U.S. Rep. Taylor: No presidential endorsement

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
August 7, 2004
U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor isn't taking a stand in this year's presidential race.
Taylor, a Democrat who represents Mississippi's 4th Congressional District, said he supports a balanced federal budget, supports gun rights, opposes closing military bases and opposes abortions.
Asked if he can be effective as a Democrat in the U.S. House while not supporting Republican President George Bush or the Democratic nominee John Kerry, Taylor answered, "Yes."
Taylor has been a member of Congress since 1989. He serves on the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services and is assigned to the Projection Forces and Readiness subcommittees.
He also serves on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, assigned to the Highways, Transit and Pipelines and Water Resources and Environment subcommittees.
Taylor's district was re-configured during congressional redistricting following the 2000 U.S. Census, a move that reduced the state's number of U.S. House seats from five to four.
Taylor said Mississippi's five congressional districts were among the smallest in the United States with about 560,000 people each. Now, he said, the four redrawn districts are among the largest.