Feb. 04, 2004
Tauzin resigns as panel chair
Billy Tauzin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Brooks Boliek
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., resigned as chairman of the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday and said he will not seek re-election in the fall.

Tauzin's decision to step down opens up one of the most powerful positions in Congress atop the committee that oversees the telecommunications and entertainment industries, as well as much of the energy, transportation and health-care industries.

The lawmaker had been the focus of intense speculation when he was the front runner to take Jack Valenti's job as president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America. He took himself out of the running for last month and is expected to take over the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which represents such big drug manufacturers as Eli Lilly and Co. and Merck & Co.

Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson confirmed that Tauzin hand-delivered a letter to the House speaker announcing his intent to resign from the committee as of Feb. 16.


"He made the decision on Sunday, but wanted to tell the speaker face to face before it became public," Johnson said. "Not a soul in the leadership or on the committee asked him to step down. It was his decision and his entirely."

Tauzin was hospitalized recently once in New York City and once in Louisiana for bleeding ulcers.

"He's had a couple of health scares and they've caused him to consider where he is in life and where he wants to go next," Johnson said.

Tauzin has yet to make up his mind exactly what he is going to do after Congress, Johnson said.

"He has not signed, nor has he seen a contract from PhRMA," Johnson said. "But all the same he has recused himself from any matters dealing with the pharmaceutical industry."

Tauzin has been criticized for interviewing for the top lobbying jobs in the industries that come under the Commerce Committee's jurisdiction. He was a major force in the Medicare legislation earlier this year that included language on prescription drug benefits that forbids the government to negotiate lower prices from drug companies.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said Tuesday he would seek the job and met with Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Tuesday night to discuss his future. Barton is chairman of the committee's energy and air quality subcommittee and is expected to get the post.

Tauzin was first elected to the House in 1980 as a Democrat. He switched to the Republican party in 1995, seven months after the GOP took control of the House. In part the switch came with the caveat that he would assume chairmanship of the Commerce Committee once Rep. Tom Bliley, R-Va., retired.

Tarzan get da muny...

bye Tarzan

(Folks, he is actually now gonna be in a MORE DANGEROUS AND POWERFULL position to hurt us... I almost wish he had kept his seat.)

When being a lobby member is more powerful than being in a lawmaking chair of our govt is MORE POWERFUL...

I get very scared

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy

had a couple of health scares eh? hey tarzan, hear that thumping sound? that's your life ticking away, soon you'll be explaining why you were an evil bastard. think money will buy you out of that one?

Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson confirmed that Tauzin hand-delivered a letter to the House speaker announcing his intent to resign from the committee as of Feb. 16.

"He made the decision on Sunday, but wanted to tell the speaker face to face before it became public,"

That's face to face? Those wacky poiliticians.

I was thinking about posting this, but you beat me to it. Since Tauzin said last week that he will not replace Valenti as head of the MPAA, I wasn't sure if he still qualifies as news worthy for this site.

Now to look at who his running to replace him. Tauzin pretty much already has picked whom he will endorse to take this seat in November. Don't know much about anyone else running. Looks like I will save myself the trouble of running an anti-Tauzin campaign though.

laissez les bon temps rollei

me Tauzin...you Jane....

He wanted to tell the speaker face to face, now how do two politician's get all four faces , face to face !!!!! 10/4 flbgbt

I hope this guy dies.. He switched from democrat to republican just so he could keep his power.. This guy is the biggest sell out of a politician I can think of. I'm not mad because of the fact that he switched, i'm mad at the fact of the reason he switched, for his own personal gain.. He's a public servent who is supposed to uphold his beliefs even if they end up being unpopular..

I was thinking about posting this, but you beat me to it. Since Tauzin said last week that he will not replace Valenti as head of the MPAA, I wasn't sure if he still qualifies as news worthy for this site.....Probably not for this site, but Tarzan poses a much more dangerous threat bullying Eli Lillys' agenda through congress. Eli Lilly is solely responsible for eliminating animal insulin from most of the free world. ELs' replacement insulin is causing diabetics more health problems than the animal insulin did, the death rate had increased, amputations have incresed exponentially and 75% of diabetics complain of a general feeling of unwellness that they never felt with animal insulin. So yes Tarzan is an enormous threat to all mankind now. Maybe those ulcers will perforate and spare us more grief.