From the Associated Press:

NEW ORLEANS - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney visited here today to help raise money for a Louisiana congressional candidate, one of dozens of Republican contenders he is stumping for in the days leading up to next month’s election.

Romney, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, attended a fundraiser in New Orleans for state Sen. Bill Cassidy, a candidate for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District seat that Democrat Don Cazayoux won earlier this year after Richard Baker stepped down.

Governor Mitt Romney was in Louisiana this morning raising money for Bill Cassidy for Congress.  Before the breakfast event, Governor Romney spoke with WWL in New Orleans to discuss why he supports Bill Cassidy, the danger of Cazyoux giving Nancy Pelosi a supermajority in the House, and Governor Jindal’s place in the next Presidential campaign.

When asked about the danger of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi achieving a supermajority vote in Congress, Governor Romney said:

“Our democracy was structured in such a way, as to put the brakes on some extreme policies and to keep, if you will, the monsters in each party Republican and Democrat from having sway in Washington. I am absolutely concerned that if you had a very super majority in both houses along with a Democratic President, that you see very unusual pieces of legislation.

One of which that is being supported by Don Cazayoux which is very strange thing,  that Bill Cassidy strongly opposes, is the idea of taking away from workers the right to a free and private ballot — the right of privacy. Don Cazayoux wants to just say that if a union wants to organize at a particular place of work that the other employees don’t get to vote on it. And that’s really a frightening thing in my opinion and it’s something which I think would happen if you have a supermajority vote.

I think you’d likewise see – they’ll take over our health care system with a socialized medicine style plan. I think you’d see a great expansion of government. For that, among other reasons, you know I’m going around the country campaigning for people like Bill Cassidy to try and make sure that we do have some balance in Washington.”

You can listen to the interview on WWL Audio on Demand: http://publishing.everyzing.com/wwl/m/audio/21279978/wwl-hour-by-hour-7-00am-7-30am.htm?q=harry+reid&seek=1031.629

Cassidy Wins Praise From Music Legend Pat Boone

 Arlington, VA –  Legendary entertainer Pat Boone, spokesman for a national non-partisan senior citizen group, has presented Bill Cassidy with the Association’s Honorary Guardian of Seniors’ Rights award.
 
Boone, a recording artist, movie and TV star second to none in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, called Cassidy a “fighter for the elderly.”  

The 60 Plus Association’s Guardian Award is presented to Democrats and Republicans in Congress based on their “senior friendly” voting records. The Honorary Award is given to those running for office and is based on their views on seniors’ issues.

Boone cited Cassidy’s support for repealing the 1993 tax imposed by President Clinton on Social Security benefits, as well as Cassidy’s support to repeal the ‘Death Tax’ which hurts small businesses and farmers across Louisiana and the country. “Bill Cassidy, running for the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana’s 6th District, knows a bad tax when he sees one,” said Boone, “and the Death Tax is as bad as they come!

“And to those who call death tax repeal a ‘tax break for the rich,’ or akin to giving a ‘tax break for Paris Hilton,’ I say that’s nonsense, a con job of the first order. In fact, invoking her name is an insult to small businesses and farmers,” said Boone. “Why? Because the rich set up trusts and foundations to protect their assets, and who can blame them?  Ever heard of the Kennedy, Heinz, Gates, Turner, Buffett, Winfrey or Rockefeller Foundations, as well as the Hilton Foundation, to name a few?”

Boone continued, “I am pleased to present this award to Bill Cassidy. He is a tax cutter, protecting the pocket books of senior citizens. 60 Plus calls on nearly 5 million seniors for support so I believe I can speak on behalf of seniors when I say that they can count on Bill Cassidy. Clearly, seniors will have no finer friend in Congress than Bill Cassidy.”

The 60 Plus Association is a 15-year-old nonpartisan organization taking on important issues such as death tax repeal, saving Social Security, working to lower energy costs, affordable prescription drugs and other senior-friendly issues featuring a less government, less taxes approach.  60 Plus calls on support from nearly 4.5 million citizen activists.  60 Plus publishes a quarterly magazine, SENIOR VOICE, and a Scorecard, bestowing a Guardian of Seniors’ Rights award on lawmakers of both parties who vote “pro-senior.”   60 Plus has been called “an increasingly influential senior citizen’s group.”

Cazayoux Rallies with Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gun-Control, Pro-Tax Congressman

At an Obama/Cazayoux Rally at Southern University, Don Cazayoux will stand on stage with a Congressman who is pro-abortion, pro-gun-control and pro-taxes to rally support for Obama who is pro-abortion, pro-gun-control, and pro-taxes.  In previous Obama/Cazayoux rallies, Cazayoux has told predominantly African-American audiences that he was, “proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President,” and that he supports Obama’s economic agenda to tax small businesses and “share the wealth” with those who don’t pay taxes.

Chris Ingram, a spokesman for the Bill Cassidy campaign, issued the following statement:

“Congressman Cazayoux says on TV that he is pro-life, pro-gun and wants lower taxes, but in his rally today Cazayoux will stand with the Congressman responsible for rounding up the votes for Nancy Pelosi’s pro-abortion, pro-gun-control and pro-tax agenda at a rally to support a candidate for President that the NRA said would be the “most anti-gun President in U.S. history.” 

Don Cazayoux has only been a Congressman for a few short months, but he is already showing voters that he says one thing in Louisiana and does something different when it is convenient. The voters of Louisiana are smart enough to know that a Congressman who is pro-life, pro-gun and wanted lower taxes would never support Barack Obama for President.”

 

The Louisiana Family Forum has released their 2008 Louisiana Voter Guide.  It is worth a read for any voter in the Sixth Congressional District that wants to know where the candidates stand on the issues important to Louisiana families.

Bill Cassidy was recently recognized by the Louisiana Family Forum for his strong record in the Louisiana Senate defending the interests of Louisiana families.

Gene Mills, president of LFF Action remarked: ”LFF Action commends these legislators for their principled positions throughout the turbulent 2008 Session. This legislative class advanced several unique reforms in Louisiana, including parental choice in education, a Stelly tax repeal, and a ban on the public funding of human cloning. We are proud of these statesmen for making excellent choices and upholding strong family traditions in Louisiana!”

Bill was one of six State Senators who received the 2008 “Outstanding Family Advocate” Award from Louisiana Family Forum Action, the advocacy arm of Louisiana Family Forum, in recognition of their commendable pro-family voting records during the 2008 Legislative Session. 

Statement by Bill Cassidy reacting to the choice of Sarah Palin as the VP nominee:

“As a conservative reformer, I applaud the bold decision by Senator McCain to choose Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.  Governor Palin has stood up to Congress and refused wasteful earmarks sent to her state, like the infamous “bridge to nowhere”.  She has challenged politicians, even within our party whose unethical behavior and coziness with special interests didn’t reflect the proper role of a public servant. Her resolve in fighting corruption and wasteful spending is desperately needed in Washington DC.”

Gas isn’t cheap, but it seems that talk in DC is still a buck-a-gallon. When real solutions are needed, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are looking to water down real solutions and give up just enough in “compromise” to be able to claim they are doing something, without effectively doing anything. 

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a “bipartisan compromise”, but unfortunately:

 ”the plan is a Democratic giveaway. New production on offshore federal lands is left to state legislatures, and then in only four coastal states. The regulatory hurdles are huge. And the bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the coast — putting off limits some of the most productive areas. Alaska’s oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still a no-go.

The highlight is instead $84 billion in tax credits, subsidies and federal handouts for alternative fuels and renewables. The Gang of 10 intends to pay for all this in part by raising taxes on . . . oil companies! The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better. “

When politicians are challenged in a tough re-election, you can always count on rhetoric during the campaign that doesn’t match their record. So, when you hear an incumbent talk about “compromise” on energy, red flags should go up and you should check the record.

Labor Day is weeks away, but the political attack season has begun.  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is nervous and they aren’t wasting any time.  The Advocate has reported on an attack ad by the DCCC that is being aired on the radio:

The ads, funded by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, say Cassidy stands with special interests, particularly drug companies.

“The special interests have their candidate. Don Cazayoux stands up for Louisiana,” the advertisement concludes.

Cassidy, a Baton Rouge doctor, said Friday the ads are hypocritical.

“If you look at the money Don has raised, $200,000 came from special interests in Washington, D.C.,” Cassidy said. “Ninety-nine point nine of the money I raised came out of Baton Rouge.”

(…)

Cassidy said he makes no apologies for going anywhere to advance research in Louisiana, to promote the LSU medical school, or to benefit the state’s patients. He said his only association with pharmaceutical companies for the last two years has been through research done at LSU, which has allowed patients’ access to medicine they otherwise would not have.

“If people criticize that, it gives you an idea of who those people are,” Cassidy said.

The Grassroots Know Better

A local blogger has taken a detailed look at the finance reports and breaks down where the money comes from:

if special interests have any candidate it’s Don Cazayoux.  As I wrote then, 73 percent of Cazayoux’s total contributions came from PACs.  Almost three out of every four dollars Don Cazayoux took in came from a special interest group.  How much PAC money for Bill Cassidy?  Zero.

But that’s not all.  Of Cazayoux’s itemized contributions (excluding PAC money) almost 40 percent came from outside Louisiana (with almost all of that coming from DC).  Cassidy on the other hand raised about 97 percent of his money inside Louisiana.

In total, Cazayoux raised $218,950 from special interests outside of Louisiana — 78 percent of his total.  Cassidy raised $4,500 outside of Louisiana — 2 percent of his total, and none of it came from anywhere near the Beltway.

So which candidate do you think belongs to the special interests?

When it comes to fixing Social Security, some politicians don’t have answers, some politicians can only tell you what they don’t want but can’t offer solutions.  Bill Cassidy has answers with positive solutions.  In an interview with The Advocate, the candidates discussed options:

Cazayoux, D-New Roads, said he has no concrete solution to the impending problem but feels the private account concept  is not the way to go.

Bill Cassidy offered ideas about a comprehensive solution:

Cassidy said he supports voluntary personal investment accounts as part of the solution, if it is fiscally sound.

“Institutional investors often get a better rate of return than individual investors,” he said.

(…)

Cassidy said he is against an increase in the payroll tax cap because it changes the nature of the program.

“It ceases to be an investment vehicle of sorts … and it becomes a tax program,” he said

State retiree’s are concerned about two provisions under current Social Security law - the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset — which reduces the amount they receive. Bill talked with The Advocate about what he has done in the State Senate and what he would do in Congress:

Cassidy was one of seven state senators to sponsor a resolution this year asking Congress to consider eliminating or reducing the provisions.

Most people affected by the provisions are in lower wage jobs and do not know that they planned their retirements around benefits they may not receive, Cassidy said.

“You don’t balance the budget on those that are most vulnerable,” Cassidy said. “You come up with a comprehensive solution that is fair to everyone.”