David Vitter
David Vitter | |
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United States Senator from Louisiana | |
Assumed office January 3, 2005 Serving with Mary Landrieu | |
Preceded by | John B. Breaux |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district | |
In office May 29, 1999 – January 3, 2005 | |
Preceded by | Bob Livingston |
Succeeded by | Bobby Jindal |
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 81st district | |
In office 1992–1999 | |
Preceded by | David Duke |
Succeeded by | Jennifer Sneed |
Personal details | |
Born | New Orleans, Louisiana | May 3, 1961
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Wendy Baldwin Vitter |
Children | Sophie Vitter Lise Vitter Airey Vitter Jack Vitter |
Residence | Metairie, Louisiana |
Alma mater | Harvard University (B.A.) Oxford University (B.A.) University of Tulane (J.D.) |
Occupation | Attorney |
Signature | ![]() |
Website | http://www.davidvitter.com/ |
David Bruce Vitter (born May 3, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives, first elected in 1999, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district, Vitter was elected to the Senate in 2004.
Vitter was born and raised in New Orleans. He attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies and Tulane University for law school in addition to winning a Rhodes Scholarship to University College, Oxford. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives before entering the U.S. House.
Vitter identifies as a political conservative. His legislative agenda includes positions ranging from pro-life to pro-gun rights while legislating against gambling, same-sex marriage, federal funding for abortion providers, increases in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the United Nations, and amnesty for America's illegal immigrants.
Vitter's stated positions include a balanced budget constitutional amendment,[1] abolishing the federal and state estate tax,[2] increasing local police forces,[3] and an assortment of health care, tax and national defense reforms.[4]
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Vitter worked with the Louisiana congressional delegation to bring disaster relief to the region for rebuilding and aiding the victims disagreeing primarily over the issue of public housing.
In July 2007, Vitter was identified as a client of "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey's prostitution service in Washington, D.C.[5]
Vitter has announced that he is running for reelection to his Senate seat in 2010.
Early life, career, and family
Vitter was born in New Orleans to Audrey Malvina St. Raymond and Albert Leopold Vitter,[6] and graduated in 1979 from De La Salle High School.[7] He received a B.A. from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1983; a B.A. from Oxford University in 1985, as a Rhodes Scholar; and a Juris Doctor from the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans in 1988. He was a lawyer,[8][9] adjunct law professor at Tulane and Loyola Universities,[9] and a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1999, when he entered the U.S. House of Representatives.
Vitter and his wife Wendy, a former prosecutor,[10] have three daughters, Sophie, Lise, and Airey, and a son, Jack. Vitter's brother Jeffrey is a notable academic, a computer science professor and provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas.
House of Representatives
Elections
Vitter won a special election to Louisiana's 1st congressional district in 1999, succeeding Republican Congressman Bob Livingston, who resigned after an adultery scandal. In the initial vote on May 1, 1999,[11] former Congressman and Governor David Treen finished first with 36,719 votes (25 percent). Vitter was second, with 31,741 (22 percent), and white nationalist David Duke finished third with 28,055 votes (19 percent). Monica L. Monica, a Republican ophthalmologist, had 16 percent; State Representative Bill Strain, a conservative Democrat, finished fifth with 11 percent; and Rob Couhig, a Republican lawyer and the owner of New Orleans's minor league baseball team, had 6 percent.[12] In the special election runoff on May 29, Vitter defeated Treen, 61,661 votes (51 percent) to 59,849 (49 percent).[13]
In 2000 and 2002, Vitter won re-election with over 80 percent of the vote in what has become a safe Republican district.[13]
2002 gubernatorial race
In 2002, Vitter was preparing to run for governor in 2003, with the incumbent, Republican Mike Foster prevented by term limits from running again. But in June 2002, shortly before the Louisiana Weekly ran a story about Vitter's alleged relationship with a prostitute, Vitter dropped out of the governor's race,[14] saying he and his wife were dealing with marital problems.[15]
United States Senate
2004 election
In 2004, Vitter ran to replace Democrat John Breaux in the U.S. Senate. Former state Senator Daniel Wesley Richey, a Baton Rouge political consultant, directed Vitter's grassroots organization in the race, with assistance from Richey's longtime ally, former state Representative Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins of Baton Rouge, himself a defeated U.S. Senate candidate in 1978, 1980, and 1996.
During the campaign, Vitter was accused by a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee of having had a lengthy affair with a prostitute in New Orleans. Vitter responded that the allegation was "absolutely and completely untrue" and that it was "just crass Louisiana politics."[10]
On November 2, 2004, Vitter won the jungle primary, garnering a majority of the vote, while the rest of the vote was mostly split among the Democratic contenders.
Vitter was the first Republican in Louisiana to be popularly elected as a U.S. Senator. The previous Republican Senator, William Pitt Kellogg, was chosen by the state legislature in 1876, in accordance with the process used before the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution went into effect in 1914.[16]
2010 election
Vitter began fundraising for his 2010 reelection run in December 2008.[17] He has raised $731,000 in the first quarter of 2009 and $2.5 million for his 2010 campaign.[18] He has wide leads against potential Democratic opponents in aggregate general election polling.[19][20]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
- Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- Subcommittee on Science and Space (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Prostitution scandal
D.C. Madam
In early July 2007, Vitter's phone number was included in a published list of phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates, a company owned and run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, also known as the "D.C. Madam", convicted by the U.S. government for running a prostitution service. Hustler identified the phone number and contacted Vitter's office to ask about his connection to Palfrey.[21][22] The following day, Vitter issued a written statement:
This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible. Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there — with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way.[23]
The statement containing Vitter's apology said his telephone number was included in phone records dating from his days as a member of the House of Representatives.[10] Phone records show that Vitter's number was called by Palfrey's service five times, the first on October 12, 1999, and the last on February 27, 2001.[24] Two calls were placed while House roll call votes were in progress.[25][26]
On July 16, 2007, after a week of self-imposed seclusion, Vitter emerged and called a news conference. Standing next to his wife, Vitter asked the public for forgiveness. Following Vitter's remarks, Wendy Vitter, his wife, spoke. Both refused to answer any questions.[27][28][29]
As background, several news outlets reported that in May 1999, Vitter replaced Congressman Bob Livingston after Livingston resigned due to an adultery scandal.[5][30][31] Vitter said about Livingston's decision to resign, "It's obviously a tremendous loss for the state. I think Livingston's stepping down makes a very powerful argument that Clinton should resign as well and move beyond this mess", referring to Bill Clinton's Monica Lewinsky scandal.[32]
Vitter will not face criminal charges due to the statute of limitations.[33]
Vitter incurred significant legal and public relations expenses in his efforts to avoid giving testimony in the Palfrey trial and to respond to the ethics complaint. Consequently, his attorneys sought permission from the Federal Election Commission to use campaign funds to pay for these expenses.[34][35] The Commission, along partisan lines, couldn't agree whether funds could be used for reimbursing costs related to the Palfrey trial but did allow them to pay for expenses connected to the Ethics Committee complaint.[36][37][38]
Canal Street Madam
On July 10, 2007, Jeanette Maier, the "Canal Street Madam", alleged that Vitter was a customer on more than one occasion in the 1990s, when Maier was identified by federal prosecutors as operating a $300 per hour brothel.[39] The Times-Picayune reported that "Maier offered no evidence or documents to support her claim."[40]
Reaction
While the Louisiana state Republican Party offered guarded support,[41] national Republicans offered forgiveness.[42] The Nation predicted that the Republican Party would be in a "forgiving mood", pointing out if Vitter did step down, then Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, would likely appoint a Democrat to take Vitter's place until a special election took place, thus increasing Democratic control over the Senate.[43][44][45]
Republican Senator Sam Brownback told Bloomberg Television on October 5, 2007 that Vitter should be censured by the Senate. He said, "I think you could see something like that taking place. If you look at the actual crime itself and the discussion across the country– and as a Republican– this is bad."[46]
In a similar vein when the Eliott Spitzer prostitution scandal, Spitzer being then governor of New York, hit the headlines, commentators contrasted the end-results: Spitzer resigned while Vitter stayed on.[47][48][49] In response, Jeff Crouere, a New Orleans conservative political commentator, called on Vitter to resign saying he was an ineffective representative and reflected poorly on the state.[50] Other local political figures differed with Crouere. Democratic political consultant James Carville said the two cases were entirely different: Spitzer's situation developed from an active investigation and as a former prosecutor and governor he had powerful enemies. In contrast, Carville described Vitter as "Louisiana’s junior senator and nobody really knows him or cares that much about him," but concluded that, "if they paid with their own money, I don’t think either one should resign." The Louisiana Republican governor Bobby Jindal said, "Senator Vitter has already addressed this.... The people of New York can deal with the Governor of New York.”[51] Additionally, one gauge of the scandal's impact, local fundraising, indicated that Vitter has weathered the controversy well: first quarter 2008 finance reports show that he made, according to The Times-Picayune, an "impressive haul".[52] Another gauge, voter approval, indicates Vitter is, as of June 2008[update], still popular with Louisiana voters.[53]
Following the June 2009 admission of Nevada Senator John Ensign that he had an affair with an employee of his Senate office, the Louisiana Democratic Party called on Senator Vitter to resign his leadership position (as a deputy whip) in the Senate, arguing that, because Ensign had resigned his position as Republican Policy Committee Chairman of the United States Senate, Vitter should do the same.[54]
Political actions and positions
Illegal immigration
Vitter has been actively involved with legislation concerning illegal immigrants. In June 2007, he led a group of conservative Senators in blocking federal Immigration Legislation that would have granted legal citizenship to 12 million illegal immigrants coupled with increased border enforcement. The bill's defeat won Vitter national attention as the bill was supported by President George W. Bush, John McCain, and Ted Kennedy, among others. Vitter characterized the bill as amnesty, which supporters denied. Bush accused the bill's opponents of fear mongering.[55][56][57]
In October 2007, Vitter introduced an amendment withholding Community Oriented Policing Services funds from any sanctuary city which bans city employees and police officers from asking people about their immigration status in violation of the Illegal Immigration Act. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, in opposition to the amendment, said these cities do not want to inquire about someone's status if they report a crime, are a victim of domestic violence or get vaccinations for their children. The amendment was defeated.[58]
In November 2007, Vitter introduced a bill requiring banks to confirm that customers were not illegal immigrants before providing them with banking or credit cards. The bill never made it out of committee.[59][60]
In March 2008, Vitter reintroduced the latter two proposals[61][62] and cosponsored ten of eleven other bills[63] in a Republican package of tough immigration enforcement measures including jail time for illegal border crossing, deportation for any immigrant (legal or illegal) for a single driving while intoxicated, declaration of English as the official language (thereby terminating language assistance at voting booths and federal agencies), additional construction of a border fence, permission for local and state police to enforce immigration laws and penalties for states who issue drivers licenses to illegals. None of these proposals passed partially because the Democratic-controlled Senate preferred a comprehensive approach which would include a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for the current population more akin to the package defeated by Vitter in 2007.[64]
In April 2008, Vitter introduced a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that a child born in the United States is not a citizen unless a parent is a citizen, lawful permanent resident, or alien serving in the military.[65] Currently the Constitution grants citizenship to children born within the U.S. regardless of the legal status of the parents.[66] The bill never made it out of the Democratic led committee.
Gulf Coast recovery
Hurricane Katrina
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Vitter and the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation worked to bring aid to the Gulf Coast region to rebuild broken levees, schools and hospitals, restore coastal wetlands, and provide assistance for its many victims.[67]
In early September, Vitter said that he would give "the entire big government organized relief effort a failing grade, across the board." He said that state and local governments shared in the blame as well.[68] Vitter's actions during Hurricane Katrina are described in historian Douglas Brinkley's May 2006 book, The Great Deluge.
In September 2007, Vitter announced that he got "a critical concession" from the White House that decreased Louisiana's obligations for hurricane recovery by $1 billion. However, the White House said that was false.[69]
Federal Water Bill
Vitter helped write the Water Resources and Development Act for flood-control, hurricane-protection and coastal-restoration projects including $3.6 billion for Louisiana. He called it the "single most important" legislation for assisting Louisiana with its recovery from hurricane Katrina. President George W. Bush vetoed the act, objecting to its cost.[70][71][72] Congress overrode his veto, enacting the bill.[73]
New Orleans public housing
In September 2007, The Times-Picayune reported that Vitter and the Bush administration opposed a provision of The Gulf Coast Housing Recovery bill which required that every public housing apartment torn down be replaced with another form of low-income housing on a one-for-one basis. The administration testified that there was not sufficient demand for public housing units, a position contested by several senators. Vitter stated it would recreate "housing projects exactly as they were", isolated and riddled with crime. However, Mary Landrieu, the Louisiana Democratic Senator, said the intent was to make certain there were affordable places for working-class people who returned. The bill requires that demolished housing projects be replaced with mixed income communities which local housing advocates say is different from the massive public housing developments that Vitter is referring to. However, the bill does not include a ban on large-scale projects.[74][75] The city housing authority is planning on replacing 4,000 low-income units with mixed-income projects providing a smaller inventory of low-income units.[76] In December 2007, Vitter prevented the bill from leaving the committee.[75]
Automotive Industry Bailout stance
Vitter was one of 35 Senators to vote against the Big 3 Bailout bill.[77] The financial bailout package was for GM, Chrysler, and Ford but failed to pass on December 11, 2008. During the Senate debate Vitter referred to the approach of giving the automotive industry a financial package before they restructured as "ass-backwards".[78] He soon apologized for the phrasing of the comment, which did not appear in the Congressional Record.[79]
Pro-life stance
Vitter has won strong praise from pro-life groups for his stance against abortion, while drawing criticism from pro-choice groups.[80] In 2001, he co-authored legislation to restrict the number of physicians allowed to prescribe RU-486, a drug used in medical abortions. The bill died in committee.[81][82]
In October 2007, Vitter introduced an amendment[83] barring all federal public funds to health care providers and Planned Parenthood that provide services that include abortion. Federal law bars any funding to directly finance elective abortions in accordance with the Hyde amendment. Vitter argued that the funds are used for overhead costs that benefit the abortion services. The amendment failed to pass.[84][85] Following the rejection, Vitter and others urged the Senate to pass a similar bill introduced by Vitter in January 2007. The bill failed to pass.[86][87]
In January 2008, Vitter proposed an amendment to prohibit the funding of abortions with Indian Health Service funds except in the case of rape, incest, or the life of the woman was at risk.[88][89] The amendment would have held future presidential administrations to an executive principle first crafted in 1982 by the Ronald Reagan White House.[90] Vitter's amendment passed the Senate but later was stalled in the House.[91]
Later that year, Vitter co-sponsored the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act which required doctors performing abortions to have the authority granted by a nearby hospital to admit patients along with other oversight regulations. The bill was never reported to committee.[92][93]
Gun rights
Rated A by the National Rifle Association, Vitter has been a consistent champion of gun rights.[94] In April, 2006, in response to firearm confiscations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Vitter was the Senate sponsor of the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, to prohibit federal funding for the confiscation of legally held firearms during a disaster.[95] Later, Vitter included the provisions of the act in an amendment to an appropriation bill for the Department Of Homeland Security.[96] The bill became law in September, 2006 with the amendment modified to allow for the temporary surrender of a firearm as a condition for entering a rescue or evacuation vehicle.[97]
In February 2008, Vitter, along with Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, blocked the confirmation of Michael J. Sullivan as head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) saying Sullivan supports "burdensome regulations" on gun owners and dealers and is "overly aggressive" enforcing gun laws. An editorial writer for The Boston Globe wrote that Vitter's position was "unreasonable" because the guns Sullivan sought to control are those commonly used in crimes: those stolen or purchased on the black market.[98][99] On the other hand, gun rights advocates say that many gun dealers have lost their licenses for harmless bureaucratic errors.[100] Sullivan stayed on as acting head of the ATF until January 2009 to make way for President Barack Obama to name his own nominee.[101]
Ethics reform and term limits
Vitter has argued for ethics reform and term limits since he was in the Louisiana Legislature in the early 1990s.[102] As a Louisiana state legislator, Vitter successfully pushed through a term limits amendment to the state constitution to oust the largely Democratic legislature.[103][104][105][106] The first election legislators were affected by the reform occurred in 2007.[107] In order to leverage the term limits advantage in that election, Vitter formed a Political Action Committee with the goal of winning a legislative Republican majority.[108][109] While the Republicans saw gains, the Democrats maintained majority control.[106]
In spite of his state legislative efforts, Vitter refused to pledge to a voluntary term limit when running for the U.S. Congress in 1999, which his opponent characterized as hypocritical. Vitter countered that unless it was universally applied, the loss of seniority would disadvantage his district.[103][110] As a Senator, he has proposed term limit constitutional amendments for members of Congress three times.[111][112][113]
In 2007, in response to lobbying scandals involving, among others, Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham, Congress passed a lobbying and ethics reform package to which Vitter proposed a package of five amendments.[114][115][116][117] The Senate approved three that limited which legislators' spouses could lobby the Senate,[118] created criminal penalties for legislators and executive branch officials who falsify financial reports,[119] and doubled the penalties for lobbyists who failed to comply with disclosure requirements.[120] The Senate rejected prohibiting legislators from paying their families with campaign funds with some saying it was unrelated to the current legislation and others that the payments were not a problem.[121][122] Additionally, they tabled his proposal to define Indian tribes as corporations and its members as stockholders so that they are required to contribute to candidates through political action committees instead of their tribal treasury.[123] Senators objected saying that they are already subjected to campaign laws for unincorporated entities and individuals and that the proposal was singling them out unfairly.[122] The reform package became law in September 2007.[114]
In 2009, Vitter and Democratic Senator Russ Feingold announced an effort to end automatic pay raises for members of Congress.[124]
Children's health insurance program
In September 2007, Vitter opposed an increase of $35 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the national program to provide health care for children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance. He said he preferred that private health insurance provide the needed care and deemed the bill as "Hillarycare", a reference to the 1993 Clinton health care plan created by Hillary Clinton which proposed universal health care.[125] The increase passed the Senate, 67 to 29 but was later vetoed by President George W. Bush.[126] The SCHIP increase was finally enacted, despite Vitter voting nay a third time, in February 2009.[127][128]
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
In September 2007, during hearings of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Vitter expressed serious doubts about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty concerning issues of U.S. sovereignty[129] echoing an array of conservative groups against the treaty[129][130] including The National Center for Public Policy Research,[131] the Heritage Foundation[132] and the Center for Security Policy.[133] The treaty, which sets up countries' jurisdiction over their coasts and ocean including exploration and navigation rights,[134] is supported by the Bush administration, a majority of the United States Senate, the Pentagon, the State Department and Navy[135] as do a coalition of business and environmental groups.[136] The committee approved the treaty 17-4, with Vitter voting no.[137]
Gambling
Ever since his days in the Louisiana State Legislature, Vitter has been a longtime foe of gambling.[138] Beginning in 2002, Vitter opposed the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians' bid to build a casino in Louisiana, arguing that the build site was not historically part of their tribal lands. He lobbied the Interior Department and included language in an appropriations bill to stop the casino. Although the Interior Department gave its approval, the casino has not yet been approved by the state.[139] The Jena chief accused Vitter of ties with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who simultaneously lobbied against the casino. The chairman of the Senate committee investigating the lobbyist said, "The committee has seen absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Senator Vitter's opposition to (the proposed casino) had to do with anything other than his long-standing opposition to gambling."[140] In 2007 and 2008, Vitter introduced a bill to prohibit Indian casinos such as Jena's. Neither bill became law.[141][142][143]
Military
In May 2001, Vitter authored an amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act, a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which required all secondary schools receiving federal funding to permit US military recruitment on school grounds and to provide the name, home phone number and address of every student enrolled to military recruiters, unless the student (or the student's parent) specifically opts out.[144][145][146] In February 2007, Democratic Representative Michael M. Honda proposed the Student Privacy Protection Act of 2007 to change Vitter's amendment from requiring high schools to provide military recruiters with students' personal information unless they explicitly opt-out to requiring the student's explicit consent first.[147][148] According to the Congressional Quarterly, Vitter stands behind the current provision. He stated, if changed, families who supported military recruiting may miss out if required to opt-in.[149]
In May 2008, Vitter voted with the majority, despite Bush's and other conservative Republican's opposition, for the passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 which expanded educational benefits for veterans similar to the level provided for returning World War II veterans in the G.I. Bill.[150][151][152]
School board prayers
In 2005 Vitter introduced a resolution supporting prayer at school board meetings in response to an earlier district court decision that the Louisiana's Tangipahoa Parish practice of opening meetings with Christian prayers was unconstitutional. The bill died in committee.[153][154] Vitter later reintroduced the resolution in January 2007 after a panel of the Fifth Circuit Court concluded that Christian prayers were unconstitutional but was undecided whether nonsectarian prayers were allowed. In July 2007, the full Fifth Circuit dismissed the case because of a lack of standing. The school board subsequently resumed prayer evocations but opened it to diverse community religions. Vitter's bill died in committee.[154][155][156][157]
Abstinence education
Vitter advocated abstinence-only sex education, emphasizing abstinence over sex education that includes information about birth control, drawing criticism from planned parenthood.[158] He said, "Abstinence education is a public health strategy focused on risk avoidance that aims to help young people avoid exposure to harm...by teaching teenagers that saving sex until marriage and remaining faithful afterwards is the best choice for health and happiness."[159]
Same-sex marriage
In 2003, Vitter proposed to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[160] In 2004, he said, "This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history...We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts’s values."[161] In June 2006, he said "I don't believe there's any issue that's more important than this one ... I think this debate is very healthy, and it's winning a lot of hearts and minds. I think we're going to show real progress."[162] In 2006, he told The Times-Picayune, “I’m a conservative who opposes radically redefining marriage, the most important social institution in human history.”[30]
In October 2005, at a Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee luncheon, Vitter compared gay marriage to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which came through the same geographical areas. Vitter said "It's the crossroads where Katrina meets Rita. I always knew I was against same-sex unions."[163]
Louisiana Family Forum earmark
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/40px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png)
In September, 2007, Vitter earmarked $100,000 in federal money for a Christian group, the Louisiana Family Forum,[164] known for challenging evolution by means of "teaching the controversy" which promotes intelligent design.[165] According to Vitter, the earmark was "to develop a plan to promote better science education".[164] Though the Louisiana Family Forum is largely forbidden from political activity due to its non-profit status,[166] The Times-Picayune alleged the group had close ties with Vitter.[164] However, they have criticized Vitter for his support of Rudy Giuliani.[167]
On October 17, 2007, the liberal organization People For the American Way, along with several other groups asked the Senate to remove the earmark.[168][169] Vitter later withdrew it.[170][171]
Child protection
In April 2008, Vitter introduced an amendment to continue funding the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act which was excluded from the 2008/2009 budget. The federal program maintains a national sex offender registry, provides resources for tracking down unregistered sex offenders and increases penalties for the sexual assault of children. His amendment received bipartisan support.[172][173]
Republican Party reputation
With concerns being raised about the Republican Party's prospects in the 2008 election, Vitter said, "It's certainly true that national Republicans need to improve their brand. Perhaps folks should actually take some cues from Republicans in Louisiana. At home, we're the party of reform and positive changes versus failed past and the good ol' boys."[174]
Tea Parties
In recognition of the Tea Party protests protesting President Barack Obama's policies, Vitter proposed Senate Resolution 98, which would designate April 15 in years both 2009 and 2010 as "National TEA Party Day". As of April 2009, the bill has no cosponsors and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary with no scheduled action.[175]
Obama nominations
Vitter and Jim DeMint were the only two Senators that voted against Hillary Clinton's confirmation for the position of Secretary of State under the new Obama administration, on January 21, 2009.[176]
Vitter blocked Obama's nominee for the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator until he received a written commitment on flood control issues from the nominee and FEMA. The New York Times, along with some Republican Senators, criticized Vitter for what it characterized as political posturing, given that the hurricane season was quickly approaching. He lifted his hold on May 12, 2009.[177][178]
Network neutrality
Vitter was one of six senate Republicans to propose an amendment to a bill which would stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from enforcing network neutrality which they alleged was a violation of the first amendment[179].
Opposition to Franken amendment
In October 2009, the Senate passed Democratic Senator Al Franken's amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would forbid federal contractors from forcing victims of sexual assault, battery and discrimination to submit to binding arbitration (where a third-party typically chosen by the contractor adjudicates) and thereby prohibiting them from going to court.[180][181][182] The impetus for the amendment came from the story of Jamie Leigh Jones who alleged that she was drugged and gang-raped by employees of Halliburton/KBR, a federal contractor.[180][183][184]
The amendment passed 68 to 30 with all opposition coming from Republicans including Vitter (all four female Republicans, six other Republicans and all present Democrats voted for passage).[180][185] Vitter's 2010 Democratic Senatorial opponent Charlie Melancon criticized Vitter for his vote saying, "David Vitter has refused to explain why he voted to allow taxpayer-funded companies to sweep rape charges under the rug. We can only guess what his reasons were."[186][187][188][184] However, The Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker argued that the 30 senators were being "unfairly smeared for doing the harder thing, maybe even for the right reasons."[183]
Republican senators said they voted against it because it was unenforceable, a position also taken by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Barack Obama White House.[180][183][184] However, the DOD and the White House stated they agreed with the intent of the legislation and suggested it would be better if it was broadened to prohibit the use of arbitration in cases of sexual assault for any business contract, not just federal contractors.[183] Senators explained their vote against the legislation by saying it was a political attack on Halliburton and that the Senate shouldn't regulate contracts.[183] The latter argument is countered with many examples of similar restrictions on contractors such as discrimination, bonuses and health care.[180][184] Others felt it was unconstitutional and that arbitration is useful in resolving disputes, often faster, private and cheaper.[180]
Later, a Baton Rouge rape survivor confronted Vitter at a town hall meeting saying, "[it] meant everything to me that I was able to put the person who attacked me behind bars ... How can you support a law that tells a rape victim that she does not have the right to defend herself?" Vitter replied, "The language in question did not say that in any way shape or form." The woman acknowledged that she coordinated the confrontation with local Democrats but said the incident was not politically motivated. The incident was a popular Youtube video.[189][190]
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
In response to the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill at an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico threatening the coast of Louisiana, Vitter introduced legislation along with Jeff Sessions of Alabama to increase the liability cap of an oil company from $75 million to its most recent annual profits (or $150 million if greater).[191] In the case of British Petroleum, the owner of the rig, its liability would be $20 billion.[192] Vitter later introduced an amendment that would remove the cap entirely for this particular spill.[191] Competing Democratic proposals would have raised the liability to $10 billion regardless of profits or removed the cap altogether.[191] Sessions argued that large caps unrelated to company profits would harm smaller companies.[192]
Electoral history
2004 Louisiana United States Senatorial Election
David Vitter (R) 51% |
Chris John (D) 29% |
John Neely Kennedy (D) 15% |
Arthur Morrell (D) 3% |
Richard Fontanesi (I) 1% |
R.A. Galan (I) 1% |
Sam Melton (D) 1% |
1999 Louisiana 1st District United States Congressional Election
David Vitter (R) 51% |
David C. Treen (R) 49% |
Footnotes
- ^ "David Vitter Issues: Budget". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "David Vitter Issues: Agriculture & Seafood". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "David Vitter Issues: Crime and Drugs". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "David Vitter Issues". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ a b "Hustler says it revealed senator's link to escort service". CNN. July 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "David Bruce Vitter", GeneaNet.com, accessed July 10, 2007
- ^ "De La Salle High School 1990-1999 Award Recipients". De La Salle High School. 1998. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ "David Bruce Vitter (R)". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
- ^ a b "U.S. Rep. David Vitter To Present SLU Commencement Address". Southeastern Louisiana University Public Information Office. April 27, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
While serving in the state legislature, Vitter was a business attorney as well as an adjunct law professor at Tulane and Loyola Universities.
- ^ a b c Shailagh Murray, "Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List", Washington Post, July 10, 2007
- ^ Stuart Rothenberg, "Hot race for Livingston's Louisiana House seat", CNN, April 13, 1999
- ^ Kevin Sack, "David Duke Misses Louisiana Runoff but Has Strong Showing", New York Times, May 3, 1999
- ^ a b Jacoby, Mary (June 25, 2005). "Almanac of American Politics". Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ Christopher Tidmore, "The Weekly's inside political track", Louisiana Weekly, March 29, 2004
- ^ Schor, Elana and Sam Youngman, "Vitter hides as the Senate GOP circles its wagons", The Hill, July 11, 2007
- ^ Rudin, Ken (2004-11-01). "Final Call: Kerry Wins Narrow Electoral Margin; GOP Gains in House, Senate". NPR. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ "Scandal-plagued Vitter gets La. fundraising help". Associated Press. December 5, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/washington/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1240378230147980.xml&coll=1
- ^ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/louisiana/election_2010_louisiana_senate
- ^ http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/la/louisiana_senate_vitter_vs_melancon-1095.html
- ^ Rood, Justin (July 10, 2007). "'Hustler' Call May Have Prompted Vitter Admission". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Woman Convicted in Washington Escort Case". The Associated Press. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ Douglass K. Daniel, "Senator's number on escort service list", Associated Press, July 10, 2007
- ^ Keith I. Marszalek, "Vitter had five calls with D.C. Madam", New Orleans Times-Picayune, July 11, 2007
- ^ Charles Babington, "Escort service called lawmaker 5 times", AP News, July 12, 2007
- ^ Roberts, Joel (July 13, 2007). ""D.C. Madam" Called Vitter During Votes". CBS News. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
- ^ "Scandal-linked senator breaks a week of silence". CNN.com. July 17, 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Vitter comes out of seclusion, claims New Orleans prostitutes don't exist; some say otherwise" (PDF). Louisiana Weekly. July 23, 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ McCarthy, Brendan (July 16, 2007). "Vitter re-emerges and asks again for forgiveness". The Times Picayune. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ a b Norrister, Adam (July 11, 2007). "A Senator's Moral High Ground Gets a Little Shaky". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Senator's Link to 'D.C. Madam' Exposed". The Associated Press. July 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ Konigsmark, Anne Rochell (December 20, 1998). "A Week Of Crisis Impeachment: The Speakership Livingston's Constituents Decision to resign jolts home district". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. pp. D4. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Alpert, Bruce (July 11, 2007). "Vitter unlikely to face criminal charges". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (2008-08-20). "'D.C. Madam' case could hit Vitter in his wallet". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Duncan, Thomasenia P.; et al. (2008-08-21). "Agenda Document No. 08-20" (PDF). Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
{{cite web}}
: Explicit use of et al. in:|first=
(help) - ^ Cadei, Emily (2008-08-21). "FEC Punts on McCain and Vitter". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Holland, Jesse J. (2008-08-21). "Vitter can use some campaign funds for legal fees". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (2008-08-22). "FEC split in Vitter's push for legal fees - Bills top $200,000 in D.C. Madam case". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Canal Street Madam Says Vitter Was Client". WDSU. July 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ Moran, Kate and Carr, Martha (July 10, 2007). "Madam: Vitter a client at Canal Street brothel". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Walsh, Bill (July 13, 2007). "Louisiana Republicans offer guarded support for Vitter". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Radelat, Ana (July 19, 2007). "Vitter tries to move forward". Gannett News Service. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Nichols, John (July 17, 2007). "A "Family Values" Headache for Senate GOP". The Nation. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Lipman, Larry (September 30, 2007). "A year later, Foley fallout lingers". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ Blumner, Robyn (September 30, 2007). "Republicans and their big Greenspan gap". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ Goldman, Julianna (October 5, 2007). "Craig Faces U.S. Senate Censure, Not Expulsion, Brownback Says". Bloomberg Television. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
- ^ Kurtz, Howard (2008-03-18). "Media Backtalk". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Akers, Mary Ann (2008-03-19). "Sen. Vitter Resents Comparisons with Ex-Gov. Spitzer". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Bleifuss, Joel (2008-04-21). "Political Vice Squad". In These Times. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Crouere, Jeff (2008-03-14). "Spitzer Sex Scandal Reminds Nation of Vitter's Sins". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ "Spitzer, Vitter spark different reactions to scandal accusations". The Associated Press. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Walsh, Bill (2008-04-23). "Kennedy Senate run gets financial push". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
Vitter's impressive haul suggests that despite his involvement in the "D.C. Madam" scandal as one-time client of the escort service, his political support remains strong among rank-and-file Republicans in Louisiana.
- ^ Wilson, Reid (2008-07-01). "LA Race Tightens". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
Given Vitter's recent troubles, one might expect a low favorable rating. Instead, the junior senator is seen positively by 55% of voters in Louisiana, compared with just 38% who view him unfavorably.
- ^ "LA Dems: Should Vitter follow Ensign's Lead?". Hotline: On Call. 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
- ^ "Vitter leads opposition to immigration bill". The Times-Picayune. June 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ "Are Rational Immigration Laws a 'Job American Politicians Won't Do'?". Human Events. June 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ Rutenberg, Jim (May 30, 2007). "Bush Takes On Conservatives Over Immigration". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ "Plan to Crack Down on 'Sanctuary Cities' Killed in Senate". Fox News. October 16, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ Shields, Gerald (November 26, 2007). "Washington Watch for November 26, 2007". The Advocate (Baton Rouge) and WBRZ-TV. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
- ^ "S. 2393: A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards..." GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "S. 2713--110th Congress (2008): A bill to prohibit appropriated funds from being used in contravention of section..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ "S. 2714: A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ "Measures Placed on the Calendar". GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ Gaouette, Nicole (2008-03-05). "GOP senators to introduce toughest-yet immigration package". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ "S.J.RES.31 [110th]: RA joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to United States citizenship". GovTrack. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ Ho, James C. (2007-03-10). "Can Congress repeal birthright citizenship?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ Hernandez, Raymond (2005-10-05). "Gulf Coast Lawmakers in Spotlight as Aid Requests Pour In". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "Louisiana senior senator turns up heat on Bush: Democrat Landrieu escalates rhetoric against president on Katrina response", Associated Press, September 11, 2005
- ^ Walsh, Bill (September 29, 2007). "Louisiana looks like a state of denial". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ "Our Views: State needs flood projects". The Advocate (Baton Rouge) and WBRZ-TV. September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ "Federal water bill critical to state". The Daily Advertiser. September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (November 2, 2007). "Bush vetoes massive water resources bill". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Senate Overrides Bush Veto on Water Bill". The Associated Press. November 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Walsh, Bill (September 26, 2007). "Feds oppose full replacement of N.O. public housing units". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ a b Webster, Richard A. (December 3, 2007). "Razing a ruckus". New Orleans City Business. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ Saluny, Susan (December 3, 2007). "New Orleans Hurt by Acute Rental Shortage". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ "How they voted: Senate roll vote on $14B auto bailout". The Associated Press. December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
- ^ Puzzanghera, Jim (December 10, 2008). "White House, Democrats reach accord on auto bailout". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (December 17, 2008). "Vitter regrets salty language". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
- ^ "Proposed Bill Would Reinstate Safeguards for Women Taking RU486". Randall K. O'Bannon, Ph.D. February 1, 2001. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy". Kaiser Permanente. February 7, 2001. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "H.R. 482 [107th]: RU-486 Patient Health and Safety Protection Act". GovTrack. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "On the Amendment (Vitter Amdt. No.3330 )". United States Senate. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (October 19, 2007). "Abortion plan is defeated in Senate". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
- ^ Taylor, Andrew (October 28, 2007). "No Cut in Money for Abortion Providers". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
- ^ "S. 351: Title X Family Planning Act". GovTrack. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ Ertelt, Steven (November 12, 2007). "Senators Ask Democrats for Amendment Revoking Abortion Center Funding". LifeNews.com. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ Ertelt, Steven (January 17, 2008). "Senator to Ensure Indian American Health Care Bill Doesn't Fund Abortions". LifeNews.com. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ "S.Amdt. 3896: To modify a section relating to limitation on use of funds..." GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ KALB News Channel 5 (February 26, 2008). "Senate Passes Vitter Amendment to Prohibit Federal Funding of Abortions". KALB.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 110th Congress (2007) (Apr 24, 2007). "S. 1200". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008
{{cite web}}
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{{cite web}}
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ignored (|author=
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- ^ "David Vitter on the issues". On The Issues. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ "S.AMDT.S.2599". US Library of Congress THOMAS database.
- ^ "S.AMDT.4615". US Library of Congress THOMAS database.
- ^ "H.R.5441". US Library of Congress THOMAS database.
- ^ Saltzman, Jonathan (2008-02-14). "Sullivan ATF confirmation blocked". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ "Held up by gun-lobby radicals". The Boston Globe. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Schmitt, Richard B. (2008-02-25). "ATF nominee in the crossfire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "US Attorney Sullivan resigns". WFXT. January 20, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
- ^ Crouere, Jeff (2007-07-12). "The Rise and Fall of David Vitter". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
- ^ a b Sack, Kevin (1999-04-29). "Louisiana G.O.P. Facing David Duke, Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Nossiter, Adam (2007-07-11). "A Senator's Moral High Ground Gets a Little Shaky". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Hasten, Mike (2007-09-09). "Republicans set sights on control of La. House". The Town Talk. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ a b "The 2007 Elections - Effect of Term Limits (Part I)". LousianaConservative.com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Barrow, Bill (2007-10-30). "Term limits aren't GOP bonanza". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Barrow, Bill (2007-08-05). "Quest for La. House will look past Vitter". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
Vitter's effectiveness for raising the profile of Republican candidates in state legislative races has dissolved
- ^ "The 2007 Elections - Effect of Term Limits (Part I)". LousianaConservative.com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
The LCRM also suffered somewhat of a setback ... when stories arose regarding Senator Vitter's involvement with prostitutes....
- ^ Aynesworth, Hugh (April 18, 1999). "Morality is no issue in race for Livingston's seat; Term limit, Klansman dominate crowded campaign". The Washington Times. pp. C4.
- ^ "S. J. Res. 2--110th Congress (2007): A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ "S. J. Res. 3--109th Congress (2005): A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ 110th Congress (2008) (Mar 31, 2008). "S. 2788". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Babington, Charles (2007-09-15). "Bush Signs Lobby-Ethics Bill". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "S. 1--110th Congress (2007): Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007". GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Amendments to S. 1--110th Congress (2007): Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007". GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Vitter Introduces Extensive Ethics Reform Package". David Vitter. 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Proposed lobbying limits apply to only one senator". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Senate cracks down on financial fraud". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "S.Amdt. 10: To increase the penalty for failure to comply with lobbying..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Campaigns Still A Family Affair". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ a b "Senate Record: Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007". GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "S.Amdt. 5: To modify the application of the Federal Election Campaign Act of..." GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ Feingold, Russ (April 14, 2009). "Congress Does Not Deserve Any Special Treatment". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ Walsh, Bill (September 28, 2007). "Senate OKs child health expansion". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ Pear, Robert (October 6, 2007). "A Battle Foreshadowing a Larger Health Care War". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ^ Pear, Robert (February 4, 2009). "Obama Signs Children's Health Insurance Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
- ^ 111th Congress (2009) (Jan 13, 2009). "H.R. 2". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Sands, David R. (September 28, 2007). "White House pushes sea treaty". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ "Pass the sea treaty". Omaha World Herald. May 16, 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Ridenour, David A. (2006). "Ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty: A Not-So-Innocent Passage". The National Center for Public Policy Research. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ Spring, Baker and Steven Groves and Brett D. Schaefer (September 25, 2007). "The Top Five Reasons Why Conservatives Should Oppose the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea". the Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Gaffney Jr., Frank J. (May 18, 2004). "Don't Get LOST". National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Scally, William (September 24, 2007). "Law of Sea Treaty Revived With Senate Hearings". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Kraus, Don (June 6, 2007). "Time to Ratify the Law of the Sea". Institute for Policy Studies. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ "Editorial: U.S. should join Law of the Sea alliance". Newsday. September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Dinan, Stephen (November 1, 2007). "Senate panel OKs sea treaty, but fight looms". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ Applebome, Peter (1994-06-12). "Legal Gambling Bedevils Louisiana". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-21. Louisiana has long experience with gambling as a political issue; see, e.g., Francis Grevemberg.
- ^ Susan, Schmidt (2005-03-13). "Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying". The Washington Post. p. A01.
- ^ Walsh, Bill (2005-07-28). "McCain defends Vitter as tribe cries foul". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "Our View: Tribal casinos win big bucks". The Advocate (Baton Rouge) and WBRZ-TV. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "Vitter Introduces Indian Gambling Reform Act". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "S. 2676: A bill to make technical corrections to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and for other purposes". GovTrack. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "Parents Blast Military Recruiters at Schools". Associated Press. June 17, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ Cavanagh, Sean (April 23, 2003). "Military Recruiters Meet Pockets of Resistance". Education Week. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ "Section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Section on Military recruitment (PDF - English)" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ "H.R.1346". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ Honda, Mike (March 6, 2007). "Military recruiters have access to our children's personal information". Mike M. Honda. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ Zeller, Shawn (July 9, 2007). "Revisiting the No-Child Recruitment Plan". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ Lerman, David. "Senate approves Jim Webb's new GI Bill". Daily Press. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Senate Passes Iraq War Funding Bill". The Associated Press. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^ "Vote Summary". United States Senate. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^ "S. Res. 132 (109th): A resolution expressing support for prayer at school board meetings". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ a b Mitchell, David J. (January 20, 2007). "Tangipahoa parties say ruling unclear". The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Archived from the original on 2007-01-20. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ "S. Res. 35: A resolution expressing support for prayer at school board meetings". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ "Doe v. Tangipahoa Parish Sch. Bd., No. 05-30294 (5th Cir. Dec. 15, 2006)". National School Boards Association. 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ Mitchell, David J. (August 22, 2007). "Tangipahoa board OKs prayer policy". The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ Vitter, David (June 25, 2007). "Vitter Pushes for Reauthorization of Abstinence Education Program". David Vitter press release. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
- ^ Vitter, David and Bunning, Jim (June 21, 2007). "Letter to the chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-10.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. (Introduced in House), HJ 56 IH, 108th CONGRESS, H. J. RES. 56 May 21, 2003, Mrs. MUSGRAVE (for herself, Mr. HALL, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, and Mr. VITTER)
- ^ "Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage". Vitter2004.com. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
- ^ "Senate set to reject gay marriage ban: Backers see 'important debate'; critics blast effort to 'misdirect'", CNN, June 7, 2006
- ^ "Louisiana Senator Compares Hurricanes to Gay Marriage", gayapolis.com, News, posted October 18, 2005; accessed July 10, 2007
- ^ a b c Walsh, David (September 22, 2007). "Vitter earmarked federal money for creationist group". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ "Origins Science". Louisiana Family Forum. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
- ^ "Political Campaign Activity". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
- ^ "Vitter Sends Shockwaves". Louisiana Family Forum. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
- ^ "Groups Ask Senate To Remove Earmark Promoting Creationism From Spending Bill". Common Dreams NewsCenter. October 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- ^ "Earmark for Anti-Science Creationist Group Must Be Removed". People For the American Way. October 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- ^ Walsh, Bill (October 19, 2007). "Vitter shifts $100,000 from religious group". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Vitter earmark withdrawn". National Center for Science Education. October 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (2008-05-01). "Vitter seeks funding for child-safety act". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ "Vitter Offers Amendment to Fund Adam Walsh Act". David Vitter. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (2008-05-22). "Republicans fret about fate this fall". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^ 111th Congress (2009) (Apr 2, 2009). "S. Res. 98". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
A resolution designating each of April 15, 2009, and April 15, 2010, as "National TEA Party Day"
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Senate confirms Clinton as secretary of State". The Associated Press. January 21, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
- ^ "Doin' a Heck of a Job, Senator". The New York Times. May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- ^ "Senator to Stop Blocking Choice to Head FEMA". The Associated Press. May 13, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- ^ Romm, Tony (22 September 2009). "Amendment would block FCC regulation of net neutrality". Retrieved 2009-09-22.
- ^ a b c d e f Dizikes, Cynthia (October 6, 2009). "Senate passes Franken amendment aimed at defense contractors". MinnPost.com. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "S.AMDT.2588". US Library of Congress THOMAS database. October 1, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "SA 2588". Congressional Record. October 1, 2009. pp. S10069–S10070. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Parker, Kathleen (October 25, 2009). "The 'rape supporter' ploy". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "A case to make anyone ashamed". Daily World. November 2, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "S.Amdt. 2588: To prohibit the use of funds for any Federal... to H.R. 3326: Department of Defense Appropriations... (Vote On Amendment)". Govtrack.us. October 6, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ Fabian, Jordan (October 26, 2009). "Melancon hits at Vitter's rape amendment vote". The Hill. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ Moller, Jan (October 26, 2009). "Melancon enters online campaign fray". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ Melancon, Charlie (2009). "Charlie Melancon for Senate". Charlie Melancon Campaign Committee, Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ Shields, Gerard (November 4, 2009). "Survivor of rape confronts Vitter". The Advocate (Louisiana). Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ Tilove, Jonathan (November 4, 2009). "When confronted by rape victim, Vitter defends vote against 'Franken amendment'". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Berry, Deborah Barfield (May 26, 2010). "Lawmakers weigh liability cap". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Orndorff, Mary (May 27, 2010). "U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions wants to raise BP's liability to $20 billion". The Birmingham News. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- United States Senator David Vitter official U.S. Senate website
- David Vitter for U.S. Senate official campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Vitter.org - website of the Vitter family Maintained by David Vitter's brother Jeffrey Vitter
- 1961 births
- Alumni of University College, Oxford
- American anti-illegal immigration activists
- American legal academics
- American Rhodes scholars
- American Roman Catholic politicians
- Harvard University alumni
- Louisiana lawyers
- Louisiana Republicans
- Living people
- Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana
- People from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
- People from New Orleans, Louisiana
- De La Salle High School (New Orleans) alumni
- Tulane University faculty
- Tulane University Law School alumni
- Tulane University Law School faculty
- United States Senators from Louisiana