View source for Rodney Alexander

{{Short description|American politician (born 1946)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Rodney Alexander
| image               = Rep. Rodney Alexander.jpg
| office              = [[Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs|Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]
| governor            = [[Bobby Jindal]]
| term_start          = September 30, 2013
| term_end            = June 3, 2014
| predecessor         = [[David LaCerte]] (acting)
| successor           = David LaCerte (acting)
| state1              = [[Louisiana]]
| district1           = {{ushr|Louisiana|5|5th}}
| term_start1         = January 3, 2003
| term_end1           = September 26, 2013
| predecessor1        = [[John Cooksey]]
| successor1          = [[Vance McAllister]]
| state_house2        = Louisiana
| district2           = 13th
| term_start2         = January 1988
| term_end2           = January 2002
| predecessor2        = Mike Tinnerello
| successor2          = James Fannin
| birth_name          = Rodney McKinnie Alexander
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1946|12|5}}
| birth_place         = [[Bienville, Louisiana]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (before 2004)<br>[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (2004–present)
| spouse              = Nancy Sutton
| children            = 3
| education           = [[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>[[University of Louisiana, Monroe]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| allegiance          = {{flag|United States}}
| branch              = {{air force|United States}}
| serviceyears        = 1965–1971
| unit                = [[Air Force Reserve Command|U.S. Air Force Reserve]]
}}
'''Rodney McKinnie Alexander''' (born December 5, 1946) is an American politician and member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] who served as the Secretary of the [[Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs]] from September 30, 2013, until June 3, 2014. Previously he was the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|LA|5}} from 2003 to 2013. First elected as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], he changed parties in 2004 to run as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and was re-elected five times.

==Background==
Alexander was born in the village of [[Bienville, Louisiana|Bienville]] in [[Bienville Parish]] to the former [[Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park)|Mary Crawford]] and James Earl Alexander.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/reps/alexander.htm|title=Rodney Alexander|website=[[Rootsweb]]|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109044243/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/alexander.htm|archive-date=November 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1964, he graduated from [[Jonesboro-Hodge High School]] in [[Jonesboro, Louisiana|Jonesboro]] in [[Jackson Parish, Louisiana|Jackson Parish]], which is often cited as his hometown. He then attended [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], but he left college to work for his family construction company.

Alexander left the police jury to represent District 13 in the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] from 1988 until his election to [[United States Congress|Congress]] 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 the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]] began to offer online courses, he enrolled for two years and graduated from [[University of Louisiana at Monroe|ULM]] with a degree in general studies in 2009.

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
;2002
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 Democrats [[Robert Matsui]] and [[Mary Landrieu]] as being "cowardly".<ref name=econ>{{cite news|title=Democrats Bitter Over 'Cowardly' Alexander's Party Switch|url=https://www.economist.com/news/2004/08/12/democrats-bitter-over-cowardly-alexanders-party-switch|access-date=October 4, 2011|newspaper=Roll Call via the Economist|date=Aug 12, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019164415/http://www.economist.com/node/3084238|archive-date=October 19, 2013|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

;2004
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 late [[Jock Scott (politician)|Jock Scott]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|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|Pineville]], Louisiana. His party switch became official on August 9, 2004.

;2010
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana#District 5}}
Alexander defeated Richard Todd Slavant of Monroe in the Republican [[closed primary]] by a margin of nearly 9–1. He faced [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] Tom Gibbs, Jr., of [[Ouachita Parish, Louisiana|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 party members as [[Jerry Huckaby]] and [[Otto Passman]]. During this election, he joined the [[Tea Party Caucus]].

;2012
Alexander drew two last-minute challengers in his successful 2012 bid for a sixth term in the U.S. House.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander draws challenger; all incumbents now opposed|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/last_day_of_qualifying_for_con.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705093737/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/last_day_of_qualifying_for_con.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2013|access-date=15 October 2012|newspaper=The Times Picayune|date=August 17, 2012}}</ref> Alexander handily prevailed with 202,531 votes (77.8 percent). The [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] Clay Steven Grant received 20,194 votes (7.8 percent), and the No-Party candidate, Ron Caesar, polled 37,486 votes (14.4 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11062012/11062012_Congressional.html|title=Louisiana election returns, November 6. 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/4545/rodney-alexander#.UKlFCYeZmSo|title=Rodney Alexander's Campaign Finances – Project Vote Smart|access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> 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.

===Tenure===
At the commencement of the 111th Congress, Alexander received new subcommittee assignments including the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, the [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|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).

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 the [[Stop 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%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/rodney_alexander/400006|title=Rodney Alexander, former U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District – GovTrack.us|access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref>

===Legislation===
As a Representative, Alexander sponsored 36 bills, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Representative Alexanders's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/rodney-alexander/1727?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Rodney+Alexander%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref>

====108th Congress (2003–2004)====
* H.R. 1724, a bill to require higher education institutions that participate in student assistance programs to offer military leave to members of the Armed Forces for deployment and provide credits or refunds of tuition and other fees during such leaves, introduced April 10, 2003

====109th Congress (2005–2006)====
* H.R. 3894, a bill to allow for emergency, temporary housing for victims of [[Hurricane Katrina]], introduced September 26, 2005
* H.R. 5765, a bill to allow for a tax credit for employers equal to 15% of the first $10,000 in wages for members of the National Guard or Ready Reserve, introduced July 12, 2006. Alexander introduced a similar bill, H.R. 3620, in the 111th Congress.

====110th Congress (2007–2008)====
* H.R. 924, a bill to prohibit the [[Food and Drug Administration]] from restricting the sale of certain turtles to be kept as pets, introduced February 8, 2007
* H.R. 7008, a bill to set limits on disaster relief financial aid given to private or investor-owned electric utility companies that provide service to low-income households, introduced September 23, 2008, reintroduced in the 111th Congress as H.R. 941

====111th Congress (2009–2010)====
* H.R. 1891, a bill to allow for a gross income deduction for 50% of long-term care premiums without regard to other limitations on deductions, introduced April 2, 2009

====113th Congress (2013–2014)====
* H.R. 1989, a bill to require the [[United States Forest Service]] to endeavor to accommodate individuals with mobility disabilities who would need to use a power-driven mobility device for access to Forest Service lands, introduced May 15, 2013
* H.R. 2752, a bill to exclude seasonal employees from being counted under the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]'s employer mandate, introduced July 19, 2013
* H.R. 2926, a bill to prohibit the federal government from revoking or withholding federal financial assistance that would otherwise be provided to any recipient on the basis of religious activities that are conducted voluntarily and initiated by participants in a program or activity carried out by such recipient, introduced August 1, 2013

===Committee assignments===
* '''[[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|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
* [[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
* [[Republican Study Committee]]
* Sportsmen's Caucus
* [[Tea Party Caucus]]
*[[Congressional Constitution Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|publisher=Congressional Constitution Caucus|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044928/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Interest group ratings===
Alexander received favorable ratings from pro-life groups such as the [[Right to Life]] Committee and received low ratings from [[Planned Parenthood]]. Alexander also received favorable reviews from business groups such as the [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the [[National Federation of Independent Business]]. In addition, he had strong support from agricultural groups such as the [[American Farm Bureau Federation]] which gave him a 100 percent rating in 2011 and the Sportsman and Animal Owners Voting Alliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/4545/rodney-alexander#.UKk4JoeZmSo|title=Rodney Alexander's Ratings and Endorsements – Project Vote Smart|access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> 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.

===Endorsements===
Alexander was endorsed by Americans for Legal Immigration, Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business, National Federation of Independent Business, Chamber of Commerce, and the [[NRA 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/public-statement/745855/congressman-rodney-alexander-honored-as-guardian-of-small-business#.UKlE2YeZmSo|title=Congressman Rodney Alexander Honored as Guardian of Small Business – Public Statements – Project Vote Smart|access-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522105844/http://votesmart.org/public-statement/745855/congressman-rodney-alexander-honored-as-guardian-of-small-business#.UKlE2YeZmSo|archive-date=May 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs==
On September 30, 2013, Alexander became Secretary of the [[Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs]] under Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/on_the_hill_ny_times_praises_s.html|title=On the Hill, NY Times praises Sen. Vitter and Rodney Alexander casts last vote – NOLA.com|access-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002192940/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/on_the_hill_ny_times_praises_s.html|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Alexander's wife, the former Nancy Sutton, is a long-time educator. They have three children and several grandchildren. Alexander is a [[Southern Baptist]].<ref name=Baptist>{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Ten Southern Baptists sworn in as new reps.|url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34378|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226010629/http://www.bpnews.net/34378|archive-date=26 December 2014|newspaper=Baptist Press|date=5 January 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of American politicians who switched parties in office]]
* [[List of United States representatives who switched parties]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
*[http://alexander.house.gov/ Congressman Rodney Alexander] official U.S. House website
*{{CongLinks | congbio=a000361 | votesmart=4545 | fec=H2LA05084 | congress=rodney-alexander/1727 }}
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rodney_Alexander Profile] at [[SourceWatch]]
*{{C-SPAN|1004256}}

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{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Cooksey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Louisiana|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Louisiana's 5th congressional district]]|years=2003–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vance McAllister]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cedric Richmond]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{LARepresentatives}}
{{Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=108th–113th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Louisiana|Louisiana]]}}
{{USCongRep/LA/108}}
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{{USCongRep/LA/111}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Rodney}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:American politicians who switched parties]]
[[Category:Baptists from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Louisiana Democrats]]
[[Category:Louisiana Republicans]]
[[Category:Jonesboro-Hodge High School alumni]]
[[Category:Louisiana Tech University alumni]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Parish jurors and commissioners in Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Bienville, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Jonesboro, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Louisiana]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:United States Air Force airmen]]
[[Category:United States Air Force reservists]]
[[Category:University of Louisiana at Monroe alumni]]