Bob Livingston Broke the Mold for Pelican State Lawmakers

Goode, Stephen, Insight on the News

When he first ran for Congress his district was 3 percent Republican; today it is the most Republican in Louisiana. And Rep. Livingston is now the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

When asked to describe his political beliefs, 53-year-old Rep. Bob Livingston, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, replies: "In a word . . . conservative." He was only the third Republican congressman from Louisiana in 100 years when he was sent to Congress in a 1977 special election. At 6 feet 4 inches in height, Livingston is one of the tallest men on Capitol Hill; he's also one of the most personable. Among other honors, Livingston repeatedly has won the Watchdog of the Treasury Award of the National Associated Businessmen, and the Leadership Award from the prodefense Coalition for Peace Through Strength.

Insight: What should Congress be doing right now?

Bob Livingston: Eliminating duplication, inefficiency and waste in the federal government. We have nearly 300 job-training programs, for example, and we have to anticipate that we can do with 40 or 50.

There are 267 youth-at-risk programs and 48 nutrition programs in the various agencies--examples of the overlap and redundancy of this government!

Our [ballistic-missile] defense is lacking badly in needed preparation for the future. We can have …

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Publication information: Article title: Bob Livingston Broke the Mold for Pelican State Lawmakers. Contributors: Goode, Stephen - Author. Magazine title: Insight on the News. Volume: 13. Issue: 8 Publication date: March 3, 1997. Page number: 16+. © 1999 News World Communications, Inc. COPYRIGHT 1997 Gale Group.

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