News

Vitter hasn't forgotten about the Senate

by Patrick Flanagan

While he may be focused on running for governor in 2015, U.S. Sen. David Vitter of Metairie hasn't lost sight of his gig in D.C., which includes a possible chairmanship in the near future and raising money for his federal accounts.

While he may be focused on running for governor in 2015, U.S. Sen. David Vitter of Metairie hasn't lost sight of his gig in D.C., which includes a possible chairmanship in the near future and raising money for his federal accounts.

As the ranking member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, sources close to Vitter say he could potentially be in line for its chairmanship should Republicans take control of the upper chamber following the current election cycle.
 
"But depending on how things shake out, like how people get moved around and seniority, he could end up as chair of another committee," said the Washington source.
 
That could create an interesting argument against Vitter as he runs for governor, one that would work in reverse to the claims that senior Sen. Mary Landrieu should remain in the Senate due to her chairmanship of the Energy Committee.
 
Landrieu, a New Orleans Democrat, is running for re-election this fall and is being challenged by leading Republicans Congressman Bill Cassidy and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness.
 
While his naysayers could argue that Vitter should stay in D.C., either to complement Landrieu's gavel or to make up for her loss, Vitter could counter that he wants to parlay that influence into a governorship or that it's an example of his effectiveness.
 
More immediately, Vitter is continuing to raise money for his federal accounts, beginning with his Louisiana Reform PAC, which is a leadership committee.
 
He has a Disney World event scheduled for November in Florida to benefit the PAC. At $3,000 per head, participants get to schmooze with Mickey and Goofy at the Four Seasons Resort. Golfing with the senator is included, too, as is a Saturday night "Hoop-Dee-Doo BBQ & Musical Revue."
 
The PAC had about $17,000 in cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, during which $56,500 was raised.
 
As for his own federal campaign finance account, it collected roughly $31,000 in the second quarter and reported nearly $810,000 in the bank.
 
Charles R. Spies, director of the Fund for Louisiana's Future super PAC, which is supporting Vitter's run for governor but if prohibited from interacting with the campaign, said recently that the super PAC has $1.7 million in the bank and raised $624,000 last quarter.
 
Vitter has not yet filed a campaign finance report on the state level this year.