Tauzin to Resign As House Energy Chair

[NewJerseyDem]

It has been widely rumored that Joe Barton of Texas will replace him as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TAUZIN_RESIGNS?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Billy Tauzin resigned Tuesday as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most powerful positions in Congress, and announced he will not seek re-election in the fall.

Tauzin's desire to leave Congress has been widely speculated for months as his name has surfaced of the lobbying groups of both the pharmaceutical and motion picture industries.

He was instrumental in engineering passage of the new Medicare prescription drug law passed by Congress in December. He also has been deeply involved in energy an telecommunications legislation.

The 12-term Republican congressman from Louisiana hand-delivered his resignation letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Tuesday, effective Feb. 15, said Ken Johnson, Tauzin's spokesman.

Tauzin also will not seek re-election in the fall, said Johnson.

[whathappened]

1. another gop

patsey gone with the wind to get the big bucks after setting himself up for life

[salinen]

2. My best wishes

to the Tauzin family and may a lethal pox invade the area between your penis and scrotum.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. ROFL

and I just got stuck in the picture...thanks alot!

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. Man, you don't kid around?

Ow!

[Just Me]

10. He's probably freakin',...must run away and save his arse "eom"

[saltpoint]

3. in Jackson Browne's song, "Before the Deluge" --

-- is this verse:

"Some of them were angry at the way the earth was abused
By the men who learned how to forge her beauty into power..."

Billy Tauzin is an example of the men in line two.

Bad Billy.

[Southsideirish]

4. He's got to set up that "canned hunt" "ranch" for GOP macho men!

I hear its going to be convenient to DC so all those republican bigwigs can run out there on their lunch hours and blow some ducklings and assorted tame water fowl to smithereens.

[jburton]

5. Joe Barton is terrible

I swear the man's only goal in life is to get more pollution in the greater Dallas area by exempting cement factories.

Even the conservative Dallas Morning News ed page dubbed him "Smokey Joe"

[Faygo Kid]

7. GOP scum - when will people wake up?

He will get a million dollars a year from the major pharmaceutical association to be their CEO (already been reported). Think the media will make this one-one thousandth the story of Janet Jackson's boob? Nah. $540 billion to the HMOs and pharmaceutical industries, which they will use in turn to buy more Billy Tauzins, and cement their positions even further. Bush must go!

[Just Me]

13. When they stop paying for GARBAGE spewed by the media *LOL*!!!

They are getting there,...believe me!!! Amazing how much I hear from basically rural "no man's land" talking about how the mainstream media SUCKS. I love it!!!!

[Mel]

8. Good!

Don't let the door hit you on the {bleep} Billy.

Now the question is.....Can we take that seat?

[finecraft]

14. Ding Dong the witch is dead!!!!!!!!!!!

Billy is/was my Rep. and I'm glad to see him go! The door should definitely hit him in the a** on the way out! ---- The little slimy weasel!!!!

[schultzee]

9. Good by you corrupt old puss bucket, from my state.

[loudnclear]

11. Following the money!!! this still be a campaign issue.

We need to rid the Congress of the Republicans who are obviously in the hip pockets of the corporate cabal.

[mbperrin]

12. Please let's get a Dem to take that seat!

Please?