Rodney Alexander
Encyclopedia
Rodney McKinnie Alexander (born December 5, 1946) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party
. The district covers twenty-two parishes in roughly the northeast quadrant of the state. As of the start of the 112th Congress
, he is the dean of Louisiana's House delegation.
of Bienville
in Bienville Parish to the former Mary Crawford and James Earl Alexander. In 1964, he graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School
in Jonesboro in Jackson Parish
. He then attended Louisiana Tech University
.
Alexander was an insurance
agent prior to entering Congress. He also owned a construction company from 1964-1981. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1965-1971. He was a member of the Jackson Parish Police Jury (equivalent to county commission
in other states) from 1972-1988.
Alexander left the police jury to represent District 13 in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1988 until his election to Congress. While in the House, he served as the chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee. In this position, Alexander shepherded through the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) legislation, which assists mothers and children with basic health care and insurance needs.
At the commencement of the 111th Congress, Alexander received new subcommittee assignments including the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), and he retained his seat on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administrations, and Related Agencies (Agriculture).
Alexander’s Interest group ratings are high in pro-life, agriculture, budgeting and business. He has very low ratings by the NAACP and ACLU and other civil rights oriented groups or groups for minorities. Alexander also has low ratings by environmental groups.
His recent speeches include “Party of Paychecks” were he speaks on the nations food-stamp necessity increase and speaks against out-of-control government spending and unemployment. Many of Alexander’s other speeches include warning against tax increases, as well as, freedoms to practice religion and prayer in public.
Alexander is endorsed by groups such as Americans for Legal Immigration,
Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business, National Federation of Independent Business
and National Rifle Association
.
Alexander’s voting record shows a history of voting against tax law amendments on a variety of matters. He has also voted “Nay” on many extensions for relief or aid, regulations, and has voted “Yay” to prohibition of tax increase.
of Alexandria
in the open primary that November. In 2006, he defeated the Democrat Gloria Williams Hearn, wife of the psychologist
George E. Hearn
of Pineville
, Louisiana.
and Otto Passman
.
Alexander joined the Tea Party Caucus
during this campaign.
On January 30, 2010, Alexander, along with the late Charlton Lyons
of Shreveport
, former state Representative Risley C. Triche
of Napoleonville
, and former State Senator
Randy Ewing
, also of Jackson Parish, was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
.
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...
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party
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...
. The district covers twenty-two parishes in roughly the northeast quadrant of the state. As of the start of the 112th Congress
112th United States Congress
The One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current 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 convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
, he is the dean of Louisiana's House delegation.
Early life, education and career
Alexander was born in the villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Bienville
Bienville, Louisiana
Bienville is a village in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census.There are seven cemeteries located near the village....
in Bienville Parish to the former Mary Crawford and James Earl Alexander. In 1964, he graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Jonesboro-Hodge High School is a high school located in North Central Louisiana. It is located in Jonesboro in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. The school mascot is the Tiger, named after LSU. The colors are scarlet and royal blue...
in Jonesboro in Jackson Parish
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
. He then attended Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
.
Alexander was an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
agent prior to entering Congress. He also owned a construction company from 1964-1981. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1965-1971. He was a member of the Jackson Parish Police Jury (equivalent to county commission
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
in other states) from 1972-1988.
Alexander left the police jury to represent District 13 in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
from 1988 until his election to Congress. While in the House, he served as the chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee. In this position, Alexander shepherded through the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) legislation, which assists mothers and children with basic health care and insurance needs.
U.S. House of Representatives
Alexander won his seat in 2002 as a Democrat, but ran in 2004 as a Republican, changing parties only three months before the election.At the commencement of the 111th Congress, Alexander received new subcommittee assignments including the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), and he retained his seat on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administrations, and Related Agencies (Agriculture).
Alexander’s Interest group ratings are high in pro-life, agriculture, budgeting and business. He has very low ratings by the NAACP and ACLU and other civil rights oriented groups or groups for minorities. Alexander also has low ratings by environmental groups.
His recent speeches include “Party of Paychecks” were he speaks on the nations food-stamp necessity increase and speaks against out-of-control government spending and unemployment. Many of Alexander’s other speeches include warning against tax increases, as well as, freedoms to practice religion and prayer in public.
Alexander is endorsed by groups such as Americans for Legal Immigration,
Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business, National Federation of Independent Business
National Federation of Independent Business
The National Federation of Independent Business is a lobbying organization with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee and offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals...
and National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
.
Alexander’s voting record shows a history of voting against tax law amendments on a variety of matters. He has also voted “Nay” on many extensions for relief or aid, regulations, and has voted “Yay” to prohibition of tax increase.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentThe House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies is a standing subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentU.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Service and General Government is a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. It was created in 2007 align the operations of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees...
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Caucus membership
- Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish AmericansCongressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish AmericansThe "Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans" was established by US Congressmen Robert Wexler , Ed Whitfield and Kay Granger in March 2001....
- Congressional Diabetes Caucus
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Tea Party CaucusTea Party CaucusThe Tea Party Caucus is a caucus of the United States House of Representatives and Senate launched and chaired by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on July 16, 2010. The caucus is dedicated to promoting what it considers fiscal responsibility, adherence to the movement's interpretation of...
Political campaigns
Alexander was first elected to Congress in 2002 as a Democrat. On August 4, 2004, he registered to run as a Democrat, but changed his mind to become a Republican only 30 minutes before the filing deadline to prevent other Democrats from running. He then defeated fellow Republican Jock ScottJock Scott
John Wyeth "Jock" Scott, II was a lawyer and college professor in Alexandria, who served three terms from District 26 in the Louisiana House of Representatives, first as a Democrat and then as a Republican . He was defeated in a race for the Louisiana State Senate in 1987...
of Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
in the open primary that November. In 2006, he defeated the Democrat Gloria Williams Hearn, wife of the psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
George E. Hearn
George E. Hearn
George Earl Hearn was from 1965-2000 a professor of psychology at Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, and a former two-term member of the Pineville City Council under then Mayor Fred H. Baden.-Background:Hearn was born to Thomas Watson Hearn, Sr...
of Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
, Louisiana.
2010
Alexander defeated Richard Todd Slavant of Monroe in the Republican closed primary by a margin of nearly 9-1. He faced Independent Tom Gibbs, Jr., of Ouachita Parish in the November 2 general election and won easily. No Democratic candidate had filed for the position, once held by such long-serving members as Jerry HuckabyJerry Huckaby
Thomas Jerald Huckaby, usually known as Jerry Huckaby , is a retired businessman who served as a Democratic U.S. representative from the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana between 1977 and 1993...
and Otto Passman
Otto Passman
Otto Ernest Passman was a conservative Democratic congressman from Monroe in northeastern Louisiana, who served from 1947 to 1977. He is primarily remembered for his detailed knowledge and mostly opposition to foreign aid...
.
Alexander joined the Tea Party Caucus
Tea Party Caucus
The Tea Party Caucus is a caucus of the United States House of Representatives and Senate launched and chaired by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on July 16, 2010. The caucus is dedicated to promoting what it considers fiscal responsibility, adherence to the movement's interpretation of...
during this campaign.
Personal life
Alexander's wife, the former Nancy Sutton, is a long-time educator. They have three children and several grandchildren.On January 30, 2010, Alexander, along with the late Charlton Lyons
Charlton Lyons
Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr., also known as Big Papa Lyons , was a Shreveport oilman who in 1964 waged the first determined Republican bid for the Louisiana governorship since Reconstruction. Lyons also made a strong but losing bid for the United States House of Representatives in a special election...
of Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, former state Representative Risley C. Triche
Risley C. Triche
Risley Claiborne Triche, also known as Pappy Triche , is an attorney in Napoleonville, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1955-1976...
of Napoleonville
Napoleonville, Louisiana
Napoleonville is a village in and the parish seat of Assumption Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 686 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and former State Senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Randy Ewing
Randy Ewing
Randy Lew Ewing is a Jackson Parish businessman who, as a Democrat, represented District 35 in the Louisiana State Senate from 1988 to 2000. He was the State Senate President in his last term from 1996 to 2000, which corresponded with the first term of Republican Governor Murphy J...
, also of Jackson Parish, was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, Louisiana, highlights the careers of more than a hundred of the state’s leading politicians and political journalists. Because three governors, Huey P. Long, Jr., Oscar K...
in Winnfield
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
.
External links
- Congressman Rodney Alexander official U.S. House site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Story on Alexander's Party Switch
- http://www.enlou.com/officeholders/housedistrict13.htm
- http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/NEWS01/701030329
- http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=110502