Perhaps U.S. Rep. David Price should give up gambling.

Next week, the Chapel Hill Democrat plans to deliver North Carolina barbecue to Rep. Rob Simmons, a Connecticut Republican.

The pork -- which will be shipped from Bullock's Bar B Cue in Durham -- makes good on a bet Price lost over the NCAA basketball tournament semifinal between Duke and Connecticut.

Had the Blue Devils prevailed, Price would be getting a delivery from Mystic Pizza, a Connecticut restaurant made famous in the 1988 film of the same name starring Julia Roberts.

The loss made the wager Price's third in a row with colleagues.

In 2002, Price gave Bullock's barbecue to then-Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, a fellow Democrat, after the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes for the Stanley Cup.

And last year, Price delivered 15 pints of ice cream from Orange County's Maple View Farm to Rep. Spencer Bachus, an Alabama Republican. That came after Clay Aiken of Raleigh finished second on "American Idol" to Ruben Studdard of Birmingham, Ala.

"What do you want me to say? We've lost a couple of bets," said Price spokeswoman Bridget Lowell when asked about her boss' losing streak. "If these are the only losses you can attribute to Mr. Price, he's doing pretty well. We prefer to take our wins where they really count."

Lowell also noted that Mystic Pizza can be purchased frozen at some grocery stores.

Moore honored again

State Treasurer Richard Moore is being honored -- again -- by the Democratic Leadership Council, a Washington-based group that promotes centrist positions with the party.

The DLC this week named Moore its "New Democrat of the Week," citing his work creating "an innovative savings plan for North Carolina's public workers."

The N.C. Accelerated Savings Plan allows 700,000 public employees to earn money back on purchases made through a network of nearly 500 participating merchants. The money is automatically deposited into a savings account. Moore also won the award in July 2002 for his department's initiative to award the state pension funds' brokerage business only to firms that agree to improve corporate accountability standards.

Edwards' health bill

Sen. John Edwards this week introduced another bill modeled on proposals he floated as a presidential candidate.

The latest is designed to broaden health programs using the Internet and other "tele-health" technologies that allow doctors to conduct checkups and make diagnoses long distance.

Edwards' legislation would expand the use of such technologies for Medicare patients in assisted living centers and nursing homes, particularly in rural areas. It would also set up demonstration projects for coordinating care for the elderly.

Jones gets award

Rep. Walter Jones, a Farmville Republican, this week picked up a "Taxpayers' Friend" award from the National Taxpayers Union.

Twenty other members of Congress -- none from North Carolina -- were also given the distinction. The group advocates for lower spending and tax cuts.

In a statement, Jones said he felt he was just doing what his constituents want: "to get the federal government off their backs and out of their pocketbooks."