Louisiana GOP Slams Rep. Charlie Melancon For Failing To Discuss Stimulus Package With Constituents

Baton Rouge – Today, the House of Representatives debates passage of a trillion dollar stimulus package that is laden with pork as opposed to real relief to the struggling middle class. To make matters worse, Democrat Charlie Melancon has decided to jet-set off to Belgium and Paris instead of explaining why he supports this reckless proposal.

As they wine and dine at an alpine ski resort during their trip, Louisiana’s middle class continues to struggle in an uncertain economy. With Louisiana’s unemployment teetering at almost 6%, a real economic recovery package is necessary, yet Rep. Melancon initially voted for the “stimulus” package that was filled with hundreds of millions of dollars that would do very little to help the ailing economy and a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis indicates that it will take years before much of the spending program will have any effect.

Included in the package is $335M set aside for research in sexually-transmitted diseases and $30M to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse that happens to inhabit an area within Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco district.

“As Congressman Melancon prepares to vote for a pork-laden spending bill that will just increase the deficit and do little to help middle-class Louisiana families, he was quick to run to Europe instead of facing his constituents to explain his vote,” said Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. “When he is back from their taxpayer-funded junket, he should explain why struggling middle-class families should be forced to foot the bill for this wasteful Washington spending.”

 From Rep. Melancon's Office to Bayoubuzz upon request for a response to the attack:

Rep. Melancon does not comment on partisan attacks from the Louisiana Republican Party.  However, I would be happy to explain the congressional delegation trip he will be participating in next week.

Rep. Melancon will be part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation to meetings of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Feb. 14-22. The delegation is led by U.S. Rep. John Tanner, who chairs the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and also serves as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.  Attached is a report from one of the delegation’s previous trips to the annual meetings.

Topics of discussion will include: ongoing efforts in Afghanistan, where NATO is commanding day-to-day operations; issues of global and economic security; diplomatic relations with NATO allies; and NATO relations with Russia.

Rep. Melancon believes it is important now, more than ever, that we strengthen our relationship with our NATO-ally nations.  Many of those relationships have been strained in recent years, and it is crucial that we work to rebuild these ties, especially while our NATO allies are so important to winning the ongoing war in Afghanistan against radical fundamentalism. We need their support and access to their intelligence network so we can stop attacks from those who want to harm the United States.

Among other scheduled events, the group will:

·         Participate in meetings of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, presided over by Congressman Tanner.

·         Meet with NATO defense and military officials, NATO Secretary General Jaap de hoop Scheffer and General John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

·         Tour the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Center.

·         Discuss the global economic crisis with members of the NATO Economic and Security Committee.

·         Participate in meetings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris and discussions with OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.

·         Participate in meetings of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, including a speech by Congressman Tanner and a briefing from OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

·         Tour the NATO School, NATO's key training facility on the operational level, in Oberammergau, Germany.

·         Visit the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, a renowned international security and defense studies institute that promotes dialogue and understanding among the nations of North America, Europe, Eurasia and beyond.