Rodney Alexander

Rodney McKinnie Alexander
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Preceded by	John Cooksey
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 13th district
In office 1988–2002
Preceded by	Mike Tinnerello
Succeeded by	James R. Fannin
Jackson Parish Police Juror
In office 1972–1988
Personal details
Born	December 5, 1946 (1946-12-05) Bienville, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, USA
Political party	Democratic (1988–2004) Republican (2004– present)
Spouse(s)	Nancy Sutton Alexander
Children	three
Residence	Quitman, Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Alma mater	Jonesboro-Hodge High School Louisiana Tech University
Occupation	Insurance agent
Religion	Baptist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1965-1971
Unit	Reserves

Rodney McKinnie Alexander (born December 5, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district, 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.

Early life, education and career

Alexander was born in the village 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

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 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.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Vice Chair)

Caucus membership

• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
• Congressional Diabetes Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Republican Study Committee
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Tea Party Caucus

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 Scott of Alexandria in the open primary that November</ref name=econ>. In 2006, he defeated the Democrat Gloria Williams Hearn, wife of the psychologist George E. Hearn of Pineville, Louisiana.

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2010#District 5

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 Huckaby and Otto Passman.

Alexander joined the Tea Party Caucus 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 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.

External links

• Congressman Rodney Alexander official U.S. House site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Profile at SourceWatch
• 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

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by John Cooksey	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th congressional district 2003–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by John Sullivan R-Oklahoma	United States Representatives by seniority 195th	Succeeded by Rob Bishop R-Utah
Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Mike Tinnerello	Louisiana State Representative from Jackson Parish 1988–2002	Succeeded by James R. Fannin