John Breaux

A Representative and a Senator from Louisiana; born in Crowley, La., March 1, 1944; graduated, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, 1964; graduated, Louisiana State University Law School, Baton Rouge, 1967; practiced law; assistant to Representative Edwin W. Edwards 1968-1972; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-second Congress in a special election, September 30, 1972, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edwin Edwards; reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses and served from September 30, 1972 to January 3, 1987; was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives in 1986, but was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1986; reelected in 1992 and 1998 for the term ending January 3, 2005; was not a candidate for reelection in 2004; chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (1989-1991). Former Senator John Breaux retired from the U.S. Senate in 2005 after serving his state of Louisiana for 32 years. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972 and served until his election to the Senate in 1986. While in the Senate, he served as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as Chief Deputy Whip. He has been Senior Counsel to Patton Boggs, LLP for the last 3 years. John Breaux Jr. has over 20 years experience in government and political relations and currently runs a successful consulting practice in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, LA. Before starting his practice in 2001, Breaux Jr. served as a principal at Johnston & Associates. His experience includes serving as managing director for Public Strategies, an international business advisory firm headquartered in Austin, Texas. He also worked as a director of congressional affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. John B. Breaux retired at the end of the last congressional term after 32 years in Congress. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 at the age of 28, and represented the 7th District of Louisiana for 14 years before being elected to fill Senator Russell Long's seat in 1986. As a moderate bipartisan leader in the Senate, he was a founder of the Centrist Coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans and served as chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. At the time of his retirement, Senator Breaux served as Chief Deputy Whip, and was a senior member of the Finance Committee. He was formerly the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy, and also held positions on the Health Care and Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittees. Breaux also chaired the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare. Senator John B. Breaux is Senior Counsel with the law firm of Patton Boggs LLP. Senator Breaux joined Patton Boggs LLP upon his retirement from the United States Senate in 2005, having served since 1986. Prior to that, he spent fourteen years in the United States House of Representatives serving on the Public Works and Transportation Committee. In the Senate, he served on the Finance Committee and the Commerce Committee, where he was chair of the subcommittee on Surface Transportation. He also serves as a director of LHC Group, Inc., Senior Managing Director of the Clinton Group and Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings. Senator Breaux has been a director of CSX since May 2005.