Gerard Shields for Oct. 26, 2009

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Published: Oct 26, 2009 - Page: 5B

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A European defense company hired former LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe last week to lead its bid to land a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract.

The European Aeronautics Defence and Space Co., which is headquartered near Munich, Germany, is in the running to capture the contract to build the Air Force’s midair refueling tanker.

O’Keefe knows a little bit about the industry having served as NASA administrator, a former Navy secretary and comptroller and chief financial officer of the Department of Defense. Most recently, he worked at General Electric as vice president of its Washington operations dealing with aviation.

“Our focus will continue to be offering the most capable defense and homeland security solutions available,” O’Keefe told reporters.
O’Keefe starts on Nov. 1.

Tauzin group and Melancon
Talk about bygones being bygones.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association contributed $2,000 to Democratic U.S. Rep. Charles “Charlie” Melancon of Napoleonville for his Senate bid. Former Republican U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin of Chackbay is now president and CEO of the industry’s lobbying organization.

Melancon beat Tauzin’s son, Billy III, by 569 votes in 2004 to win his election to Congress.

Melancon also gained a contribution from the Poker Players Alliance, a group that promotes the game online and offline. The group bet $1,000 on Melancon in his attempt to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

Longest serving
A recent list of the 20 longest-serving U.S. senators in history contained two from Louisiana.

Democrat Russell Long served 38 years and three days, ranking 10th. Democrat Allen Ellender finished 20th, having accumulated 35 years, six months and 24 days.

The longest serving senator, Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, has served 50 years, nine months and 19 days. Byrd, 92, remains in the Senate.

The list was compiled by Congress Daily.

Baca challenges Vitter
U.S. Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, Calif., introduced legislation that would counter U.S. Sen. David Vitter’s amendment to exclude all noncitizens from being counted in next year’s census.