Cat got your tongue?

As Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot attempted to explain why Louisiana owes the Federal Emergency Management Agency approximately $3.7 billion in disaster recovery funds, laughter spread first across the back row of the House Appropriations Committee.

Then the front row.

Then the front half of the committee room.

When state Rep. Warren Triche, Jr., D-Thibodaux, stepped away from his seat next to committee chairman Rep. John Alario, D-Westwego, Triche left his cell phone behind.

The phone didn't ring. It mewed like a tiny kitten trapped in a pipe.

After Theriot finished a point and was about to take another question, Alario interrupted, "I apologize to you, Mr. Theriot. Someone's being catty up here."

-- Dan Turner