Vitter hasn’t forgotten about the Senate during run for governor

While he may be focused on running for governor in 2015, U.S. Sen. David Vitter of Metairie hasn’t lost sight of his gig in D.C., which includes a possible chairmanship in the near future and raising money for his federal accounts.

As the ranking member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, sources close to Vitter say he could potentially be in line for its chairmanship should Republicans take control of the upper chamber following the current election cycle.

“But depending on how things shake out, like how people get moved around and seniority, he could end up as chair of another committee,” said the Washington source.

That could create an interesting argument against Vitter as he runs for governor, one that would work in reverse to the claims that senior Sen. Mary Landrieu should remain in the Senate due to her chairmanship of the Energy Committee.

Landrieu, a New Orleans Democrat, is running for re-election this fall and is being challenged by leading Republicans Congressman Bill Cassidy and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness.

While his naysayers could argue that Vitter should stay in D.C., either to complement Landrieu’s gavel or to make up for her loss, Vitter could counter that he wants to parlay that influence into a governorship or that it’s an example of his effectiveness.

More immediately, Vitter is continuing to raise money for his federal accounts, beginning with his Louisiana Reform PAC, which is a leadership committee.

He has a Disney World event scheduled for November in Florida to benefit the PAC. At $3,000 per head, participants get to schmooze with Mickey and Goofy at the Four Seasons Resort. Golfing with the senator is included, too, as is a Saturday night “Hoop-Dee-Doo BBQ & Musical Revue.”

The PAC had about $17,000 in cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, during which $56,500 was raised.

As for his own federal campaign finance account, it collected roughly $31,000 in the second quarter and reported nearly $810,000 in the bank.

Charles R. Spies, director of the Fund for Louisiana’s Future super PAC, which is supporting Vitter’s run for governor but is prohibited from interacting with the campaign, said recently that the super PAC has $1.7 million in the bank and raised $624,000 last quarter.

Vitter has not yet filed a campaign finance report on the state level this year.

The Saints and taxes

What do Russell Long, Hale Boggs and the New Orleans Saints have to do with the NFL’s comfortable federal tax status? Based on a bit of research conducted by CNN last month, quite a bit.

According to the cable network’s story, the National Football League, headquartered in Manhattan, doesn’t directly pay taxes, although it does cough up money for taxes on its properties and offshoot ventures.

That equates to a tax-free status, granted in 1942 due to its classification as a nonprofit trade association, for the parent company that pays embattled chief executive Roger Goodell.

When it appeared like the tide might turn in 1966 when the NFL was preparing to merge with the American Football League, a deal was cut.

Here’s how CNN broke it down: “Two powerful Louisiana politicians, Sen. Russell Long and Rep. Hale Boggs, wanted a football team in New Orleans. Then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle wanted antitrust protection and confirmed tax-exempted status for the league office. The Saints were born in New Orleans and in exchange, Rozelle got his wish slipped into an unrelated federal bill on investments and depreciation.”

McAllister joins bipartisan caucus

Congressman Vance McAllister, R-Swartz, has joined the United Solutions Caucus, which was formed last year to carve out avenues of Democratic and Republican support for public policy issues.

McAllister said he plans on making the caucus a central focus of his time on the Hill as a means to possibly solving congressional gridlock and offering bipartisan legislation. He added that the caucus currently has 10 Democratic members and nine Republicans. It is chaired by Congressman Patrick Murphy, a Democrat from Florida.

“It’s a room full of grown adults trying to get beyond partisan arguments and asking each other why they think the way they do and trying to put a human face on these divisive issues,” McAllister said. “Some things we can agree on and some things we cannot. But I think a lot of common sense can come out of it and the hope is to grow the caucus.

“Especially in 2015, it could become a strong movement. I think we can try to help Congress work together.”Eyeing St. Bernard, Washington House seats

Trial lawyers, unhappy with his push to lower the state’s highest-in-the-nation jury threshold, are said to be actively recruiting candidates to run against Rep. Ray Garofalo, R-Chalmette, next year in House District 103.

“Even though that bill failed, lawyers around here and from New Orleans are still really mad about it,” said a local politico. “I can see the trial lawyers absolutely getting involved in this race and some already are.”

So far the potential candidates are coming from the St. Bernard Parish Council, like At-large Councilmen George Cavignac, a Republican.

Cavignac is a strong anti voice on diversion projects, which are unpopular in some St. Bernard circles. Garofalo has been criticized back at home for supporting the coastal master plan this year, which includes diversion projects.

But it’s lost on some critics that the master plan only offers lawmakers an up or down vote and no opportunity for amendments.

“I’ve definitely had a lot of encouragement to get in the race,” said Cavignac.

St. Bernard Councilman Casey Hunnicutt is looking to run as well.

Elsewhere, with Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, term limited, politicos in the Washington Parish region are already eyeing his seat.

Beth Mizell, a Republican from Franklinton who ran against Nevers last cycle, should be on the ballot next year. “I am definitely running,” said Mizell, a Tea Party enthusiast with a background in preschool education.

Asked if he’s thinking about the race, Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa, laughed and said, “Yeah. Every day.”

He said he received a magnet in the mail with Mizell’s name on it last year with the 2013 football schedules for LSU and the Saints. It’s still on his fridge.

“I look at that magnet every day to keep me motivated,” he said.

They Said It“It’s going to be a runoff no matter what.” —Democratic strategist Donna Brazile of Louisiana, on the state’s U.S. Senate race, in U.S. News & World Report

 

About Jeremy Alford 227 Articles
Jeremy Alford is an independent journalist and the co-author of LONG SHOT, which recounts Louisiana's 2015 race for governor. His bylines appear regularly in The New York Times and he has served as an on-camera analyst for CNN, FOX News, MSNBC and C-SPAN.

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