Rodney Alexander | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office September 30, 2013 – June 3, 2014 | |
| Governor | Bobby Jindal |
| Preceded by | David LaCerte (acting) |
| Succeeded by | David LaCerte (acting) |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – September 26, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | John Cooksey |
| Succeeded by | Vance McAllister |
| Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
| In office January 1988 – January 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Tinnerello |
| Succeeded by | James Fannin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodney McKinnie Alexander (1946-12-05)December 5, 1946 (age 78) Bienville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2004) Republican (2004–present) |
| Spouse | Nancy Sutton |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Louisiana Tech University University of Louisiana, Monroe (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965–1971 |
| Unit | U.S. Air Force Reserve |
Rodney McKinnie Alexander (born December 5, 1946) is an American politician and member of theRepublican Party who served as the Secretary of theLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs from September 30, 2013, until June 3, 2014. Previously he was theU.S. representative forLouisiana's 5th congressional district from 2003 to 2013. First elected as aDemocrat, he changed parties in 2004 to run as aRepublican and was re-elected five times.
Alexander was born in the village ofBienville inBienville Parish to the formerMary Crawford and James Earl Alexander.[1] In 1964, he graduated fromJonesboro-Hodge High School inJonesboro inJackson Parish, which is often cited as his hometown. He then attendedLouisiana Tech University inRuston, but he left college to work for his family construction company.
Alexander left the police jury to represent District 13 in theLouisiana House of Representatives from 1988 until his election toCongress in 2002. While in the state House, he served as the chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee. In this position, her shepherded to passage the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), which assists mothers and children with basic health care and insurance needs.
Alexander enrolled in college courses intermittently for forty-five years. When theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe began to offer online courses, he enrolled for two years and graduated fromULM with a degree in general studies in 2009.
Alexander won his seat in 2002 as a Democrat, but ran in 2004 as a Republican, changing parties on 6 August 2004, only three months before the election and only 30 minutes before the filing deadline. The move was derided by DemocratsRobert Matsui andMary Landrieu as being "cowardly".[2]
On August 4, 2004, he registered to run as a Democrat, but changed his registration to Republican two days later. He then defeated a fellow Republican, the lateJock Scott ofAlexandria in the open primary that November.[2] In 2006, he defeated the Democrat Gloria Williams Hearn, wife of thepsychologist George E. Hearn ofPineville, Louisiana. His party switch became official on August 9, 2004.
Alexander defeated Richard Todd Slavant of Monroe in the Republicanclosed primary by a margin of nearly 9–1. He facedIndependent Tom Gibbs, Jr., ofOuachita Parish in the November 2 general election and won easily. No Democratic candidate had filed for the position, once held by such long-serving party members asJerry Huckaby andOtto Passman. During this election, he joined theTea Party Caucus.
Alexander drew two last-minute challengers in his successful 2012 bid for a sixth term in the U.S. House.[3] Alexander handily prevailed with 202,531 votes (77.8 percent). TheLibertarian Clay Steven Grant received 20,194 votes (7.8 percent), and the No-Party candidate, Ron Caesar, polled 37,486 votes (14.4 percent).[4]
During the 2012 election Alexander's campaign raised a total of $1,235,114. $942,083 were spent leaving the campaign with a surplus of $295,079 and no debt.[5] Major contributors to Alexander's campaign came from a variety of business interests including the crop production industry, the oil and gas industry, commercial banks, and general contractors. Top individual contributors include Adams and Reese, the Livingston Group, O'Neal Gas, and Kadav Inc.
At the commencement of the 111th Congress, Alexander received new subcommittee assignments including the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, theSubcommittee 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).
His speeches include "Party of Paychecks" in which 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 and supporting religious freedom and public prayer.
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. In 2012, he voted for several pro-business,anti-environmental bills such as theStop the War on Coal Act and the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. He has also voted to support small business through the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act. Cumulatively, Alexander missed 266 of 7521 (3.5%) roll call votes during his time in office, higher than the national median of 2.5%.[6]
As a Representative, Alexander sponsored 36 bills, including:[7]
Alexander received favorable ratings from pro-life groups such as theRight to Life Committee and received low ratings fromPlanned Parenthood. Alexander also received favorable reviews from business groups such as theChamber of Commerce and theNational Federation of Independent Business. In addition, he had strong support from agricultural groups such as theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation which gave him a 100 percent rating in 2011 and the Sportsman and Animal Owners Voting Alliance.[9] Alexander has been given low ratings by civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the ACLU as well as environmental groups like the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.
Alexander was endorsed by Americans for Legal Immigration, Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business, National Federation of Independent Business, Chamber of Commerce, and theNRA Political Victory Fund. The National Federation for Independent Business named Alexander a "Guardian of Small Business" to acknowledge his strong voting record in favor of small businesses.[10]
On September 30, 2013, Alexander became Secretary of theLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs under GovernorBobby Jindal.[11]
Alexander's wife, the former Nancy Sutton, is a long-time educator. They have three children and several grandchildren. Alexander is aSouthern Baptist.[12]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 5th congressional district 2003–2013 | Succeeded by |
| 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 |
