Today it was announced that U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) will resign his seat by the end of the year. The former Senate Majority Leader resigned his leadership position under a cloud of controversy in 2002; however, in recent years, he had been able to reestablish a position of power in the U.S. Senate. He currently serves as the second ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate.
Lott was just re-elected in 2006 to a new six year term. However, he has been in Congress for 34 years and has acceded to his wife’s wishes to leave the U.S. Senate. Now, he will also join former congressional colleagues such as John Breaux and Bob Livingston as a highly compensated lobbyist. Lott will enjoy plenty of financial benefits for his contacts and experience on Capitol Hill.
While Lott will benefit from his retirement, his state will not. Lott’s influence was on display after Katrina. He steered billions of dollars to his state during the recovery period. In contrast, Louisiana suffered from a lack of high powered representation on Capitol Hill. Now, Mississippi will suffer from a serious loss of clout because in the U.S. Congress seniority is extremely important.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, R, will appoint an interim replacement for Lott. No doubt it will be another Republican, but it will be impossible for the next Mississippi Senator to wield as much influence as the one who is resigning today.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 8 a.m. till Noon weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
If anybody believes for a moment that Lott has been a "Public Servant" for over thirty years, they don't know politics. Lott will become a very high priced lobbyist before the new restrictions are implemented on Lobbyists. That is nothing but self serving. He said that he wants to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. In my opinion he wants to get in under the wire and start making millions just as Tauzin and Livingston have done. Prove to me he has not been in Congress to help himself? The only time he faced the reality that the average person does is when his home got blown away by Katrina. Facing the everday reality of non politicians once in 30 years is a cake walk. Written by Anonymous
on 11/26/2007
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Robert E. Lee it looks like he's going to jump in the game and be a player! He did do good for Mississippi my hats is off to him. Written by Tony G
on 11/26/2007
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The loss of Senator Lott is a huge one for the State of Mississippi, and a loss for working Americans in the South and beyond. No doubt Gov. Barbour (former National Rep. Party Chairman) will appoint a corporate Republican as a replacement, to the detriment of the majority of Americans and to the benefit of the wealthy few. If only there were more U.S. Senators like Lott serving the people, instead of the self-serving corporate prostitutes that compose the senate in D.C. Thank you Senator Lott for a job well done, we cannot blame you for becoming fed up with the game! You deserve a break. Written by R. E. Lee
on 11/26/2007
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Today it was announced that U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) will resign his seat by the end of the year. The former Senate Majority Leader resigned his leadership position under a cloud of controversy in 2002; however, in recent years, he had been able to reestablish a position of power in the U.S. Senate. He currently serves as the second ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. 