On the Hill A look back at the week in Washington Jeb Bush: 'Thank God for Mississippi and Louisiana' This is courtesy of my former Times-Picayune Washington colleague, Jonathan Tilove, now chief political reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. Tilove, in his First Reading blog, noted that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently told the Texas Business Leadership Council's Education...
On the Hill
A look back at the week in Washington
Jeb Bush: 'Thank God for Mississippi and Louisiana'
This is courtesy of my former Times-Picayune Washington colleague, Jonathan Tilove, now chief political reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. Tilove, in his First Reading blog, noted that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently told the Texas Business Leadership Council's Education summit that when his state's schools were failing he used to say, "Thank God for Mississippi and Louisiana." Those two states were often rated worst in the nation for public schools, making Florida's pre-reform school system look better by comparison.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
Tilove got a chance this week to ask Bush about the comments, noting his own former Louisiana connections. Bush told him to be sure to report that education reforms implemented by Gov. Bobby Jindal had made Louisiana schools much improved, as he says his administration's reforms helped turn around Florida's public education system.
Vitter disputes Interior claims sequester means fewer oil and gas permits
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., isn't buying a statement from outgoing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that the federal sequester will slow oil and gas permitting - due to fewer people on duty to review applications and monitor environmental impacts.
"I think sequestration is just the most recent excuse to slow things down," Vitter said at a Capitol news conference this week. He said the Salazar warning is part of the "general scare strategy" of the administration over the sequester - automatic spending cuts of $85 billion that took effect Friday.
The Senate's odd couple on banking policy
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, or as they are known, the Senate's odd couple on banking issues, are speaking out again about what they view is the continuation of mega banks that are so big that their failure would undermine the U.S. economy. Their outspoken comments about the dangers of big banks are notable because Vitter is one of the Senate's most conservative members, and Brown, one of the most liberal.
What unites them is that the threat of large bank failures in 2008 and 2009 led to massive taxpayer bailouts - with the argument that if these large institutions were allowed to fail the economic meltdown would have been even worse. But rather than deal with large scale banking consolidation, they argue that federal policies have encouraged even bigger banks.
"Too big to fail unfortunately is alive and well, and that poses a real threat, a real threat to all of us, to consumers, to citizens everywhere, fundamentally to the American economy," Vitter said.
"I think the fact that Sen. Brown and I are both here on the floor echoing each other's concerns, virtually repeating each other's arguments, is pretty significant," Vitter continued. "I don't know if we quite define the political spectrum of the United States Senate, but we come pretty darned close."
Brown said he and Vitter started working together on the issue when they asked similar tough questions about banking consolidation during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.
"I thank Sen. Vitter for his work," Brown said. "We will be working on legislation soon."Landrieu-Boustany team up on Lafayette clinic
Rosa Park gets a place in the Capitol
The U.S. Capitol has a grand new sculpture on display in historic Statuary Hall. It depicts Rosa Parks wearing the same clothes she did 58 years ago - when she famously refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., city bus.
Sen. Mary Landrieu visits new Rosa Park statue at the U.S. Capitol.
"When I walk through the halls of the Capitol, I see the many great heroes of our democracy. Rosa Parks most certainly deserves a place among them, and I'm proud that she is finally there," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
Also praising her courageous act of defiance were President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, both of whom spoke at the dedication of the nearly nine-foot tall statute.
"Rosa Parks held no elected office," the president said. "She possessed no fortune; lived her life far from the formal seats of power. And yet today, she takes her rightful place among those who've shaped this nation's course."
Boehner talked about her strong religious beliefs. "So, it's no surprise that when warned she would be arrested, Rosa Parks didn't have to look far for courage," Boehner said. "She didn't have to look anywhere, really. 'I felt a determination cover my body,' she said, 'like a quilt on a winter night.' You see, humility isn't incompatible with bravery. When we put God before ourselves ... when we make 'In God We Trust' not just a motto, but a mission, as Rosa Parks did... any burden can be lifted."
Landrieu and Boustany team up on VA clinics
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, have teamed up to introduce legislation that would authorize the Veterans Administration to keep open the Lafayette Community-Based Outpatient Clinic to keep its doors open, as well as move forward with the proposed VA clinic in Lake Charles.
Landrieu said veterans have faced continued delays and problems with clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette.
"The method of authorizing leases should not stand in the way of our veterans receiving the high-quality health care they deserve after sacrificing to protect our nation," Landrieu said. "I thank Congressman Boustany for his leadership on this issue and for working with me to introduce this critical legislation for veterans in Louisiana.""I think sequestration is just the most recent excuse to slow things down," Vitter said at a Capitol news conference this week. He said the Salazar warning is part of the "general scare strategy" of the administration over the sequester - automatic spending cuts of $85 billion that took effect Friday.