Charlie Melançon | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2005 | |
| Secretary of theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries | |
| In office January 11, 2016 – December 22, 2016 | |
| Governor | John Bel Edwards |
| Preceded by | Robert Barham |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Banks (acting) |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Tauzin |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Landry |
| Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives from the 60th district | |
| In office 1987–1993 | |
| Preceded by | Soup Kember |
| Succeeded by | Audrey McCain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Joseph Melançon (1947-10-03)October 3, 1947 (age 78) Napoleonville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Peachy Clark |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Louisiana, Lafayette (BS) |
Charles Joseph Melançon (/məˈlɑːnsɒn/; born October 3, 1947) is an American politician and former secretary of theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
From 2005 to 2011, he was theU.S. representative forLouisiana's 3rd congressional district. He earlier served as a state representative, from 1987 to 1993. In2010, he was the unsuccessfulDemocratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by theRepublicanDavid Vitter.
Melançon was born inNapoleonville, Louisiana, the son of Nicee L. "Brownie" (née Talbot) and Joe Melançon.[1] The grandson and great-grandson ofsugar cane farmers, Melançon has spent most of his life in Napoleonville, 50 miles south ofBaton Rouge. He owned and operated severalsmall businesses, including twoBaskin-Robbins outlets. He also served as head of the American Sugar Cane League.[2]
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Melançon ran in 2004 for the House of Representatives seat inLouisiana's 3rd congressional district and won.
Very soon after being sworn in January 2005, Melançon joined theBlue Dog Coalition. Like most Southern Democrats, he is more conservative than most members of the national party, especially on social issues. But he did vote for the DREAM Act and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".[citation needed]
Just a few months after Melancon took office,Hurricane Katrina slammed into south Louisiana, causing massive levee failures and devastating flooding in the eastern part of his district. A second major storm,Hurricane Rita, struck theGulf Coast three weeks later. Melancon worked with the rest of the Louisiana delegation in Congress to bring billions of recovery dollars to south Louisiana. He fought for federal funding for hurricane protection projects such asMorganza-to-the-Gulf and the levee systems in lowerPlaquemines Parish and southLafourche Parish.[3]
Melancon has continuously urged other members of theUnited States Congress to visit south Louisiana for as long as Louisiana still has recovery or hurricane protection needs. He has brought Congressional delegations to theGulf Coast to see firsthand the destruction from the storms as well as the ongoing need for hurricane protection and coastal restoration. Since the storms, Melancon has sponsored a number of reform bills to try to fix the flaws in the government's disaster response and relief system. As the representative for much of south Louisiana, Melançon has been an advocate in theUnited States Congress for hurricane recovery.[3]
Melancon supported theJob Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act (H.R. 2352), a bill that provided funding for more small business development centers. These small business incubators provide office space, support, and technology to help new companies get off the ground.[4] He also supported tax relief for small businesses, voting for theSmall Business Tax Relief Act of 2007 (H.R. 976). The bill provided tax credits and incentives for expanding and purchasing new equipment.[5] Melançon joined other members from energy-producing states, as well as theLouisiana Oil and Gas Association, to keep new taxes on theoil and gas industry out of the President's 2010 budget.[6]
Melancon voted against theAmerican Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) twice, once in theEnergy and Commerce Committee and again in the full theUnited States House of Representatives. The bill is also known as the "Waxman-Markey Energy Bill" or the "cap-and-trade" bill. Melançon said in a release that he opposed the bill because he believed it would hurt his "district and the people I represent … The oil and gas industry is the engine driving south Louisiana's economy, providing good-paying jobs to hundreds of thousands of our workers for generations."[7]
Melancon was successful in including an amendment in the bill that would protect Louisiana's share of wetlands restoration funding from cuts indirectly caused by hurricane disaster assistance.[7]
On July 31, 2009, Melançon voted against theAmerica's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) in theEnergy and Commerce Committee. Melançon explained in a statement that he voted against the bill for reasons including its potential effects on small businesses, the possibility of taxpayer-funded abortions, and increases in taxes.
Melançon said he was concerned that "the public option, as designed, would unfairly undercut anything the private sector could offer." He noted that the bill does not do enough to address the need for more providers in rural communities.[8]
Melancon also voted against thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010,[9] because it "doesn’t work for Louisiana."[10] However, he had not signed thedischarge petition circulated by Iowa RepublicanSteve King calling for a complete repeal of the law.[11]
Melançon voted for theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[12] In explaining his vote for the legislation, Melançon said, "The people of south Louisiana sent me to Congress because I promised to listen to them and do what I thought was right, not what was most popular or what my party told me to do. This plan, while far from perfect, will create or save an estimated 50,000 jobs in Louisiana, invest over $538 million in infrastructure projects for our state, and lay a foundation for long-term growth for our country through innovation and education."[13]
Melancon voted for theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.[14]
Although Melancon is listed as a co-sponsor of theEmployee Free Choice Act, his comments on the bill indicate a more ambivalent measure of support. He has stated, "I understand many of the concerns expressed by the business community. I am interested in bringing both sides together to work out their differences and develop a bipartisan solution that will address some of these concerns, while still protecting employees’ rights."[15]
In July 2006, Rep. Melancon voted in support of theFederal Marriage Amendment.[16]
On 29 April 2009, Rep. Melancon voted against the federal hate crimes expansion bill known as theMatthew Shepard Act.[17]
Melancon declared his candidacy for Congress after longtime incumbentBilly Tauzin announced his retirement. Although he was considered an underdog for much of the race,[citation needed] he entered a runoff due to an especially ugly intraparty battle betweenRepublican candidatesBilly Tauzin III and state SenatorCraig Romero, the former candidate being the son of the incumbent. In the runoff campaign, Melançon repeatedly hammered away at Tauzin III's family ties. Melançon won a victory by 569 votes.[18] Romero set his sights on challenging Melançon in 2006, and was defeated again.[citation needed]
On November 7, 2006, Melancon defeated Romero 55% to 40% to win a second term in the U.S. House.[citation needed]
He was re-elected without opposition in November 2008. Because ofWilliam J. Jefferson's defeat on December 6 after federal corruptionindictments, Melancon became the sole Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House.[19]
Melançon challenged incumbentRepublicanU.S. SenatorDavid Vitter in 2010.[20] In announcing his candidacy on August 27, 2009, he billed himself as "a proud centrist" and "a straight up the middle fighter for the little guy."[2][21]
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Edwards announced that state RepresentativeJack Montoucet ofScott inLafayette Parish would take office in January 2017 to succeed Melancon as the wildlife and fisheries secretary.[22][citation needed]
Melançon is married to the former Peachy Clark; they have two children.[23]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 3rd congressional district 2005–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theBlue Dog Coalition for Communications 2009 Served alongside:Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (Administration),Baron Hill (Policy) | Succeeded by |
| Vacant Title last held by John Breaux | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromLouisiana (Class 3) 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 2016 | Succeeded by Patrick Banks Acting |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
