Gerard Shields has been a newspaper reporter for 19 years, covering government in Allentown, Pa., Orlando and Baltimore. He has worked for The Advocate since 2003 covering Louisiana issues in Washington. Call Gerry at the Senate Press Gallery at (202) 224-0241. E-mail him at gshields@theadvocate.com.
Take a small-town lawyer and little-known state representative and compare him to the most inspiring political figure to come along in 25 years. That’s what Republicans did to U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, in the recent special election. Conservative groups coming to the rescue of former state Rep. Woody Jenkins, R-Baton Rouge, ran ads with Cazayoux’s face in the forefront and that of presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the background.
Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., wasted little time in making a big splash in the Washington lobbying arena. Four months ago, Breaux formed a lobbying firm with former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., and their sons. First-quarter lobbying reports required to be filed in the House show Breaux-Lott earned $945,000 in that three-month period.
Some U.S. senators walk the halls of the Capitol flanked by aides who try to scurry them to their next meeting or handle edicts that tumble from their mouths.
President Bush last week presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Lake Charles native, Dr. Michael DeBakey.
You’ve heard of a “Reagan Democrat,” but how about a “John Kerry Republican”?
The visit of Pope Benedict XVI was the rage in Washington last week with the pontiff giving a special nod to Louisiana.
