As the health care debate continues in Washington this week, Charlie Melancon continues to take fire over his resignation from the budget panel.  The following story this morning from Mike Hasten at Gannet entitled “Republicans still rocking Melancon over decision.” explains:

As the House Budget Committee moved Monday to approve a shell of a health care bill to the full House, the political arms of the state and national Republican Party renewed their criticism of Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon for resigning his post on the budget panel.

Melancon two weeks ago cited restrictions on his time serving on the Budget Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee in stepping down. With the oil and chemical industry being important drivers of the Louisiana economy, he wanted to concentrate on energy, Melancon said.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Amber Marchand called Melancon’s decision “political cowardice” and said he didn’t want to make the tough vote on whether to advance health care to the House floor.

“If Melancon still sat on that committee, he could show the bipartisanship he claims to espouse by standing up to (Speaker of the House Nancy) Pelosi and (President Barack) Obama and voting against sending the bill to the floor,” State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere Jr. said. “Instead, Melancon’s mysterious departure allowed Pelosi to replace him with Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) who voted for Obama’s health care plan last November.”

“Melancon claims that he’s working for Louisianans as a ‘moderate’ in Congress, but his decision to step down from the Budget Committee instead of taking tough votes on the divisive health care reconciliation today demonstrates political cowardice — not political independence,” Marchand said Monday in a news release…

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