Conservative Demo Switches To Gop

Rep. Billy Tauzin, a conservative Democrat serving his eighth term, announced Sunday that he is becoming a Republican.

“You know it is time to move when you don’t want your own leadership to come back into power,” the Louisiana congressman said at a news conference in his district.

Tauzin said he is switching because he is sick of being repressed by his own party. He said he was often locked out of the room when decisions are being made.

Tauzin, 52, joins four other Democratic lawmakers who have moved to the GOP since last fall’s election, two in the House and two in the Senate.