Tauzin declines top lobbying job

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/26/tauzin.job/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bowing to pressure from Democrats, a leading Republican lawmaker who had played a key role in crafting prescription drug legislation has ended talks to become the top lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry, his spokesman said Thursday.

"He told them he's not accepting the position at this time," said Ken Johnson, spokesman for Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-Louisiana. "He won't make a decision about his future until he leaves Congress. This has become a monumental distraction and he wants to put it behind him."

The decision follows weeks of complaints from Democrats who said it was wrong for Tauzin -- who until earlier this month was the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has oversight of the drug industry -- to accept the high-paying job. Just last year, Congress passed a Medicare prescription drug bill that will earn billions for the drug companies, and Tauzin played a leading role in House negotiations on that measure.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, repeatedly raised the possibility that representatives from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America began job talks with Tauzin during the Medicare negotiations, something Tauzin vehemently denied.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

1. job talks with Tauzin during the Medicare negotiations? denied?

Of course...because the job talks began much earlier...

Tauzin'll get his quid pro quo, maybe not in this way or at this time...and for the long run, the pharmacorps already own his soul.

[priller]

2. Not accepting AT THIS TIME!

Oh, he'll take, or something like it, after the brouhaha dies down.

[aquart]

3. Say, a month after he leaves office?

After all, he's earned a vacation.

[loudnclear]

5. After election to give Bush protection. This could have been used

in the campaign against Bush.

[dusty64]

7. Agreed. Hopefully

his seat will switch over to the Democrats. What are the chances of that?

[gulliver]

4. That doesn't mean it's behind him!

Not so fast, Bernie. The scandal is not just that he was going to be getting a big lobbying job. The scandal is that he sold his vote and support to change legislation to set himself up for getting that lobbying job.

Just because he didn't accept payment in the end doesn't mean he didn't do the bidding of the pharmaceutical companies and HMOs. The only thing that has happened is that a corrupt politician has been prevented from cashing his bribe check. He's still corrupt.

[jus_the_facts]

6. yep...and the sorry SOB *represents* my state......

....thanks for NOTHING Tauzin...you lyin' snake :puke: