Last modified on December 13, 2021, at 17:13

Steve Scalise

Stephen Joseph "Steve" Scalise


Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2019
Preceded by Steny Hoyer

In office
August 1, 2014 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by Kevin McCarthy
Succeeded by Jim Clyburn

U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
May 3, 2008
Preceded by Bobby Jindal

Louisiana State Senator for District 9
In office
January 14, 2008 – May 6, 2008
Preceded by Jesse Kendrick "Ken" Hollis, Jr.
Succeeded by Conrad Appel

Louisiana State Representative
for District 82
In office
January 8, 1996 – January 14, 2008
Preceded by Quentin Dastugue
Succeeded by Cameron Henry

Born October 6, 1965
New Orleans, Louisiana
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Jennifer Letulle Scalia
Children Two children
Alma mater Louisiana State University
Religion Roman Catholic

Stephen Joseph Scalise, known as Steve Scalise (born October 6, 1965), is the Majority Whip in the United States House of Representatives, a position of leadership in Congress. He is a conservative Republican who represents the 1st congressional district of his native Louisiana. A graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Scalise previously served from 1996 to 2008 in the Louisiana House of Representatives and for five months in 2008 as a state senator. He won the special election in 2008 to succeed then Governor-elect Bobby Jindal to fill Louisiana's 1st congressional district seat.

He was shot by a liberal gunman who ambushed him and other congressmen at a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, in June 2017. Rep. Scalise was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries in intensive care. On June 20, 2017, Bono gave a "shout out" of support for recuperation by Representative Scalise during a U2 concert held at the nearby stadium where the Washington Redskins play football.[1] Rep. Scalise expressed his gratitude. The shooting strengthened Scalise's pro-2nd Amendment position,[2] and he opposed enacting any gun control measures after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, accusing the Democrats of trying to create a slippery slope in which gun rights are slowly eroded.[3][4][5][6] Scalise continued speaking out against gun control.[7][8]

On March 10, 2018, Scalise was among the nine latest inductees into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame, based in Winnfield. However, the induction ceremony was held in New Orleans, where many of those inducted reside.[9]

In the nonpartisan blanket primary on November 6, 2018, Scalise faces opposition from Howard L. Kearney (born March 28, 1959), a Libertarian Party contender from Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish, who urges the closing of the Russia collusion investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Two Democrats are also challenging Scalise. Jim Francis of Covington supports the Mueller investigation and is critical of Scalise's support for the National Rifle Association. Tammy Savoie, a retired United States Air Force veteran deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, is a clinical psychologist who resides in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans. She accuses Scalise of voting in Congress against the minimum wage, health care and legislation to protect women from violence. Of her opponent, Savoie said that Scalise "has demonstrated calloused indifference to the working people of Louisiana."[10] Savoie is the official choice of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee in the race to unseat Scalise.[11]Yet another candidate is Frederick "Ferd" Jones, an Independent from Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish.

In 2019, Scalise's chief of staff, Charles A. Henry, was elected to the District 82 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives to succeed his older brother, state Senator-elect Cameron Henry.

Rep. Scalise voted in late July 2020 along with 71 other House Republicans as well as all Democrats in favor of removing Civil War-era statues.[12]

See also

References

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bono-honors-rep-steve-scalise-u2-concert/story?id=48175487
  2. Marcos, Cristina (October 3, 2017). Scalise: Shooting 'fortified' my view on gun rights. The Hill. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  3. Pandey, Erica (October 8, 2017). Scalise opposes new gun control laws. Axios. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  4. O'Brien, Connor (October 8, 2017). Scalise criticizes 'rush to judgment' on guns, bump stocks. Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  5. Bowden, John (October 5, 2017). Scalise: 'Little bit early' for Congress to ban bump stocks. The Hill. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  6. Hawkins, Awr (October 8, 2017). Rep. Steve Scalise: Dems Trying to Create ‘Slippery Slope’ via Bump Stock Gun Control. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  7. Vogt, Bailey (March 22, 2019). Rep. Steve Scalise: Democrats using gun restrictions to 'control' Americans. The Washington Times. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  8. Brufke, Juliegrace (September 18, 2019). Scalise blasts Democratic legislation on gun reforms. The Hill. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  9. Drew Broach (November 17, 2017). Meet the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame's Class of 2018. The New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved on March 10, 2018.
  10. Mark Ballard (July 18, 2018). Candidates for Louisiana Secretary of State, Congress begin to qualify for fall elections. The Baton Rouge Advocate.
  11. Greg Hilburn (August 20, 2018). See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on. Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved on August 21, 2018.
  12. The List: 72 Republicans Vote with Democrats to Remove Civil War-Era Memorabilia from U.S. Capitol

External links

  • Profile at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  • Profile at Congress.gov