because of his own history, but also because it's written all over his proposed $24.9 billion...    more   
• Apr 1, 2011 Democratic leader calls on Jindal to return BP-linked money Baton Rouge - The chair of the House Democratic Caucus told his legislative colleagues Thursday that Gov. Bobby Jindal should apologize for attending a fund-raiser hosted by the CEO of a company handling oil spill claims, and said the governor should return any money raised through the event.    more   
• Mar 29, 2011 State Democratic Party calls on governor to back off redistricting pressure BATON ROUGE -- The chairman of the state Democratic Party today called on Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal to end the political maneuvering in redistricting the state Legislature to favor his party.    more   
• Nov 23, 2009 Our Views: Inconsistent on nominees Louisiana’s own David Vitter was among the Republicans casting a hypocritical and unjustifiable vote for the filibuster against the elevation of U.S. District Judge David Hamilton, of Indiana, to an appeals court in the Midwest. Does Vitter recall his denunciations of Democrats for delaying...    more   
• Nov 6, 2009 Letter: Jindal health-care credibility low For millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans, comprehensive, humane health-care reform is a necessity. But Gov. Bobby Jindal is the Republican spokesman against universal health-care coverage and the public health option, which he recently pronounced as "dead."    more...  
• Nov 5, 2009 Our Views: Fostering real ethics reform Although Jindal and many of his supporters seem ready to hang a "Mission Accomplished" banner over the cause of ethics reform, there is still much work to do in truly improving the ethics climate in Louisiana government.    more...  
• Oct 9, 2009 State worker’s firing blamed on Katrina A state worker fired the day after publicly criticizing state government last week was actually told she was terminated because of problems pertaining to Hurricane Katrina four years ago, her attorney said.    more   
• Oct 5, 2009 Silence Isn't Golden As is often the case, Jindal didn't show for the meeting, sending staff members in his place. Those in attendance were incensed, and rightly so. Jindal has developed a talent of late for offending those people who were his biggest supporters by snubbing them—showing up late, if at all, for...    more   
• Sep 29, 2009 CREW Files Bar Complaint Against Sen. Vitter Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a bar complaint with the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel against Senator David Vitter (R-LA) for violating Louisiana's rules of professional conduct for lawyers.    more   
• Sep 24, 2009 Don't trust Vitter on health care Far from common sense, the plan David Vitter endorsed can only be characterized as radical. It not only calls for scrapping all employer-based health insurance, it also proposes ending tax breaks for small businesses that provide health insurance to their employees.    more   
• Aug 31, 2009 In endorsements, Jindal has the minus touch Gov. Bobby Jindal put his name on the line again for a Republican candidate this weekend and, just like previous endorsements, it failed to resonate with voters.    more   
• Aug 30, 2009 Governor's Sunday helicopter travels have come at taxpayers' expense The helicopter that the governor uses the most costs $1,200 an hour to operate -- about $45,000 for five months of church visits.    more   
• Aug 30, 2009 Thierry claims seat in runoff Ledricka Johnson Thierry won a runoff election Saturday for state House District 40 in St. Landry Parish, piling up a wide margin of votes over former Opelousas Mayor Anna Simmons.    more   
• Aug 30, 2009 Chabert wins state Senate seat Norby Chabert beat out competitor Brent Callais Saturday in a runoff election for the state Senate seat representing southern Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, according to complete but unofficial results.    more   
• Jun 9, 2009 Gov. Jindal's transparency antidote Louisianians need to know as much as possible about how officials, including the governor, make decisions and about how those who influence public-policy decisions. Gov. Jindal should support those efforts, not defeat them.    more   
• Jun 9, 2009 Tax-break delay makes sense To help deal with a projected $1.3 billion deficit, the Jindal administration has proposed $219 million in cuts to higher education on the heels of a mid-year cut that has already been imposed.    more   
• Jun 2, 2009 Where is our Jindal? Why is our governor, well educated himself and a former college system leader, so slow to take up the cause of higher education? On one hand, he urges young people to stay in Louisiana; on the other, campuses, on his watch, may experience savage cutbacks.    more   
• May 26, 2009 Villere stunt demeans law Despite his repeated preaching about transparency in government, Jindal has fought to kill any reforms that would improve public access to Governor's Office records. ... Public records laws -- whatever [Louisiana GOP Chair Roger] Villere, or for that matter, Jindal, thinks, are fundamental to the...    more   
• May 18, 2009 Humiliating the House Perhaps someone can find in the State Capitol a soul credulous enough to believe Gov. Bobby Jindal or his top aides had nothing to do with the shameful episode in which two members of the House hid in the Governor's office one evening last week rather than show up for two critical committee...    more   
• May 7, 2009 Vitter blasted on FEMA delay The White House on Wednesday blasted U.S. Sen. David Vitter for holding up the nomination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator. Noting that the start of hurricane season is only three weeks away, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called the Louisiana Republican's hold...    more   
• May 6, 2009 GOP official urged to quit A Republican lawmaker called for the head of the state GOP to resign Tuesday night for sending a public records request to a legislative leader who has been a critic of Bobby Jindal. ... Jindal refused, through a spokesman, to comment Tuesday.    more   
• May 4, 2009 When will voters see through Jindal? Most other states accept that taxpayers are entitled to know what their governor is doing to earn his salary, but this exemption gives [Gov. Bobby] Jindal a pretext to continue pulling a veil over just about everything he does. All is talk of "transparency" is pure humbug.    more   
• May 4, 2009 Lt. Gov. Landrieu calls for suspension of tax cuts, criticizes Jindal's budget strategy Jindal, having ruled out tax increases as an option, has proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts and warned that more could be coming in future budget years. Landrieu said that approach -- from across-the-board cuts to blanket opposition to taxes -- are fundamentally at odds with the...    more   
• Apr 29, 2009 GOP lawmakers criticize Gov. Jindal On a day when two tax proposals failed, Republican leaders criticized Gov. Bobby Jindal for a strict anti-tax stand, using harsh words during debate over legislation that would have raised fuel taxes.    more   
• Apr 28, 2009 Gov. Jindal's apology for "mistakes" raises questions Some lawmakers acknowledged that the governor recently told a meeting of the Republican legislative delegation that he regretted vetoing their [pay] raise.    more   
• Apr 22, 2009 Jindal's stimulus plan ripped Two state legislators from Baton Rouge told a group Tuesday they will push for Louisiana to get all of the $8 billion in money and tax credits available from the federal stimulus package.    more   
• Apr 17, 2009 Democratic Party leader says Jindal should repay travel costs The head of Louisiana's Democratic Party is calling on Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal to reimburse State Police for the costs of his trooper bodyguards when he travels out of state for campaign fundraisers. An Associated Press review shows that providing legally mandated security on those and other...    more   
• Apr 16, 2009 Security for Jindal's travels cost La. taxpayers As Gov. Bobby Jindal's profile in the Republican party rises, so does the bill for Louisiana taxpayers. The state has paid at least $52,000 in trooper costs for Jindal's fundraising and political travel ... At least 17 out-of-state trips weren't tied to state business, an AP review of state...    more   
• Apr 9, 2009 Mr. Cao's persistent pattern Public vacillation, handwringing, and faux-maverickiness, followed by a party-line vote, seems to be an ongoing tic of [U.S. Rep. Joseph] Cao's.    more   
• Apr 9, 2009 Rep. Melancon focuses on recovery The reason Louisiana has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation is because of federal hurricane recovery funds flowing into the state, U.S. Rep. Charles Melancon, D-Napoleonville, said Wednesday.    more   
• Mar 23, 2009 While Mr. Perry and Mr. Jindal fiddle Republican governors who have been threatening to refuse federal aid rather than sensibly expand state unemployment insurance programs are putting ideology ahead of the needs of their constituents. The two most prominent grandstanders -- Rick Perry of Texas and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana --...    more   
• Mar 9, 2009 Jindal's rhetoric sharpens La. divisions Democratic lawmakers bristled at Jindal's criticisms of the $787 billion stimulus plans crafted by President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, and they've accused the governor of playing national politics to the detriment of Louisiana. ... In national interviews, Jindal talks...    more   
• Mar 6, 2009 Jindal muddles not only style but substance Jindal had no answer to the obvious question: do you agree with Rush Limbaugh? The flamboyant talk-show host said, in a much-quoted speech, that he hoped for the failure of the Obama administration. Jindal praised Limbaugh as a "great leader" for conservatives. The governor could not bring...    more   
• Mar 5, 2009 Napolitano, Donovan announce millions for long-term hurricane recovery Two Obama cabinet members announced in New Orleans today that their departments will provide hundreds of millions to the state's long-range hurricane recovery efforts.    more   
• Mar 3, 2009 Jindal erupts in nonsense That the Rhodes scholar governor did not do his homework on “something called volcano monitoring” is bad enough. That the obvious parallel to hurricanes in Louisiana did not occur to him was worse.    more   
• Jan 21, 2009 President Obama Before a jubilant crowd of more than a million, Barack Hussein Obama claimed his place in history as America’s first black president, summoning a dispirited nation to unite in hope against the “gathering clouds and raging storms” of war and economic woe.    more   
• Nov 5, 2008 BARACK OBAMA IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive. The election of Mr. Obama amounted to a national catharsis -- a repudiation of a...    more   
• Nov 5, 2008 SEN. MARY LANDRIEU WINS THIRD TERM ... Sen. Mary Landrieu defeated GOP state Treasurer John Kennedy on Tuesday to claim a third term. ... With her victory, Landrieu joins a widening Democratic Senate. Precise party breakdowns were not determined late Tuesday night, but available results heralded a strong day nationally for the party.    more   
• Oct 27, 2008 GAMBIT WEEKLY ENDORSES JIM HARLAN FOR CONGRESS [Jim] Harlan also has previous Washington experience that far outstrips Scalise's five months in Congress. He served as an energy policy adviser in both the Carter and Reagan administrations, and he helped draft the Energy Security Act of 1980. Closer to home, Scalise believes FEMA should remain...    more...  
• Oct 24, 2008 Boustany afraid to debate in Lake Charles 7 News contacted Boustany's Chief of Staff Jeff Dobrozsie for a comment on Boustany's debate absence. Dobrozsie said quote, "He has other long-standing planned commitments." So we asked Boustany's Chief of Staff. What are the commitments? He responded, "He has other long-standing planned...    more   
• Oct 24, 2008 Bill Cassidy's insensitive, tone-deaf commercial named one of the worst in the country In the immediate wake of Hurricane Gustav's devastation, Republican Bill Cassidy filmed an offensive commercial that didn't even mention the hurricane or the post-storm challenges facing the people of the 6th District. Fittingly, top political consultants from both sides of the aisle have now...    more   
• Oct 7, 2008 Where's Charles Boustany? Incumbent Republican Congressman Charles Boustany sure seems to be making himself scarce these days, and voters in the 7th Congressional District are taking notice.    more   
• Oct 7, 2008 Republican LaBruzzo disciplined for proposing to pay women to be sterilized A Louisiana state lawmaker was removed from his position as vice chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee Monday, over a controversial proposal he made two weeks ago. The state Republican Party, meanwhile, is staying mum about the lawmaker -- and his proposal.    more   
• Sep 29, 2008 Harlan Closing in on Scalise In the First District Congressional race, Democrat Jim Harlan is gaining serious ground on Republican incumbent Steve Scalise.    more   
• Sep 29, 2008 McCain Suspends His Campaign and Nation's Disbelief For at least a decade, McCain has been Mr. DeRegulation, and the financial market meltdown is widely held to have resulted from a lack of effective oversight. In an interview that surfaced last week, he even told an actuarial magazine that he hoped to do for health care what deregulation had done...    more   
• Sep 16, 2008 Organized and proud of it And now, a few words in defense of community organizers. To be honest, I didn't really know they needed defending until the recent Republican National Convention, when, in back-to-back prime time addresses, keynote speaker Rudy Giuliani and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin unloaded on them,...    more   
• Sep 9, 2008 Our Views: La. should enact worker bias ban Gay employees, contrary to the governor’s statement on the issue, are not covered by existing federal or state discrimination laws. That’s not good for business. It’s not good for the state’s image as a place where all who want to contribute to society should have an equal shot at doing so.    more   
• Sep 5, 2008 Louisiana Democrats’ diverse delegation WASHINGTON - Louisiana's delegation to the Democratic National Convention will be one of the most diverse in the nation.    more   
• Sep 5, 2008 Diversity elusive for Louisiana GOP St. PAUL — Louisiana is a state with one of the highest black populations in the nation, but that’s not apparent at the Republican National Convention, where not a single Louisiana delegate or alternate is black.    more   
• Sep 5, 2008 Jay Dardenne: The Katherine Harris of Louisiana? Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Darden, a Republican, has cleared Jefferson Parish Registrar of Voters Dennis DiMarco, also a Republican, of any wrongdoing in connection with a GOP party-switch mailer sent to 12,000 West Bank Democratic and Independent voters asking them to join the Republican...    more   
• Aug 9, 2008 Louisiana elections officials to investigate GOP mailer BATON ROUGE — Louisiana's top elections official is investigating a Republican Party mailer that urges Jefferson Parish residents to join the GOP and indicates it was sent by the parish's registrar of voters.    more   
• Aug 8, 2008 Kennedy gets ribbing from Democrat BATON ROUGE -- Republican Senatorial candidate John Kennedy preached to a choir of 22 Republicans Thursday gathered for a regular luncheon meeting, but the welcome table posted outside the restaurant carried different "Kennedy for Senate" lyrics.    more   
• Aug 6, 2008 Cravins race draws national attention The Seventh Congressional District race in Louisiana, in which state Sen. Don Cravins Jr. and Peter Vidrine are challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, is gaining increasing national attention.    more   
• Jul 20, 2008 Advocate: Democratic party chairman Dean speaks in BR BATON ROUGE-- Howard Dean capped off two days of zigzagging across Louisiana and Mississippi with a voter registration rally in Baton Rouge Saturday afternoon.Speaking on a raised platform in front of New Hope Baptist Church, the chair of the Democratic National Committee promised voters that the...    more   
• Jul 20, 2008 Shreveport Times: Howard Dean visits Shreveport SHREVEPORT-- A Democratic voter registration rally drew dozens of people early Saturday morning. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was the featured speaker at the event. He arrived at the rally in a red, white and blue bus that featured the logo of Sen. Barack Obama, the...    more   
• Jul 19, 2008 Times-Picayune: PITCH STOP NEW ORLEANS-- When the bus carrying Howard Dean pulled up in front of the Louisiana Democratic Party's headquarters in New Orleans on Friday, more than 100 supporters, some clutching "Obama '08" signs, were waiting on the lawn.    more   
• Jul 6, 2008 Advocate: ‘Blue Dogs’ grow WASHINGTON — Louisiana may be losing seniority in Congress, but two state Democratic delegation members are gaining strength through what has become the swing caucus in the House: The Blue Dog Coalition.    more   
• Jul 5, 2008 Times-Picayune: Landrieu-Kennedy Senate battle tops fall political lineup BATON ROUGE -- Call it political irony: As Republicans embark on their long-shot attempt to recapture control of the U.S. Senate, their hopes depend in no small part on a Southerner named John Kennedy.    more   
• Apr 7, 2008 WAFB: Vitter May Be Called to Testify in Prostitution Case; Driver Backs into Sign in Gonzales GONZALES, La. - A driver for U.S. Senator David Vitter backed into a "no parking" sign as he tried to scurry the Senator away from reporters in Gonzales, Louisiana Monday morning. Reporters wanted to question Vitter further about the possibility that he will be called as a witness in the trial...    more   
• Mar 30, 2008 Times-Picayune: Landrieu gears up for GOP challenge By Stephanie Grace Sometimes elections touted as cliffhangers live up to their billing. Sometimes, they don't. One race that could go either way is the reelection bid of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, tagged by national analysts as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in what's expected to...    more   
• Mar 16, 2008 Advocate: Democrats Choose Chief BATON ROUGE- Baton Rouge lawyer Chris Whittington won re-election Saturday as Louisiana Democratic Party chairman, warding off a challenge from some political heavyweights unhappy with party showings in recent elections.    more   
• Feb 9, 2008 Times Picayune: Obama wins Louisiana Democratic Primary BATON ROUGE -- Illinois Sen. Barack Obama launched another surge in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Saturday, defeating New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Louisiana primary after caucus victories in Nebraska and Washington state earlier in the day.    more   
• Jan 27, 2008 The Advocate: ’Fessing up, but a bit late Bobby Jindal’s campaign gets points for ’fessing up, but the ethics penalty to be assessed on the campaign isn’t for a small and highly technical issue of campaign reporting. The campaign did not properly report expenditures on its behalf made by the Republican Party of Louisiana. The issue of...    more   
• Nov 18, 2007 AP: DEMOCRAT 'BUDDY' CALDWELL IS LOUISIANA'S NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL BATON ROUGE -- Louisianians elected Democrat James "Buddy" Caldwell as the state's attorney general Saturday, giving the veteran district attorney from Tallulah an overwhelming runoff victory over Republican Royal Alexander in a race that seemed to lose steam once voters had dispatched...    more   
• Nov 18, 2007 AP: Democrats maintain control of the state House BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Democrats maintained their hold on the state House of Representatives, with Saturday's runoff elections giving them the slimmest of majorities: 53 seats in the 105-member chamber.    more   
• Oct 31, 2007 The Advocate: Moreau endorses Caldwell in AG race Democrat attorney general candidate Buddy Caldwell on Tuesday picked up the endorsement of Republican District Attorney Doug Moreau.    more   
• Oct 26, 2007 AP: Caldwell Wins Backing from Teacher Union, Sheriff's Association BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana attorney general candidate James "Buddy" Caldwell has picked up one endorsement from a teachers union and another from a law-enforcement group.    more   
• Oct 25, 2007 The Advocate: Walter Boasso known as hard worker The fact that state Sen. Walter Boasso launched his container cleaning company with a garden hose and a box of Tide appealed to former legislator Armand Brinkhaus. “I thought that’s no false pride,” Brinkhaus said of deciding to send a campaign contribution to Boasso after watching his...    more   
• Oct 24, 2007 Times-Picayune: Alexander Optimistic, but Odds Favor Caldwell BATON ROUGE -- Republican attorney general hopeful Royal Alexander says that a runoff gives him new life in his first run for public office, but returns from Saturday's primary suggest he'll have to overcome an electoral landscape already tilted in favor of Democrat James "Buddy" Caldwell.    more   
• Sep 24, 2007 The Advocate: Campbell has tenacious, straight-spoken approach Friend and foe alike say Foster Campbell has a blunt manner and a bulldog mentality. “He don’t back up,” said R.D. Elston, an 86-year-old farmer who has known Campbell for nearly three decades. “When he believes it, he believes it. He puts it on the table.” Nowhere is that more evident...    more   
• Nov 29, 2006 Playing the Race Card With a newfound pocket of African-American voters in north Louisiana, Democrats could be in better shape than they thought over the next two years.    more   
• Nov 9, 2006 Head of Democratic Party says new Congress will be good for state The head of the state Democratic Party says a Democratic-controlled Congress will be good for Louisiana. Baton Rouge attorney Chris Whittington made the comments on Tuesday's national congressional elections in a telephone interview Wednesday with the American Press.    more   
• Nov 8, 2006 Democrats win House, promise new direction Democrats promised Wednesday to lead the country in a new direction after winning control of the House for the first time in 12 years in midterm elections.    more   
• Oct 15, 2006 Romero's election prospects dimming As political fortunes go, Republican Craig Romero's peaked nearly two years ago, when he came within striking distance of a coveted seat in Congress.    more   
• Oct 13, 2006 7th District campaign revs up Don Cravins Sr., a Democratic state senator and mayor-elect of Opelousas, said Thursday that he would not call the Nov. 7 race for Louisiana’s 7th District congressional seat competitive at this point — but that could change soon.    more   
• Oct 9, 2006 Charlie Melancon: Tackles tough tests in 1st term Not 48 hours after he stood on the House floor to be sworn in to the 3rd Congressional District office, Rep. Charlie Melancon got word from half a world away of a tragedy that would reverberate in the swath of southeast Louisiana he now represented.    more   
• Oct 4, 2006 Big ideas, small budget: Stagg runs for District 7 Without the financial support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Mike Stagg, Democratic candidate for the District 7 U.S. representative seat, is vying against incumbent U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. on a platform that includes health-care overhauls, a nationwide minimum wage...    more   
• Sep 7, 2006 Melancon campaign releases poll showing wide lead NAPOLEONVILLE -- Poll numbers for the ongoing 3rd Congressional District race were released this week by the campaign of incumbent U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville. Not surprisingly, the survey awarded Melancon a 32-point lead over his main challenger, Republican state Sen. Craig...    more   
• Sep 3, 2006 Francis Heitmeier: Democrat and Proud State Sen. Francis Heitmeier of Algiers is an unapologetic Democratic politician. He got involved in politics at an early age. At 56, the New Orleans native has been part of elections as far back as he can remember.    more   
• Aug 31, 2006 National Demos promise fast aid for La. Bills to help Katrina-stricken Gulf Coast residents by streamlining the insurance-claims process, making more affordable housing available, restoring coastal wetlands and giving states a bigger share of royalties on oil and gas produced off their coastlines will be among the first measures to be...    more   
• Jul 30, 2006 Governor tells party she will seek a second term BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco told officials of the state Democratic Party on Saturday she will seek a second term as governor next year so she can continue to oversee the rebuilding of the hurricane-ravaged state. "I am not going to quit; I am going to lead the battle," Blanco said at...    more   
• Jun 13, 2006 House passes $94.5 billion for Iraq war, hurricane relief WASHINGTON (AP) -- As President Bush bolstered support for the Iraq government by appearing with its leaders in Baghdad, the House on Tuesday approved an additional $66 billion for military operations there and in Afghanistan.    more   
• Feb 1, 2006 Message from the Chairman Dear Fellow Democrats,
  I am writing today to introduce myself as the new Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, and to start a conversation with you and every Democrat across our great state about the future of our Party.    more...  
• Jan 30, 2006 Times-Picayune: Demos' prospects rosy, Blanco says BATON ROUGE -- The Republican White House is playing "raw politics" with Louisiana in handling requests for federal hurricane recovery money, a strategy that could bolster Democrats' chances of winning elections later this year and beyond, Gov. Kathleen Blanco told a partisan crowd of Democrats...    more   
• Jan 28, 2006 AP: Louisiana's Democrats try to refocus BATON ROUGE-- Even before Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Democratic Party was struggling in a conservative state skewing more Republican in its voting tendencies. Voters overwhelmingly backed President Bush for re-election in 2004 and selected their first Republican U.S. senator since...    more   
• Jan 24, 2006 Times-Picayune: Federal report predicted cataclysm WASHINGTON -- As Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast, President Bush's top disaster agency warned of the likelihood of levee breaches that could leave New Orleans submerged "for weeks or months," a communications blackout that would hamper rescue efforts and "at least 100,000...    more   
• Jan 24, 2006 Times-Picayune: October primary for Congress tossed BATON ROUGE -- A law to return the state's congressional primaries to October is unconstitutional -- legislation based mostly on a "play on words" -- a federal judge ruled Monday.    more   
• Jan 24, 2006 Times-Picayune: Recovery panel boasts diverse membership BATON ROUGE -- The members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority include prominent community leaders from all over the state, although the majority hail from the southern half of the state devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.    more   
• Jan 22, 2006 Times-Picayune: Oblivious: Breezy Bush doesn't seem to get it So yes, it's great that the president is telling visitors that New Orleans is open for business. Doing more to help the city get there would provide a much, much bigger boost.    more   
• Jan 11, 2006 The Advocate: Dutch storm protection employs colossal gates THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — About 50 local, state and federal Louisiana delegation members arrived in the Netherlands Tuesday for a three-day review of the country’s storm protection and water management systems.    more   
• Jan 11, 2006 Times-Picayune: State tells N.O. to rework list of polling places BATON ROUGE -- A joint legislative committee Tuesday rejected an emergency plan to allow New Orleans elections to proceed, claiming some of the special polling places proposed would force voters to crisscross the city to cast ballots.    more   
• Jan 11, 2006 Times-Picayune: In Congress, vast majority yet to see ruins WASHINGTON -- If seeing is believing, New Orleans' leaders may still have some work to do in convincing members of Congress about the level of damage the city suffered during Hurricane Katrina.    more   
• Jan 11, 2006 Associated Press: Nagin tells filmmakers the show must go on LOS ANGELES — New Orleans has a long way to go to recover from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina, but that shouldn’t scare Hollywood off from filming in the Big Easy.    more   
• Jan 10, 2006 Times-Picayune: Ater wants to ease mail-voting rules BATON ROUGE -- Secretary of State Al Ater has asked Gov. Kathleen Blanco to include in a possible special session legislation that would allow hurricane-displaced New Orleans voters who registered by mail a one-time exemption from a law that requires them to cast their first vote in person.    more   
• Jan 10, 2006 The Advocate: Blanco showed she’s smart and tough (Letter to the Editor) Gov. Blanco, keep standing up for the people of Louisiana.    more   
• Jan 9, 2006 Associated Press: Louisiana delegation heading to Netherlands NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana's governor, U.S. senators and more than 40 government, business and education leaders leave today for the Netherlands to study the flood control systems protecting a nation much farther below sea-level than New Orleans.    more   
• Jan 7, 2006 Times-Picayune: U.S. OKs changes in La. election laws BATON ROUGE -- Elections law changes passed in last year's two legislative sessions have won approval from the U.S. Justice Department, including a measure to allow "early voting" and another that would punish voter registration drive organizers who do not turn over the names of the new voters to...    more   
• Jan 7, 2006 Times-Picayune: Housing fix on the way, officials say BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco said city and state officials feel they have identified sites for temporary housing in New Orleans for about 40,000 of the almost 47,000 families that have sought a place to live after being swept from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.    more   
• Jan 6, 2006 Times-Picayune: Blanco puts foot down about trailers Seeking to break what she called an unacceptable logjam, Gov. Kathleen Blanco proposed a kind of summit Thursday with city leaders at which they could resolve lingering issues that have held up the delivery and installation of travel trailers in New Orleans.    more   
• Dec 21, 2005 Atlanta Journal Constitution: Category 5 speech; Category 1 action President Bush pledged a major post-Katrina rebuilding effort in a September speech in New Orleans. But the federal government's deeds don't yet match Bush's words.    more   
• Dec 17, 2005 DNC Chairman Howard Dean delivers radio address To listen to the audio, click here .    more...  
• Dec 14, 2005 Times-Picayune: Senator Landrieu: Are we alone on the road to recovery? (Editorial) The key question is: Will the president and Republican Congress allow us a fighting chance to reclaim our land, lives, and dreams? Or will they be guided instead by a blinding ideology that dismisses the role of government?"    more   
• Dec 11, 2005 John DeRosier wins runoff for District Attorney Democrat John DeRosier beat opponent Rob McCorquodale in the runoff election for Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Saturday.    more   
• Dec 8, 2005 CNN: Dean says Democrats have plan Leading Democrats sought Thursday to promote a specific plan for what party chairman Howard Dean called a "strategic redeployment" of U.S. troops from Iraq.    more   
• Dec 8, 2005 Times-Picayune: Delay April election too, Blanco is urged BATON ROUGE -- Secretary of State Al Ater is urging Gov. Kathleen Blanco to scrub the April 29 statewide election on two constitutional amendments lawmakers passed in last month's special session, saying it will save the state about $2.8 million, some of which could be used to track down voters...    more   
• Dec 6, 2005 The Advocate: Katrina fatigue cause for concern (editorial) We hope that there is a building backlash against Katrina fatigue, and that there will be pressure to show more significant results for the afflicted people of Louisiana.    more   
• Dec 3, 2005 The Advocate: New Orleans elections postponed Secretary of State Al Ater recommended postponing the New Orleans municipal elections scheduled for February 4, 2006. He cited that mechanical, logistical and financial problems stand in the way of elections for mayor, council, sheriffs, assessors and other local elected positions in...    more   
• Dec 3, 2005 Times-Picayune: Officials may stay on past normal 4 years New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the entire City Council and a host of other local elected officials likely will remain in office beyond the four-year terms scheduled to end May 1, after Gov. Kathleen Blanco agreed Friday to postpone the city's Feb. 4 municipal elections.    more   
• Nov 29, 2005 Times-Picayune: Don't forget our levees (Editorial) We need money to fix the levee system in time for next year's hurricane season, and we need a commitment to building a Category 5 system over the long term.    more   
• Nov 29, 2005 Times-Picayune: DNC to hold meeting in N.O. WASHINGTON -- The Democratic National Committee will hold its spring 2006 meeting in New Orleans, providing an economic boost of 400 visitors as the city continues its recovery from Hurricane Katrina, officials said Monday.    more   
• Nov 23, 2005 The Advocate: Democratic legislator blasts Bush Democratic state Sen. Butch Gautreaux stepped on the State Senate floor Tuesday to deliver a rare partisan political speech blasting President Bush and the Republican Congress.    more   
• Nov 22, 2005 Times-Picayune: Build Category 5 levees, senator says WASHINGTON -- Five days after meeting with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the Senate's Democratic leader said Monday the party is committed to "rebuilding New Orleans and all of south Louisiana with stronger levee systems to protect against Category 5 hurricanes."    more   
• Nov 22, 2005 Times-Picayune: Emergency election plan goes to Senate BATON ROUGE -- The House decided Monday that the secretary of state must win approval of the full Legislature to put in motion emergency election plans during or immediately after a disaster declared by the governor.    more   
• Nov 22, 2005 Washington Post: Bring Democracy to Congress (Op-Ed) Perhaps we should redeploy the democracy experts we have sent to the Middle East and ask them to work on our Congress. The past few days have confirmed that our national government is dysfunctional.    more   
• Nov 20, 2005 Times-Picayune: New storm mandate has an old ring to it WASHINGTON -- Congress told the Army Corps of Engineers this month to figure out how best to protect south Louisiana from hurricanes more powerful than Katrina and Rita and report back in May.    more   
• Nov 20, 2005 Times-Picayune: An Editorial: It's time for a nation to return the favor We need the federal government -- we need our Congress -- to fulfill the promises made to us in the past. We need to be safe. We need to be able to go about our business feeding and fueling the rest of the nation. We need better protection next hurricane season than we had this year.    more   
• Nov 19, 2005 Washington Post: Another Grand Jury for Leak Case The prosecutor in the CIA leak case said yesterday that he plans to present evidence to another federal grand jury, signaling a new and potentially significant turn in the investigation into the unmasking of CIA operative Valerie Plame.    more   
• Nov 19, 2005 Times-Picayune: A new beginning (Editorial) Orleans Parish schools could have limped along for years suffering from the bad management and lost opportunities of the past. Hurricane Katrina, in all its fury, changed their destiny.    more   
• Nov 19, 2005 The Advocate: Operation Hope to offer advice, grants Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Friday partnered with a firm that helps individuals facing debt collectors and foreclosures in the wake of major disasters.    more   
• Nov 15, 2005 Times-Picayune: Bill would make it easier for evacuees to cast ballots BATON ROUGE -- A Senate committee approved a proposal Monday that proponents say will make it easier for hurricane-displaced citizens to vote.    more   
• Nov 15, 2005 The Advocate: Bush's policies are not geared to help La. (Letter to the Editor) What have President Bush's policies done for Louisiana? Bush refused to budget U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests needed for flood control. Bush cut rental subsidies. Bush rescinded the Davis-Bacon Act so that repair workers would not be paid a prevailing wage.    more   
• Nov 14, 2005 CNN: Poll: Bush approval mark at all-time low (CNN) -- Beset with an unpopular war and an American public increasingly less trusting, President Bush faces the lowest approval rating of his presidency, according to a national poll released Monday.    more   
• Nov 14, 2005 The Advocate: Appreciates courage of Gov. Blanco (Letter to the Editor) God Bless the Blanco family, and we should all be thankful for their tremendous efforts.    more   
• Nov 14, 2005 Shreveport Times: Abandon cuts to student loans (Editorial) Proposed cuts to student loans are a tiny part of the overall federal budget but a really big issue for the poor college student struggling to make ends meet and looking toward post-graduation expenses.    more   
• Nov 13, 2005 Washington Post: The Right Way in Iraq (Op-Ed) An op-ed by former Senator and 2004 Vice Presidental nominee John Edwards (D- NC)    more   
• Nov 12, 2005 Times-Picayune: Lawmakers urge citizens to push for protection Saying he feels like the tree in the forest that nobody heard fall, U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon told the Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference that it's time for residents to take their case to the steps of the U.S. Capitol and demand immediate action from President Bush and Congress.    more   
• Nov 12, 2005 Times-Picayune: Vote of Confidence (Editorial) New Orleans has long been a contender for national political conventions; making the short list for both parties in recent years and hosting the 1988 convention that nominated the first President Bush.    more   
• Nov 9, 2005 TImes-Picayune: Some Demos touting N.O. for 2008 WASHINGTON -- A Maryland congressman is urging his fellow Democrats to hold the party's 2008 presidential nominating convention in New Orleans as a signal of national support for the city after its devastating losses from Hurricane Katrina.    more   
• Nov 4, 2005 CNN: 'Can I quit now?' FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged; E-mails give insight into Brown's leadership, attitude WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Louisiana congressman says e-mails written by the government's emergency response chief as Hurricane Katrina raged show a lack of concern for the unfolding tragedy and a failure in leadership.    more   
• Nov 3, 2005 The Hill: The Democrats stand for change (Op-Ed) An op-ed by DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.)    more   
• Aug 18, 2005 New secretary of state trying to get more 'voters' to vote By JOHN LaPLANTE jlaplante@theadvocate.com New Secretary of State Al Ater says too few people are voting, and he wants to know why. "The number of registered voters is going up, but the number of people voting is going down," Ater told the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday. A high...    more   
• Aug 14, 2005 Social Security Turns 70 (AP) Lawmakers and interest groups are gearing up for a fight this fall over Social Security, each side hoping to use the retirement and disability program's 70th birthday to build momentum.    more   
• Aug 10, 2005 Blanco: Focus on issues will turn tide in La. Changes in juvenile justice, schools, jobs to help, she says By WILL SENTELL Capitol news bureau Improvements in public schools, juvenile justice and jobs will help the state shake its heritage of crippling poverty, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Monday. "This heritage we have to work with...    more   
• Jul 29, 2005 Bush damages his credibility The Advocate (opinion) We seem to recall reading a description of President Bush as a man who says what he means and means what he says … until he doesn't.    more   
• Jul 29, 2005 Blanco touts tax credit for poor Child-care measure strengthens families, governor says By MARSHA SHULER Gov. Kathleen Blanco ballyhooed a new child-care tax credit for the poorest of the working poor Thursday, but none of them will get any of the money until 2007. Blanco touted the legislation that her administration...    more   
• Jul 28, 2005 Democrats target sex sites on web They want software, tax to protect kids By Bruce Alpert WASHINGTON -- Stymied by the courts in previous congressional efforts to clamp down on access to sexually graphic Web sites by children, a group of Democratic lawmakers Wednesday proposed legislation that would require adult...    more   
• Jul 26, 2005 Liberal Radio Hits Airwaves Liberal radio hits airwaves Clear Channel tests new lineup in BR area By CHAD CALDER ccalder@theadvocate.com Advocate business writer A 1,000-signature petition was enough to bring liberal talk radio to Baton Rouge, but it will take more than that to keep it here. Clear...    more   
• Jul 25, 2005 Congress close to allocating money for coast La. senators work to ensure $540 million budget isn't cut By Bruce Alpert WASHINGTON- House and Senate negotiators Sunday tentatively agreed to a complicated financing proposal that would give Louisiana hundreds of millions of dollars between 2007 and 2010 to help restore the state's...    more   
• Jul 23, 2005 Demos preparing comeback in LA Demos preparing comeback in La. They meet in N.O. to plan new strategy By April Yee Staff writer Democrats from Louisiana's northernmost hamlets as well as from posh suburbs and troubled city neighborhoods in and around New Orleans gathered Friday to plan what many acknowledge is,...    more   
• Jul 11, 2005 Petition gets liberal talk-radio in BR Al Franken and other liberal talk-radio hosts are coming to Baton Rouge's airwaves starting Tuesday, thanks to the efforts of six women interested in having liberal talk radio in the area, an organizer said.    more   
• Jul 8, 2005 Hurricane Postpones Beaucoup Blues Workshop New Orleans, LA –Friday, July 8th, 2005. As Hurricane Dennis menaces the Gulf Coast, organizers of Beaucoup Blues: Democrats for a Blue Louisiana regret to postpone the workshop and fundraiser, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 9th at Hilton Garden Inn in New Orleans . The...    more   
• Jul 5, 2005 La. Demo Party compiling responses to surveys of elected officials BATON ROUGE, La. State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Bernhard asked every Democrat holding an elected position in Louisiana to tell him their beliefs and political positions, and more than 800 have done so. The ten-page survey sent to 38-hundred elected Democrats is one step to putting...    more   
• Jun 29, 2005 Blanco touts health care plan By Gwen Filosa Staff writer The Times-Picayune Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Tuesday visited Children's Hospital, where more than 60 percent of the patients are eligible for Medicaid, to tout her new health care plan, passed but not yet signed into law, that is expected to generate $290...    more   
• Jun 27, 2005 Louisiana Democratic Party opens political season with fundraiser by Steve Sabludowsky 6/27/2005 “Five hundred days”. That was the mantra from Donna Brazile who was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Louisiana Democratic Party fundraiser at the Sheraton in Baton Rouge on Saturday. “Five hundred days” represented the...    more   
• Jun 26, 2005 State Demo chief seeks cash from DNC State Demo chief seeks cash from DNC National party rep calls request 'doable' By Ed Anderson BATON ROUGE -- State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Bernhard of Baton Rouge said Saturday he is seeking $600,000 to $1 million in the next four years from the national party to help Louisiana...    more   
• Jun 1, 2005 Group employs 28-foot inflatable gorilla to make case to leave Social Security alone By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Acadiana bureau LAFAYETTE -- A 28-foot gorilla has begun stalking some of Louisiana's Republican congressman, starting Tuesday by menacing U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany Jr.'s office in Lafayette's federal courthouse. While it wasn't...    more   
• May 23, 2005 GOVERNOR BLANCO PROPOSES $3,300 RAISE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS    more   
• May 5, 2005 Kerry stumps in Baton Rouge for health care legislation By DOUG SIMPSON The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Kerry came to a state where he was soundly beaten in last year's presidential race, campaigning at the Old State Capitol on Thursday for a health care plan he introduced in Congress. Kerry said his...    more   
• Apr 28, 2005 Blanco pushes income disclosure Governor pushes income disclosure Blanco: It's a tough sell to lawmakers By Ed Anderson Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco conceded Wednesday that it will be difficult to get lawmakers to pass legislation that would require incumbent House and Senate members and...    more   
• Apr 26, 2005 Teacher pay raises top Blanco's agenda Teacher pay raises top Blanco's agenda Her wish list includes closing hole in Medicaid By Robert Travis Scott Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco kicked off the 2005 session of the state Legislature on Monday by asking lawmakers to increase several taxes to pay for...    more   
• Apr 26, 2005 Dorsey takes No. 2 House position Dorsey takes No. 2 House position By MARSHA SHULER and JESSICA FENDER Capitol news bureau Rep. Yvonne Dorsey, D-Baton Rouge, ascended to the post of speaker pro tempore of the House as the 2005 legislative session got rolling Monday. Dorsey will be the No. 2 officer of the House,...    more   
• Apr 22, 2005 La. Lawmaker to see pope installed La. lawmaker to see pope installed Melancon is picked for inaugural Mass Washington bureau WASHINGTON -- First-term U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, will be one of 21 House members traveling to Rome for Sunday's inaugural Mass of Pope Benedict XVI. "I'm really looking...    more   
• Apr 22, 2005 Blanco wants disclosure of finances publicly shared Blanco wants disclosure of finances publicly shared By MARK BALLARD mballard@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau Gov. Kathleen Blanco wants legislators and legislative candidates to publicly disclose their personal finances. Last year the governor was unable to find a legislator...    more   
• Apr 14, 2005 Blanco shows substance as governor Blanco shows substance as governor by Sam Hanna The Livingston Parish News Online Gov. Kathleen Blanco has a basic characteristic that is essential for successful leadership: She is believable. And she obviously knows where she wants to take Louisiana. Blanco was all over Louisiana...    more...  
• Apr 13, 2005 Blanco makes health care her top priority Blanco makes health care her top priority Proposed bills target schools, the uninsured By Robert Travis Scott BATON ROUGE -- Changes in the state's health care system, including removing vending machines from schools to reduce obesity and providing money for those in the National Guard,...    more   
• Apr 3, 2005 This La. Democrat unworried This La. Democrat unworried By GERARD SHIELDS gshields@theadvocate.com Washington bureau For most people, being holed up in Washington for 30 days working 15 hours a day, seven days a week wouldn't sound like that much fun. But Ben Jeffers dived right in. The former Louisiana...    more   
• Apr 2, 2005 Louisiana reacts to death of Pope John Paul II Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco remembered Pope John Paul II as an inspiration to people of all faiths as she joined other state public officials and religious leaders in mourning his death on Saturday.    more...  
• Mar 29, 2005 Blanco dishes out details on agenda during tour Blanco dishes out details on agenda during tour By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON mmillhollon@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau Gov. Kathleen Blanco chose a hometown crowd for the first in a series of community chats about her agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Blanco dished...    more   
• Mar 23, 2005 State Democratic chair visits Monroe    more   
• Mar 16, 2005 Editorial: Blanco vs. GOP Clearly, this is a case of Louisiana’s Republican leaders trying to make political hay at the expense of the governor – never mind that she was well within her rights to do what she did.    more   
• Mar 8, 2005 Blanco takes helm of Gulf-state group Blanco takes helm of Gulf-state group U.S., Mexican accord aims to boost trade By James Varney CANCUN, MEXICO -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco was formally installed Monday as president of a Gulf of Mexico states organization that has labored in obscurity for years but that Louisiana...    more   
• Mar 8, 2005 Landrieu rips Bush on debt, Social Security Landrieu rips Bush on debt, Social Security By MARSHA SHULER mshuler@theadvocate.com U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., ripped into President Bush on Monday for transforming major budget surpluses "into a spiraling deficit with red ink everywhere." Landrieu, speaking to the Louisiana...    more   
• Mar 1, 2005 Bush Social Security Plan panned in N.O. Bush Social Security plan panned in N.O. Jefferson is urged to oppose it loudly Tuesday, March 01, 2005 By Bruce Eggler If there were any fans of President Bush's plan for partially privatizing Social Security among the crowd of 150 who showed up for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's...    more   
• Mar 1, 2005 Governors protest medicaid plan Governors protest Medicaid plans By GERARD SHIELDS gshields@theadvocate.com Advocate Washington bureau WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's proposal to cut some $40 billion to $60 billion over 10 years from Medicaid would reduce access to health care for the poorest Americans,...    more   
• Mar 1, 2005 Officials try to increase enrollment in children's health insurance program Officials try to increase enrollment in children's health insurance program March 1, 2005 crodriguez@gannett.com A recent pilot program at LSU's pediatric emergency room to sign up more children for the state health insurance program LaCHIP didn't produce as many enrollees as...    more   
• Feb 24, 2005 Blanco repeats vow to give teachers raise By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON mmillhollon@theadvocate.com Advocate staff writer Ken Uffman, coordinator for the all-volunteer Jump Start Coalition for Personal Finance Literacy, talks with Gov. Kathleen Blanco after her speech Wednesday at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. Gov. Kathleen Blanco...    more   
• Feb 23, 2005 McCrery targeted on Social Security reform By Bill Walsh The Times-Picayune Washington bureau WASHINGTON -- A liberal advocacy group has set its sights on Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport, in what is a rapidly mounting public relations battle over President Bush's plan to create private investment accounts in Social Security....    more   
• Feb 15, 2005 Landrieu Criticizes Bush Budget, Debt Landrieu criticizes Bush budget, debt The Advocate By WILL SENTELL wsentell@theadvocate.com Sen. Mary Landrieu President Bush's budget would saddle the nation with too much debt and hurt federal education and highway aid for Louisiana, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said Monday. "It...    more   
• Feb 14, 2005 Former LA Demo Chair Jeffers selected on Dean Transition Team Feb 14, 2005 Dean Announces DNC Transition Team Brings Together Leaders of Diverse Backgrounds from Across the Country Washington, D.C. – Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman, Governor Howard Dean today announced a transition team hailing from all regions of the country. This...    more   
• Feb 14, 2005 The Path to A Debt Society February 14, 2005 Dear Friend: One month after taking office for his first term, President Bush laid out a plan to restore fiscal discipline and prosperity to America. When introducing it to the nation, he said: “Many of you have talked about the need to pay down our national debt....    more   
• Feb 13, 2005 National Demos Could Take a Cue From Us National Demos could take a cue from us Times-Picayune Sunday, February 13, 2005 Stephanie Grace In choosing Fortune 500 CEO Jim Bernhard as their new chairman, Louisiana Democrats appeared to send a distinct message to the rest of their party. In the wake of 2004's painful losses,...    more   
• Feb 8, 2005 Louisiana Feels Squeeze of Bush's Budget Many programs face cuts, including corps flood projects Times-Picayune By Bruce Alpert and Bill Walsh Washington bureau WASHINGTON -- President Bush faces a tough battle in Congress as he moves to trim federal deficits by targeting a variety of popular domestic programs for cuts,...    more   
• Jan 25, 2005 New Demo Chief Seeks to Undo Discord Bernhard stresses 'Louisiana Agenda'    more   
• Jan 15, 2005 The Business of Politics The business of politics Shaw Group's Jim Bernhard got involved only recently By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON and MARSHA SHULER Capitol news bureau Photo courtesy of The Advocate More than a year ago, The Shaw Group's board of directors encouraged the company's founder, Jim Bernhard, to...    more   
• Jan 15, 2005 The Business of Politics The business of politics Shaw Group's Jim Bernhard got involved only recently By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON and MARSHA SHULER Capitol news bureau Photo courtesy of The Advocate More than a year ago, The Shaw Group's board of directors encouraged the company's founder, Jim Bernhard, to...    more   
• Jan 13, 2005 Blanco takes pride on economic growth    more   
• Jan 12, 2005 Blanco's First Year Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco's first year had mostly ups, but with a Saints deal, a tight budget, and education and health care needs looming, some say Gov. Kathleen Blanco's real test is still to come.    more   
• Jan 9, 2005 Guard troops soldier on, Landrieu says
  Senator meets with troops in Baghdad National Guard troops from Louisiana are stoically going about their jobs after six Guardsmen from the southern part of the state were killed this week, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said Saturday after a Baghdad meeting with troops.    more   
• Jan 7, 2005 Landrieu shines light on tsunami victims Sen. Mary Landrieu visited the tsunami-devastated coastline of Sri Lanka on Thursday and warned that relief efforts for the thousands of children orphaned by the deadly waves could be headed in the wrong direction.    more   
• Jan 7, 2005 Breaux has served Louisiana and the nation effectively    more   
• Jan 3, 2005 B.R. gets its first black mayor
  White support was key for the winner In many ways Kip Holden is the quintessential Louisiana politician. A dapper dresser with an affable personality, he is known around the Legislature and his hometown for his quick -- if somewhat corny -- wit and articulate speaking style.    more   
• Dec 8, 2004 Saving America's Wetland Op-ed by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco in the Washington Post    more   
• Dec 7, 2004 Gambit Weekly Cover Story
  The Optimist: Gov. Kathleen Blanco
  From San Antonio to Ruston to New Orleans and beyond, Gov. Kathleen Blanco is selling the state of Louisiana.
  
  Click "More" to read the full profile of our Democratic Governor    more   
• Dec 5, 2004 Melancon fends off Tauzin in tight race The son of retiring House of Representatives powerhouse Billy Tauzin, Billy III, narrowly lost a close race to replace his retiring father, a Republican House of Representatives powerhouse. In the 3rd District, with 100 percent reporting, Democrat Charles Melancon had 57,609 votes, and Tauzin...    more   
• Dec 2, 2004 Governor stumps for Melancon NEW IBERIA -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco campaigned Wednesday for fellow Democrat Charlie Melancon in a 3rd District race widely labeled as one of the nastiest political contests in years. Blanco, who attended grade school a short hop across Bayou Teche from where she spoke, praised Melancon as an...    more   
• Dec 1, 2004 Mount at ease with campaigning LAFAYETTE — If she wins the U.S. 7th Congressional district on Saturday, Willie Landry Mount will become the first woman to represent the district. With days to the election, the state senator from Lake Charles continues her zig-zag pilgrimage across the district meeting voters. She’s...    more   
• Dec 1, 2004 Votes up for grabs: Blanco expresses support for Mount Big guns were called into play Tuesday when 7th Congressional District candidate Willie Mount came to town flanked by Gov. Kathleen Blanco and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston. "This might be considered a battle ground parish," Blanco said during an informal meeting with the press...    more   
• Dec 1, 2004 Blanco, Jefferson rally crowd on Mount's behalf OPELOUSAS -- A cavalcade of Democratic elected officials, including Gov. Kathleen Blanco and a congresswoman from Texas, gathered Tuesday night to solicit support for 7th District candidate state Sen. Willie Mount.    more   
• Nov 29, 2004 Landrieu touts La.'s share of funds U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu announced that Louisiana will receive $62 million as part of the $388 billion federal appropriations bill. Landrieu, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the money will help in the continuation of Interstate 49, La. 1 and other transportation projects.    more   
• Nov 18, 2004 Blanco says Melancon will fight for state Standing on the steps of the State Capitol, Gov. Kathleen Blanco formally endorsed Democrat Charlie Melancon on Wednesday in the runoff for Louisiana's 3rd District congressional seat.    more   
• Nov 16, 2004 Johnston mentioned as energy secretary Former Louisiana Sen. J. Bennett Johnston is on a list of possible candidates to replace Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, White House officials said Monday.    more...  
• Nov 14, 2004 Will Tauzins keep Congress in the family? When a Tauzin beats a Melancon, who just edges a Romero out of the runoff, it is clear we're talking about an election down the bayous. It may not always have been clear to voters, however, which Tauzin is running. Early polls, which showed Billy Tauzin III miles ahead of the field in the race...    more   
• Nov 14, 2004 La. Demos still have a shot Mike Skinner, Louisiana's Democratic party chairman, says that Republican David Vitter's first-round win for U.S. Senate was an "aberration," not a sign of a power shift in this famously fickle state.    more   
• Nov 11, 2004 Gov. Blanco backs Mount State Sen. Willie Landry Mount now has Gov. Kathleen Blanco in her corner as her campaign for Congress gears up for a Dec. 4 runoff against Lafayette surgeon Dr. Charles Boustany Jr. Blanco put her “guarantee” behind Mount, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congressional District 7 seat,...    more   
• Nov 9, 2004 Melancon challenges Tauzin on NAFTA Charlie Melancon, Democratic runoff candidate for Louisiana's 3rd District congressional seat, is challenging his Republican opponent in the Dec. 4 runoff on where he marked an issues questionnaire.    more   
• Nov 8, 2004 Demo chair calls Vitter win "aberration," offers hope for party BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, commenting on the party's stinging defeat in last week's U.S. Senate vote, called David Vitter's victory an "aberration" Monday, attributing it largely to the "long long coattails" of President Bush and a fractured Democratic...  
• Nov 7, 2004 After Vitter win, La. Democrats seeing red but not panicking Grip on state loosened but still strong WASHINGTON -- While the rest of the South has become a crimson sea of Republicanism in the past quarter century, Louisiana has stubbornly remained an independent island, continuing to elect Democrats to statewide office -- especially to the U.S. Senate.    more   
• Nov 5, 2004 Mayor-elect begins transition process Holden declares police will get a pay increase State Sen. Kip Holden, D-Baton Rouge, won't take over as mayor-president until January, but he's already looking to shake up city-parish government. Holden, who defeated incumbent Republican Bobby Simpson in a runoff for mayor-president Tuesday,...    more   
• Nov 3, 2004 Baton Rouge elects its first black mayor-president State Sen. Kip Holden became the first black mayor-president of Louisiana's state capitol after he defeated his Republican challenger, who currently holds the position. Holden, a Democrat, boosted his lock on the majority of black votes with a much larger base of white voters than he had in his...    more   
• Oct 28, 2004 Blakes would help 5th District For all the years that we've been sending someone to Congress from the 5th District, it's always been a man. These men have gone to Washington, and it seems like they have quickly forgotten about the people who sent them there. While they have been learning how to take money from lobbyists and...    more   
• Oct 20, 2004 Vitter: $1 bills sent to backers to get attention What's this? A U.S. Senate candidate sending supporters money? That's exactly what Republican U.S. Rep. David Vitter is doing. Supporters recently started getting letters from Vitter with a $1 bill included.    more   
• Oct 19, 2004 Morrell says military record qualifies him for Senate seat State Rep. Arthur Morrell believes he's uniquely qualified to make decisions in the U.S. Senate about the nation's involvement in Iraq. As a former U.S. Army Green Beret, Morrell, D-New Orleans, says he understands the United States is in a no-win situation while occupying the Middle Eastern...    more   
• Oct 19, 2004 La. Demos pitch in to pick up slack With Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign pulling back on TV advertising and personal appearances in Louisiana, state Democrats said Monday that they would take it upon themselves to raise money for a get-out-the-vote effort aimed at closing President Bush's advantage in recent polls.    more   
• Oct 18, 2004 Blanco says Melancon will fight for state Standing on the steps of the State Capitol, Gov. Kathleen Blanco formally endorsed Democrat Charlie Melancon on Wednesday in the runoff for Louisiana's 3rd District congressional seat.    more   
• Oct 17, 2004 Breaux stumps for John It's all about geography, or so says retiring Sen. John Breaux, D-Crowley - and Acadiana is the hot spot in the race to fill his seat. Breaux spent Friday in Acadiana campaigning for U.S. Rep. Chris John, his fellow Democrat and Crowley native, with stops at the Old City Market in Opelousas...    more   
• Oct 17, 2004 Shreveport Times Endorsement The Nov. 2 primary to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Washington institution John Breaux features three front-runners in a race more notable for their commonalities than their differences. The good news is that Louisianans have a competent field from which to choose, including two...    more...  
• Oct 17, 2004 La.'s Landrieu takes a stand If anybody had any question about whether U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is ready to take the mantle and become Louisiana's senior senator, they only had to watch Senate proceedings of a week ago. The eight-year veteran hijacked the Senate floor for three days as she solely fought to give U.S....    more   
• Oct 15, 2004 Rival tribe aided Vitter in fight against casino: Congressman denies knowing of gambling ties While U.S. Rep. David Vitter was leading opposition to a new American Indian casino in Louisiana in 2002, he also got political assistance that year from a group backed by a rival tribe trying to protect its casino in the state.    more   
• Oct 15, 2004 Holden adds Sen. Breaux to endorsers Retiring U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., gave mayoral hopeful Kip Holden his latest endorsement at a prayer breakfast Wednesday at Star Hill Baptist Church. Breaux acknowledged that he rarely endorses mayoral candidates, but said he's convinced that Holden, a state senator and fellow Democrat,...    more   
• Oct 15, 2004 Landrieu endorses Chris John for U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate candidate touts his jobs plan U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris John of Crowley to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., during a stop Thursday at Shreveport's Job Corps Center. Landrieu and Breaux, who previously announced his endorsement of John's campaign, said John's...    more   
• Oct 15, 2004 Five wetlands projects get go-ahead: Money comes from Breaux Act Task Force Construction could begin as early as January on the first of five major wetlands restoration projects approved Wednesday by the federal-state Breaux Act Task Force. Two of the projects are aimed at strengthening "landbridges," mostly solid areas of wetlands and firm land south of the levee...    more   
• Oct 14, 2004 Blanco visiting Shreveport today for business, politics BATON ROUGE -- Business, government and politics bring Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to Shreveport today. The governor's first stop will be the General Motors plant, where she is "hoping for something good and big and positive" to be announced soon. "This is a major investment in Louisiana...    more   
• Oct 14, 2004 BRNEXT challenges Simpson on CPA Status BRNEXT, a political action committee, is raising questions about Mayor-President Bobby Simpson’s status as a certified public accountant. In an e-mail sent out earlier this week, BRNEXT accused Simpson of falsely suggesting that he is a CPA.    more...  
• Oct 8, 2004 Louisiana Fun, Football, And Politics The LWV of Louisiana invites you to Party on October 11 The League of Women Voters of Louisiana (LWVLA) has coordinated an informative and fun evening of Louisiana´s two favorite sports: politics and football on Monday, October 11th. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a one hour...    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 Coastal wetlands get a boost from Houma fest For many years, southeast Louisiana church fairs served an important social function: Uniting entire communities around the twin attractions of food and music, while raising much needed money for churches and schools.    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 Your vote does count; now more than ever The issue: Voting on Nov. 2. We suggest: It’s our most important federal election in a generation. Voter-registration offices around the nation report higher than usual activity as the rolls close for the Nov. 2 national election. With good reason: It is finally dawning on voters that their...    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 Jefferson says tonnage provisions to create hundreds of N.O. jobs WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. William J. Jefferson, D-New Orleans, said Thursday his proposed tonnage tax provision and three other provisions to benefit Louisiana will create hundreds of jobs in industries working with the Port of New Orleans. The corporate tax bill was approved by the House of...    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 September Job Growth Weaker Than Expected American businesses added 96,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department reported today, a poorer showing than expected in the final employment report before the presidential election, in which job creation is a major issue. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.4 percent, a figure in line...    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 New Federal Rules Gather Data About Battered Women WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 - Domestic violence groups around the country are protesting new federal rules that require detailed information on tens of thousands of battered women to be collected on centralized computers, potentially making sensitive data accessible to resourceful batterers, they say.    more   
• Oct 8, 2004 Bush's Isolation From Reporters Could Be a Hindrance Some Presidential Advisers Worry That He Could Pay Price During Debates for Being Overprotected During a campaign forum in the Cleveland suburbs last month, President Bush was asked whether he likes broccoli, to disclose his "most important legacy to the American people" and to reveal what...    more   
• Oct 7, 2004 Lafayette hosts U.S. Senate forum live on LBP Oct. 21 LAFAYETTE — Candidates for U.S. Senate will square off Oct. 21 in Lafayette at a debate that will be broadcast live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The debate will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Angelle Hall on the UL Lafayette campus.    more   
• Oct 7, 2004 Landrieu fights for amendment that gives tax relief to employers who continue pay for soldiers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) continued her fight to keep an amendment that would give tax relief to employers who continue to pay the salaries of deployed National Guard and Reserve members. The amendment was included in the Senate version of S. 1637, the JOBS bill, but no...    more   
• Oct 7, 2004 Ethics Rebuke to DeLay Prompts Democratic Calls for Ouster WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 — Top House Democrats today condemned Representative Tom DeLay, the leader of the Republican majority, declaring that the latest ethics case against him proved that he had been corrupted by power and was unfit to lead. "The ethical cloud that has been hanging over the...    more   
• Oct 7, 2004 Kennedy would help Louisiana John Kennedy is a candidate for the U.S. Senate and deserves our support. Kennedy and I have been friends since we were students together at Louisiana Tech in the late 1960s. John grew up in Zachary and is a product of Louisiana public schools. He received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt...    more   
• Oct 6, 2004 Teachers group endorses Chris John for Senate BATON ROUGE -- The 18,000-member Louisiana Association of Educators on Tuesday endorsed U.S. Rep Chris John in his bid to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Tom Tate, director of governmental relations for the LAE, said the group chose John, D-Crowley, over U.S. Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie,...    more   
• Oct 5, 2004 Kennedy touts need to get fair share of aid On a recent Saturday, state Treasurer John Kennedy moved from the air-conditioned suites in LSU's Tiger Stadium to the sweat-yielding heat of a tailgate party outside Southern University's Mumford Stadium. The cross-town visits were just part of a day on the campaign trail for Kennedy, a U.S....    more   
• Oct 5, 2004 DED head: ’Economic development is local’ Economic development begins at home and that's why working with local government and local business inducement groups, as well as going out of state, is crucial to Louisiana's success, says the state's new economic development chief. "Economic development is local," Department of Economic...    more   
• Oct 5, 2004 Poll Finds Kerry Assured Voters in Initial Debate Senator John Kerry came out of the first presidential debate having reassured many Americans of his ability to handle an international crisis or a terrorist attack and with a generally more favorable image, but he failed to shake the perception that he panders to voters in search of support,...    more   
• Oct 4, 2004 John campaigning to build connections to Senate seat HOUMA -- Campaign worker Matthew Broussard hurriedly taped red, white and blue "Chris John for U.S. Senate" signs to the wall at the entrance of the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse. Minutes behind him, U.S. Rep. Chris John hit the courthouse steps and immediately headed inside to the office of...    more   
• Oct 4, 2004 Monday is the deadline to register for the November election The band Detonations and the Louisiana Family Forum have had one aim in common this year: Getting people to register to vote. Monday is the deadline to register for the Nov. 2 election, and political and nonpartisan groups have been pushing people to get their paperwork in on time. A record...    more   
• Oct 4, 2004 Working for health care: Lafayette clinic aids uninsured LAFAYETTE -- Even when summer temperatures climbed into the high 90s, long lines formed each Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic on Jefferson Street. The hassle of waiting in the heat paled beside the opportunity to take advantage of free health care for...    more   
• Oct 4, 2004 An Invigorated Kerry Courts Ohio, and Some Swing Voters Are Taking a Harder Look AUSTINTOWN, Ohio, Oct. 3 - Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" was pumping through the loudspeakers, aptly enough after a 75-minute political forum. And the candidate consigned to the empathetic Bill Clinton's shadow, having spent the better part of that time sharing the pain of 500...    more   
• Oct 3, 2004 Candidate campaigns as outsider State Treasurer John Kennedy, a Democrat from Madisonville, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic veteran John Breaux, who is retiring. Kennedy, who has been treasurer since 2000, has served as special counsel to former Gov. Buddy Roemer and as secretary of the state...    more   
• Oct 3, 2004 Expert: Economic growth, clean environment in La. can coexist Running an environmentally clean business is not only possible, but it's profitable. Speakers at the 18th annual Louisiana Environmental Action Network People's Conference in Baton Rouge on Saturday focused morning discussions on the connections between a healthy economy and a clean environment.    more   
• Oct 1, 2004 Canadian drug imports hot topic in Senate race WASHINGTON -- Louisiana is a long way from Canada, but the debate over whether to allow prescription drugs to be imported from north of the border has emerged as a hot issue in the race for the state's open U.S. Senate seat. That is especially surprising given that all four major candidates...    more   
• Oct 1, 2004 Demos want Vitter to return PAC money WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Democrats have called on Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie, to return money from a political action committee created by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, whose top lieutenants face criminal charges. Seizing on the money-laundering indictments returned last week in...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Senate hopefuls offer views on transportation When it comes to transportation, Louisiana is a "donor" state, meaning it gets back only 90 cents of every $1 in gasoline taxes its motorists send to Washington. With critical projects, such as the $2.2 billion Interstate 49 extension on the priority list, fighting for transportation dollars...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 With Oil Near $50 a Barrel, Gas Prices Start to Inch Up HOUSTON, Sept. 28 - As the price of crude oil flirts with $50 a barrel, gasoline prices are heading up again, ending an unusual period in which gasoline prices were falling even as oil prices rose. Crude oil and gasoline prices began moving in opposite directions in June, a conundrum that was...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Kerry Is Widely Favored Abroad Hostility Toward Bush Revealed in Surveys and Interviews PARIS, Sept. 28 -- From Canada to Mexico, from London and Paris to Jakarta and Beijing, President Bush is widely unpopular as a candidate for reelection, according to surveys and interviews conducted in 20 countries. Sen. John F. Kerry appears to be the runaway favorite abroad, even though few...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Iraq Debate Already Hot as Rivals Prepare for Test WASHINGTON — President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry both face intensifying challenges to their credibility on Iraq as they approach Thursday's potentially pivotal debate on foreign policy. Bush and his allies are barraging Kerry with accusations that his escalating criticism of the...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Lowery on target: Register to vote The Rev. Joseph Lowery's message at Carroll High School in Monroe on Monday was clear, direct and right on target: Register to vote. The longtime civil rights activist, an Alabama preacher who walked many miles in the footsteps of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., knows well the struggles that...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Control of the Senate Will Be Decided in South: With Four Close Contests, Louisiana Runoff Could Be Key For much of the last century, the South dominated the Senate with powerful senior committee chairmen. Those days of a regional seniority advantage are gone, but this year elections in the South should determine control of the Senate. In an unusual turn, there are five Southern seats held by...    more   
• Sep 29, 2004 Groups sprinting to register La. voters: So far, 2.5% more on rolls since 2000 BATON ROUGE -- With Monday's deadline looming for voter registration in the Nov. 2 election, political and nonpartisan groups are pressing Louisiana citizens to get their paperwork in on time to be eligible to participate. Whether it's the band Detonations playing for the Rock the Vote...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 DeLay's stumping for Tauzin is scaled back after scandal ALSO: Democrats call for Tauzin to give back PAC money When Billy Tauzin III announced this month that top Republicans would "campaign on his behalf" for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District seat, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas was touted as the first in line to make an appearance.    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Civil rights leader backs Morrell's bid for Senate A co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference campaigned Monday for state Rep. Arthur Morrell, saying the U.S. Senate candidate would help protect black voting rights. The Rev. Joseph Lowery of Atlanta crisscrossed the state saying black voters need to vote for federal candidates...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Candidates state views on security Third in a series As homeland security coordinator for the harbor patrol of the Port of New Orleans, Capt. Kevin Newman and his officers stand as Louisiana's front line of defense. Newman acknowledges that since Sept. 11, 2001, his agency has received its share of federal money. But Newman...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Senate candidates to be at forum Four of Louisiana's U.S. Senate candidates will participate in a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday in Biedenharn Recital Hall on the ULM campus. Chris John, John Kennedy, Arthur Morrell and David Vitter will participate in the hour-long forum to be televised live on KNOE-TV, Channel 8. Tickets are...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Congress may help military widows WASHINGTON -- Congress may help survivors of military retirees this year by ending a cut in income from a Defense Department pension plan that hits them at age 62. That cut drops their monthly benefit to 35 percent of their deceased spouses' retired pay, from 55 percent.    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Agriculture disaster declared in 59 parishes BATON ROUGE - Farmers in 59 of Louisiana's 64 parishes, including all of northeastern Louisiana, can apply for low-interest emergency loans to cover crop losses caused by heavy rains in May and June. A review of the damages in 40 parishes showed it was substantial enough to qualify for the...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Churches take more active role in elections After hearing Scriptures reminding parishioners to pray for their political leaders, members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church left Mass on a recent Sunday and encountered something not usually seen in a church: a voter registration drive. It was the first time the church had held...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Higher Costs, Less Care Data Show Crisis In Health Insurance In the past four years, Americans have spent an ever-growing portion of their paychecks on health care and for the most part gotten less for their money, forcing millions into the ranks of the uninsured or personal bankruptcy, according to government figures and several independent assessments....    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Top Bush aide says tax cuts have caused record deficits In a departure from public pronouncements about the federal budget deficit, a senior aide to President Bush said last week that the record deficits have been caused, in part, by tax cuts. Administration officials have not, in public statements, attributed the rising deficit, which the...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Civil-rights activist visits Terrebonne HOUMA -- The man known as the dean of the civil-rights movement was in Houma this weekend, one of several dignitaries who spoke at the annual NAACP banquet. The Rev. Joseph Echols Lowery, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served for years...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 28, 2004 PAC of trouble, or pack of political static? Democrats are calling upon certain Republican candidates to return money that is from Americans for a Republican Majority. Yesterday, Democrats called upon Billy Tauzin III, David Vitter and 7th District candidate Charles Boustany to return funds...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Oil Prices Break $50 Milestone on Supply Worries Crude oil prices surged past the $50-per-barrel milestone in overnight trading in response to the triple threat of turmoil in the oil-rich countries of Nigeria and Iraq and a decline in production in the hurricane-battered Gulf of Mexico. The price slipped back to $49.85 in New York later in...    more   
• Sep 28, 2004 Skinner: PAC money should be returned BATON ROUGE (AP) — Republican candidates for Congress in Louisiana should return $20,000 to a political action committee connected to indictments in Texas, says the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party.    more   
• Sep 27, 2004 State Dem chair: GOP candidates should return $20,000 to DeLay PAC BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican candidates for Congress in Louisiana should return $20,000 to a political action committee connected to indictments in Texas, says the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Americans for a Republican Majority — the fund-raising committee for House Majority...    more   
• Sep 27, 2004 Health plans pitched, 4 hopefuls back drug importation Editor's note: Second in a series There's no shortage of plans coming from the four major U.S. Senate candidates on improving health care. Democrats U.S. Rep. Chris John, state Treasurer John Kennedy, state Rep. Arthur Morrell and Republican U.S. Rep. David Vitter all line up for allowing...    more   
• Sep 26, 2004 TURNING THE CORNER? APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO BUSH/CHENEY SPOKESPERSON George Bush is Creating a Debt Society    more...  
• Sep 26, 2004 Senate candidates differ on health care remedy WASHINGTON -- As medical costs soar and employer-sponsored health insurance coverage erodes, Louisiana's candidates for U.S. Senate are offering starkly different opinions on the best way to improve the nation's health care system.    more   
• Sep 26, 2004 News from the Louisiana delegation in the nation's capital Payton John, wife of Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, was blocked from delivering a one-minute statement at Thursday night's Senate debate in Lake Charles, where she said she wanted to explain why her husband was not in attendance. The TV station sponsoring the debate, KPLC, had agreed to let her read...    more   
• Sep 26, 2004 Outlook on tax cuts divide on party lines First in a series The divide is deep among major Republican and Democratic U.S. Senate candidates when it comes to federal tax and spending policies and how to boost the economy in the U.S. and Louisiana.    more   
• Sep 26, 2004 We’ve got new allies on I-49 The issue: Upgrading U.S. 90 to an interstate. We suggest: Newfound clout might speed construction. Officials locally and across the state are doing the right thing by using Hurricane Ivan, which miraculously spared Louisiana from severe damage, as a test case for its storm preparation and...    more   
• Sep 26, 2004 Insiders Worked Both Sides of Gaming Issue E-mails Suggest Men Tried to Exploit Closure of Casino for Huge Fees From Tribe Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon quietly worked with conservative religious activist Ralph Reed to help the state of Texas shut down an Indian tribe's casino in...    more   
• Sep 25, 2004 Democrats criticize Vitter for missing tax-cut vote Democrats are making much ado about Republican U.S. Rep. David Vitter missing the final U.S. House vote Thursday night that continued middle-class tax relief. Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris John, another Senate candidate was in Washington, D.C., to vote for the tax relief.    more   
• Sep 25, 2004 Morrell: When politics get emotional Part of an ongoing series on the candidates in the U.S. Senate Race BATON ROUGE -- For people who know Arthur Morrell today, it might be difficult for them to imagine the state representative as an innocent child riding his bicycle through the rough and curious streets of the Crescent City.    more   
• Sep 25, 2004 Violence in Iraq Belies Claims of Calm, Data Show BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 -- Less than four months before planned national elections in Iraq, attacks against U.S. troops, Iraqi security forces and private contractors number in the dozens each day and have spread to parts of the country that had been relatively peaceful, according to statistics...    more   
• Sep 24, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 24 Louisiana U.S. Senate Campaign Drugs were on the mind of Chris John. Not the street type, but, prescription kind. Yesterday, Congressman Chris John called on Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist not to stall a Senate vote on prescription drug re-importation, at the same time urging other...    more   
• Sep 24, 2004 Louisiana Names Coastal Assistant Exec BATON ROUGE, LA—In a move that could impact one of Louisiana´s biggest problem, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today announced the appointment of Sidney Coffee as Executive Assistant for Coastal Activities. In this capacity, Coffee directs the governor’s coastal policy office and the state’s...    more   
• Sep 23, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 23 As the Internet matures, politics is abusing its potential. Although it is only my opinion, I think that political web sites that focus on the negative record or that lampoon candidates should be viewed with suspicion. In the case of DavidVitter04.com, that is a site that is sponsored by...    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 Cheney may pay visit to La. LAFAYETTE -- Republican Vice President Dick Cheney may be paying a visit to Lafayette on Friday to back 7th District congressional candidate Charles Boustany Jr. Boustany's Web site is promoting a $100-a-plate and $1,000-a-photo breakfast meeting with Cheney at the City Club at River Ranch.    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 THE CANDIDATE ARTHUR MORRELL PERSONAL Born: March 22, 1943 in New Orleans. Married 37 years to Cynthia Hedge Morrell. Four children: Todd, Matthew, Jean-Paul and Nicholas.    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 22 Bobby Jindal was criticized for not running a mature campaign when he ran for Governor. I personally felt that Jindal ran a little whinny, but, a very positive campaign. At this time, he has candidates who are running against him, but his most popular opponent, Rep-Steve Scalise, dropped out of...    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 22 Bobby Jindal was criticized for not running a mature campaign when he ran for Governor. I personally felt that Jindal ran a little whinny, but, a very positive campaign. At this time, he has candidates who are running against him, but his most popular opponent, Rep-Steve Scalise, dropped out of...    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 LOUISIANA: "Jefferson Endorses John Kennedy" No Longer Just The Premise Of Wacky, Time-Travel Novel Rep. William Jefferson (D-02) "issued a strong endorsement" of Treas. John Kennedy (D) 9/21, "exposing a rift" among LA Dems "that analysts say could haunt the party in what is expected to be a hotly contested" 12/04 runoff.    more   
• Sep 22, 2004 NRSC's Dan Allen Talks Senate Campaigns Senate elections are wide-open this year, with 34 races taking place, many of them fiercely contested. Dan Allen, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, spoke with NationalJournal.com's Cameron Williams about President Bush's effect on Senate races,...    more   
• Sep 21, 2004 Pinsonat: Louisiana´s September 18 Primary Campaign Analysis and Primary Outlook Baton Rouge Mayor Race: In Baton Rouge, Mayor Bobby Simpson finished a very close second and State Representative Kip Holden runs first. State Representative William Daniel finishes a distant third. This order of finish occurred four years ago and Mayor Bobby Simpson easily garnered enough...    more   
• Sep 21, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: September 21 The beat goes on… Who cares about LSU football or the New Orleans Saints when there’s enough skirmishes on the field of Louisiana politics to get more than your money’s worth.    more   
• Sep 21, 2004 Louisiana Politics and Elections: Vitter and Louisiana Demos Battle On Welfare (Baton Rouge, La.) – Today, U.S. Congressman David Vitter visited Baton Rouge to promote his plan for welfare reform and the Louisiana Democratic Party took issue with Congressman Vitter on that plan.    more   
• Sep 20, 2004 Edwards in Cincinnati today; other prominent Dems there this week. Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards will visit Cincinnati Monday for a "neighborhood block party." The 4 p.m. event at the Bond Hill Recreation Center kicks off what the Kerry-Edwards campaign calls "an intense week-long effort in Ohio."    more   
• Sep 18, 2004 Kennedy vies to overcome 'dark-horse’ odds Second in a series of Saturday profiles of candidates in the Nov. 2 election for a U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana. BATON ROUGE -- Politically speaking, John Kennedy has a pretty nice gig. Several times a year, Louisiana’s well-known treasurer, or representatives from his office, set up kiosks...    more   
• Sep 18, 2004 Kennedy weighs in on coastal issues State Treasurer John Kennedy, D-Madisonville, recently sat down with Courier and Daily Comet Capitol Correspondent Jeremy Alford to explain what separates him from the other candidates in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. John Breaux.    more   
• Sep 18, 2004 Bush Warns of Worsening Violence in Iraq, Afghanistan KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - President Bush warned on Saturday that deadly guerrilla violence in Iraq and Afghanistan could worsen in the coming weeks as the two countries move toward national elections. But days before he was due to speak to the U.N. General Assembly, Bush used his weekly...    more   
• Sep 17, 2004 Unease Shadows Bush's Optimism The president doesn't waver, but others do as casualties mount and security withers. WASHINGTON — A combination of escalating bloodshed, gloomy assessments and deteriorating security conditions in Iraq are challenging the Bush administration's upbeat view of the struggle to establish democracy...    more   
• Sep 17, 2004 Democrat Takes Off the Gloves on Iraq Debate With public support for the war rising despite increased bloodshed, Kerry changes tack, saying Bush's strategy is headed for failure. WASHINGTON — Sen. John F. Kerry's tougher tone in a speech Thursday highlighted his new effort to sharpen his differences with President Bush on the conflict in...    more   
• Sep 17, 2004 Hot Issues Go Directly to State Voters As if there weren't enough to stir the emotions in the Bush-Kerry presidential contest, Election Day will offer voters in more than 30 states an opportunity to vent their feelings on a variety of social and legal issues, from same-sex marriage to bear baiting to caps on medical malpractice awards.    more   
• Sep 16, 2004 Excerpts of Senator John Kerry’s Remarks to the National Guard Association The way I see it, this is a matter of values and priorities – and on these issues, President Bush and I couldn’t be more different. I believe that America’s security begins and ends with our men and women in uniform – with every member of our armed forces who stands guard at the gates of freedom.    more...  
• Sep 15, 2004 Vote Drives Gain Avid Attention of Youth in '04 Surveys show that interest in the election among the young is near the highest level it has reached at any time since 18- to 20-year-olds were given the vote in 1972.    more   
• Sep 11, 2004 Vote the Kerry-Edwards Democratic Ticket The world now looks to the American electorate for their salvation.    more...  
• Sep 9, 2004 Boston Globe- Bush fell short on duty at Guard Bush fell short on duty at Guard Records show pledges unmet September 8, 2004 In February, when the White House made public hundreds of pages of President Bush's military records, White House officials repeatedly insisted that the records prove that Bush fulfilled his military commitment in...    more   
• Sep 9, 2004 60 Minutes - New Questions About Bush's Guard Duty Did then-Lt. Bush fulfill all of his military obligations? And just how did he land that spot in the National Guard in the first place? Correspondent Dan Rather has new information on the president’s military service – and the first-ever interview with the man who says he pulled strings to get...    more   
• Sep 9, 2004 Documents Suggest Special Treatment for Bush in Guard    more   
• Sep 8, 2004 Boston Globe: Bush fell short on duty at Guard; Records show pledges unmet "In February, when the White House made public hundreds of pages of President Bush's military records, White House officials repeatedly insisted that the records prove that Bush fulfilled his military commitment in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. But Bush fell well short of...    more...  
• Sep 1, 2004 Candidate Visits Winnfield, Focused on Strong America, Winn Parish Congressman Chris John told a gathering at the Winn Parish Courthouse on Thursday afternoon that his campaign for the U.S. Senate is focused on a strong America that begins at home. “If we can build roads, schools and hospitals in Iraq, we ought to be able to do it right here in...    more...  
• Aug 31, 2004 Just Around the Corner Mr. Bush? Ohio Third in Mass Layoffs Last Month! Ohio ranked only behind California and Michigan for jobs lost to mass layoffs in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The 122 mass layoffs announced by Ohio businesses in July resulted in 26,605 initial claims for unemployment.    more...  
• Aug 28, 2004 Karl Rove's Swifty Efforts to Besmirch Kerry's Heroism Karl Rove is the one behind the Bush campaign to smear Kerry. Cowards create smear campaigns; heroes create peace.    more...  
• Aug 25, 2004 Washington Post: Bush-Cheney Lawyer Advised Anti-Kerry Vets A top lawyer in President Bush's reelection campaign acknowledged Tuesday that he has been advising the veterans group seeking to discredit Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry's military record, an admission the Kerry campaign said is evidence the president's campaign is orchestrating a...    more...  
• Aug 25, 2004 Rock Solid Proof Kerry Earned His Silver Star Those who have smeared Kerry's military service are nothing but paid Bush political operatives who lie on demand for money.    more...  
• Aug 22, 2004 Wife Espouses Edwards' Cause As two high-level, clipboard-carrying Kerry-Edwards canvassers left her home and headed to the next, down the street, Marilyn Murphy stooped to her van bumper Saturday, pasting a shiny new Kerry-Edwards sticker over the peeling blue one that gleamed Gore-Lieberman four years ago.    more   
• Aug 20, 2004 NYT: Anti-Kerry swiftboat group has "web of connections" with Bush "A series of interviews and a review of documents show a web of connections to the Bush family, high-profile Texas political figures and President Bush's chief political aide, Karl Rove. Records show that the group received the bulk of its initial financing from two men with ties to the...    more...  
• Aug 19, 2004 'Likely' voters split, but Bush lags among registered voters WASHINGTON - A new poll shows Sen. John Kerry and President Bush in a statistical dead heat among Ohio's likely voters - but Kerry leads among registered voters.    more   
• Aug 18, 2004 Kerry Remarks at VFW Conference in Cincinnati Remarks of Senator John Kerry (As Prepared for Delivery) Veterans of Foreign Wars 105th Annual Convention Cincinnati, OH Wednesday, August 18, 2004    more...  
• Aug 15, 2004 From confident Kerry, hopes within reach Two presidential candidates have come calling for five of the 270 electoral votes needed to win. One brought a message of hope. The other played on fear. President Bush prefers the latter route.    more   
• Aug 10, 2004 Kerry on Prescription Drugs    more   
• Aug 5, 2004 N.Y Times: Bush Says What He Means (Some of the Time) August 5, 2004 POLITICAL POINTS | 8.5 2 PM A Candidate Who Says What He Means (Most of the Time) By CARL HULSE his no doubt confirmed the worst fears of President Bush's most severe critics. As he signed a $417 billion Pentagon spending bill today, the president offered his own unique...    more   
• Aug 2, 2004 Jacobson regrets secret campaign tactics DAYTON | State Sen. Jeff Jacobson said he told donors to give money to a state legislator he supported or to help her by donating to a nonprofit group that ran negative ads about her opponent's voting record. ADVERTISEMENT Top 5 stories Kerry team visits...    more   
• Aug 1, 2004 101 Ways to Win A Volunteer Gives Us Some Sage Advice About How We Can Help Elect John Kerry    more...  
• Aug 1, 2004 Ron Reagan Makes the Case Against GW Bush If you heard Ron Reagan's speech at the convention, it was hard to miss his appeal about which candidate deserves your vote. In this Esquire article, he pulls even fewer punches. It's long, but so well stated it's worth every minute.    more...  
• Aug 1, 2004 The Democratic Voice The official newsletter of the Medina County Democratic Party    more...  
• Jul 29, 2004 John Kerry's 2004 Convention Speech "My fellow Americans, we are here tonight united in one simple purpose: to make America stronger at home and respected in the world."    more...  
• Jul 28, 2004 John Edwards 2004 Convention Speech "And the heart of this campaign -- your campaign, our campaign -- is to make sure all Americans have exactly the same kind opportunities that I had no matter where you live, no matter who your family is, no matter what the color of your skin is. "    more...  
• Jul 26, 2004 President Carter's Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention "My name is Jimmy Carter, and I'm not running for president. But here's what I will be doing: everything I can to put John Kerry in the White House with John Edwards right there beside him."    more...  
• Jul 26, 2004 President Clinton's Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention "Now this state, who gave us in other times of challenge John Adams and John Kennedy, has given us John Kerry, a good man, a great senator, a visionary leader. And we are all here to do what we can to make him the next president of the United States."    more...  
• Jul 26, 2004 Former Vice President Al Gore's Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention "I want to say to all Americans this evening that whether it is the threat to the global environment or the erosion of America's leadership in the world, whether it is the challenge to our economy from new competitors or the challenge to our security from new enemies, I beleive that we need new...    more...  
• Jul 26, 2004 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Speech at 2004 Democratic Convention The following is a transcript of a speech by the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio, Monday, July 26, 2004    more...  
• Jul 26, 2004 Hillary Clinton's Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention We meet at a moment of great peril, but also of great hope. Together we can widen the circle of opportunity for all Americans, transcend our differences and divisions, and give our children a safer and more secure future. That's the promise of America. And John Kerry will renew that promise.    more...  
• Jul 25, 2004 Kerry / Edwards: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World At the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the nation will meet John Kerry and John Edwards in the city where America began and where great things begin. The convention will tell the story of John Kerry and John Edwards - a story of strength and service and of standing up for average Americans...    more...  
• Jul 24, 2004 KERRY'S POST-CONVENTION TOUR TO INCLUDE NEW MEXICO STOP The Democratic National Convention hasn't even started, but the party's presumptive presidential nominee and his running mate are planning a visit to New Mexico as part of a coast-to-coast post-convention tour.    more...  
• Jul 19, 2004 John Kerry and John Edwards Have a Real Plan to Lower Health Care Costs Bush-Cheney Have No Real Plan on Health Care and Medical Malpractice Plan Sides With Insurance Industry and Won’t Reduce Costs    more...  
• Jul 17, 2004 Who are the Bush Supporters? After spending the first of four months in swing-states campaigning for the Kerry-Edwards ticket, we have learned that Bush supporters usually fall into one or more of the following 30 categories: 1. Those who are irreversibly brainwashed or brain-dead. 2. Those who receive all of...    more...  
• Feb 6, 2004 Bush Budget Cuts Programs Vital to Hispanic Families President Bush sent Congress a budget proposal that would cut vital programs for the same Hispanic families that President Bush is asking to vote for him.    more...  
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