Bob Stump
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee "Bob" Stump was a U.S. Congressman
from Arizona
.
, and was a U.S. Navy
World War II
combat veteran, where he served on the USS Tulagi from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from Tolleson High School in 1947, and Arizona State University
in 1951. He owned a cotton and grain farm in the Phoenix suburb of Tolleson
for many years.
He served four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives
from 1959 to 1967, and five terms in the Arizona State Senate, from 1967 to 1976. He served as President of the Arizona State Senate from 1975 to 1976.
Congress
on November 2, 1976, originally as a Democrat
from the 3rd Congressional District
. Despite his Democratic affiliation, he considered himself a "Pinto", or rural, Democrat and his voting record was very conservative. He voted for Ronald Reagan
's tax cuts in 1981. Shortly after that vote, he announced he would become a Republican
when Congress reconvened in January 1982. Regardless of his party affiliation, he never faced serious competition at the ballot box. He briefly considered running for the Senate
in 1986 after Barry Goldwater
decided to retire.
Described as "quiet" and "assiduously private", Stump kept a fairly low profile for most of his tenure. He had only a "skeleton staff"; he was known to answer the phone himself at his Washington, D.C.
office, and to open his own mail. Stump usually returned home to work his farm in Tolleson on weekends.
In his 26 years in the House he became a noted member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as chairman from 2001 to 2003. "As one of the most senior members of Congress, Congressman Stump is one of the few in the
history of the United States House to have served as Chairman of both the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee." He consistently supported increased spending on the military and veterans. The 2003 military appropriations authorization act was named after him in recognition of his commitment to the military as the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003.
Stump sponsored bills to make English
the official language for government business and to alter laws so that children born to non-citizen parents would not be citizens. According to Amy Silverson, he was "best known in Congress as a perpetual naysayer, casting votes against almost all spending programs."
Between 1976 and 2002 he accumulated a lifetime score of 97 (out of 100) from the American Conservative Union
. He received very low scores from the National Council of Senior Citizens, the American Civil Liberties Union
, the AFL-CIO
, the NAACP
, and the League of Conservation Voters
.
Stump sometimes was criticized for addressing himself mainly to Phoenix and the West Valley, even though his district included the entire northwestern portion of Arizona. Many residents of his far-flung district rarely saw him. He maintained his district office in downtown Phoenix, outside his own district, for many years.
mistakenly placed Bob Hope
's obituary on its web site in June 1998, Stump announced on the floor of the House that the entertainer had passed away. This was quickly denied by his daughter and publicist; Hope died in 2003, at the age of 100.
, who still holds the seat. Stump died June 20, 2003 of myelodysplasia, a blood disorder.
The Bob Stump Veterans Administration Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona
, was named in his honor. Stump is no relation to the member of the Arizona Corporation Commission
of the same name. In 2006 SR 303L was renamed the Bob Stump Memorial Highway.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Early life and career
Stump was born in PhoenixPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and was a U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
combat veteran, where he served on the USS Tulagi from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from Tolleson High School in 1947, and Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in 1951. He owned a cotton and grain farm in the Phoenix suburb of Tolleson
Tolleson, Arizona
Tolleson is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 6,812.-Geography:Tolleson is located at ....
for many years.
He served four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives
Arizona House of Representatives
The Arizona House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its members are elected to two-year terms with a term limit of four consecutive terms...
from 1959 to 1967, and five terms in the Arizona State Senate, from 1967 to 1976. He served as President of the Arizona State Senate from 1975 to 1976.
Member of Congress
He was first elected to the 95th95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on November 2, 1976, originally as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from the 3rd Congressional District
Arizona's 3rd congressional district
Arizona's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona and contains most of the northern portion of the city of Phoenix as well as some of its northern suburbs...
. Despite his Democratic affiliation, he considered himself a "Pinto", or rural, Democrat and his voting record was very conservative. He voted for Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's tax cuts in 1981. Shortly after that vote, he announced he would become a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
when Congress reconvened in January 1982. Regardless of his party affiliation, he never faced serious competition at the ballot box. He briefly considered running for the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1986 after Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
decided to retire.
Described as "quiet" and "assiduously private", Stump kept a fairly low profile for most of his tenure. He had only a "skeleton staff"; he was known to answer the phone himself at his Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
office, and to open his own mail. Stump usually returned home to work his farm in Tolleson on weekends.
In his 26 years in the House he became a noted member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as chairman from 2001 to 2003. "As one of the most senior members of Congress, Congressman Stump is one of the few in the
history of the United States House to have served as Chairman of both the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee." He consistently supported increased spending on the military and veterans. The 2003 military appropriations authorization act was named after him in recognition of his commitment to the military as the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003.
Stump sponsored bills to make English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
the official language for government business and to alter laws so that children born to non-citizen parents would not be citizens. According to Amy Silverson, he was "best known in Congress as a perpetual naysayer, casting votes against almost all spending programs."
Between 1976 and 2002 he accumulated a lifetime score of 97 (out of 100) from the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
. He received very low scores from the National Council of Senior Citizens, the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, the NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
, and the League of Conservation Voters
League of Conservation Voters
The League of Conservation Voters is a political advocacy organization founded in 1969 by American environmentalist David Brower in the early years of the environmental movement. LCV's mission is to "advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt...
.
Stump sometimes was criticized for addressing himself mainly to Phoenix and the West Valley, even though his district included the entire northwestern portion of Arizona. Many residents of his far-flung district rarely saw him. He maintained his district office in downtown Phoenix, outside his own district, for many years.
Bob Hope announcement
After the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
mistakenly placed Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
's obituary on its web site in June 1998, Stump announced on the floor of the House that the entertainer had passed away. This was quickly denied by his daughter and publicist; Hope died in 2003, at the age of 100.
Death and legacy
He decided not to run for re-election in 2002 due to declining health. He endorsed his chief of staff, Lisa Jackson Atkins, as his successor in what was now the 2nd District. However, Atkins was defeated in a seven way Republican primary by Trent FranksTrent Franks
Trent Franks is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district takes in the entire northwestern corner of the state, including Kingman and Lake Havasu City, but most of its vote is cast in the western Phoenix suburbs.-Early life, education and...
, who still holds the seat. Stump died June 20, 2003 of myelodysplasia, a blood disorder.
The Bob Stump Veterans Administration Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, was named in his honor. Stump is no relation to the member of the Arizona Corporation Commission
Arizona Corporation Commission
The Arizona Corporation Commission is the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Arizona, established by Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution. There are currently five members of the commission . Arizona is one of only a handful of states with elected commissioners...
of the same name. In 2006 SR 303L was renamed the Bob Stump Memorial Highway.