Boustany joins Black Caucus and opposes Jindal/ Republicans Again
by Greg Hilburn - News Star (excerpt)

Five of Louisiana's seven congressmen sent a letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal on Saturday asking him to postpone drawing a new congressional map until next year. Jindal's chief of staff Timmy Teepell said Saturday afternoon that Jindal supports delaying the process and will ask the Legislature, which is charged with drawing the map, to concur.

Fifth District U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, 6th District U.S. Rep. William Cassidy, 1st District U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, 4th District Rep. John Fleming and 3rd District U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, all Republicans, signed the letter. Second District U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, and 7th District Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, didn't sign the letter.

The Legislature's special session to redraw Louisiana's political maps must end Wednesday. Maps for state Senate and House districts must be complete because of upcoming fall elections, but the next congressional elections aren't scheduled until 2012. "I think if there had been a clear consensus among the delegation (the Legislature) could have done it in three days, but it's better to take the time and develop a plan that meets the needs of the entire state," Teepell said. Lawmakers have presented congressional plans with two different concepts, but so far neither has gotten enough traction for full passage.