Charlie Melancon News

Cao was under significant pressure from the Obama administration to support the legislation and indicated earlier this year he would vote to approve it if restrictions were placed on public funding of abortions.

Monday, November 9, 2009 at 10:05 a.m. WASHINGTON - Southern Democrats who watched the trouncing of their party's gubernatorial nominee in Virginia this week are starting to worry that a rising anti-Democratic tide in the South may reverse their hard-fought gains from the last two national elections.

Don't tell the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, but that was supposed to be the easy part.

First, there was Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana. A month ago, we thought he might be the most endangered member of the House.

In the end, satisfied that the House health care reform bill would not subsidize abortions, Rep.

House Democrats were thrilled by the passage of their major health care legislation , but perhaps no development on Saturday tickled them more than winning the vote of a single Republican: Representative Ahn a oeJosepha Cao of Louisiana.

Amid intense lobbying by the Obama administration, House Democratic leaders struggled Friday for the final votes needed from members of their own party to pass sweeping health-care legislation, weighing fresh concessions to abortion opponents and working to ease concerns among Hispanic holdouts.

's Twenty-Third Congressional District as a sign that Health Care Reform and the current trend of Pres.

You could say that common sense is an uncommon virtue in Washington these days, but once in a while Congress manages to get something right.

Southern Democrats who watched the trouncing of their party's gubernatorial nominee in Virginia this week are starting to worry that a rising anti-Democratic tide in the South may reverse their hard-fought gains from the last two national elections.

Sen. Mary Landrieu turned into a tightwad last week. At least that's what we were led to believe when Landrieu issued a prepared statement outlining why she opposes a proposal to require 2010 census takers to ask an individual if he or she is a U.S. citizen.

Blue Dog Democrats face a dilemma this weekend: Should they oppose legislation they believe is flawed, or move the bill out of the House in the hopes of it changing in conference? That core question was on the minds of many of the 52 fiscally conservative Democrats after a meeting Tuesday with Douglas Elmendorf, the director of the Congressional ...

Concerned that Louisiana could take a major economic hit if the Food and Drug Administration carries out its proposal to require Gulf Coast oysters sold or served from April to October to undergo a sterilization process , the state's congressional members have summoned agency officials to a meeting Tuesday.

Now, perhaps we can find some sort of racial peace in Louisiana now that the Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell has decided to resign.

In 52 weeks -- on Nov. 2, 2010 -- Louisiana voters will decide who will serve the state in the U.S. Senate for the next six years.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette honored U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany and Charlie Melancon, as well as photographer Denis Reggie, as outstanding alumni during homecoming activities during the weekend.

Some quotes from public officials on the death of former Gov. Dave Treen: "Louisiana has lost a visionary leader and a tireless advocate for our state, with the passing of Gov.

Republican Sen. David Vitter's ongoing crusade to include a citizenship question on the 2010 Census, and then exclude non-citizens from the reapportionment count, has managed to inflame passions all around.

ELIOT KAMENITZ/THE TIMES PICAYUNE People enjoy eating oysters at Drago's on Tuesday, October 28, 2009.

Former Louisiana Gov. David C. Treen has died at age 81, his son says. David C. Treen Jr., said his father died early Thursday of complications from a respiratory illness at East Jefferson General Hospital in Kenner.