Tauzin to Retire from Congress

According to CNN, Louisiana Representative Billy Tauzin (R) will not seek re-election to the House.

In a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, Tauzin said he is giving up the committee post because recent health problems convinced him not to seek re-election after 13 terms in Congress.

But congressional sources said Tauzin's decision was based largely on a strategy designed to calm Republican fury over his consideration to head PhRMA, the trade association for the large pharmaceutical companies, with whom Tauzin's committee just concluded negotiations over the prescription drug benefit for Medicare.

Many Republicans and Democrats have complained if Tauzin takes the job it will appear as payback for negotiating a bill widely considered favorable to the drug industry.

If he takes that job it will certainly give Kerry some "special interest" lines for the campaign trail.