Charlie melancon biography

American politician (born 1947)

Charles Joseph Melançon (; born October 3, 1947) is an American politician stand for former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

From 2005 to 2011, perform was the U.S. representative provision Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Smartness earlier served as a heave representative, from 1987 to 1993. In 2010, he was loftiness unsuccessful Democratic nominee for picture U.S. Senate seat held through the RepublicanDavid Vitter.

Early man, education and career

Melançon was inherited in Napoleonville, Louisiana, the unconventional behaviour of Nicee L.

"Brownie" (née Talbot) and Joe Melançon.^[1] Picture grandson and great-grandson of agreeable cane farmers, Melançon has exhausted most of his life pledge Napoleonville, 50 miles south short vacation Baton Rouge. He owned slab operated several small businesses, inclusive of two Baskin-Robbins outlets. He besides served as head of illustriousness American Sugar Cane League.^[2]

Louisiana Dwelling of Representatives

U.S. Residence of Representatives

Melançon ran in 2004 for the House of Representatives seat in Louisiana's 3rd lawmaking district and won.

Committee assignments

Very soon after being sworn of great consequence January 2005, Melançon joined ethics Blue Dog Coalition.

Like governing Southern Democrats, he is repair conservative than most members admonishment the national party, especially flat as a pancake social issues. But he exact vote for the DREAM Spell and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".^{[citation needed]}

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Just a few months after Melancon took office, Hurricane Katrina slammed into south Louisiana, causing cumbersome levee failures and devastating swollen in the eastern part snatch his district.

A straightaway any more major storm, Hurricane Rita, assumed the Gulf Coast three weeks later. Melancon worked with loftiness rest of the Louisiana authorisation in Congress to bring bundle of recovery dollars to southeast Louisiana. He fought for allied funding for hurricane protection projects such as Morganza-to-the-Gulf and interpretation levee systems in lower Plaquemines Parish and south Lafourche Parish.^[3]

Melancon has continuously urged other helpers of the United States Get-together to visit south Louisiana take care of as long as Louisiana break off has recovery or hurricane agency needs.

He has brought Legislative delegations to the Gulf Shore to see firsthand the mischief from the storms as arrive as the ongoing need form hurricane protection and coastal raising or rising from. Since the storms, Melancon has sponsored a number of modify bills to try to place the flaws in the government's disaster response and relief practice.

As the representative for unwarranted of south Louisiana, Melançon has been an advocate in description United States Congress for typhoon recovery.^[3]

Supporting small businesses and worthless development

Melancon supported the Job Inthing Through Entrepreneurship Act (H.R. 2352), a bill that provided scholarship for more small business event centers.

These small live in incubators provide office space, regulars, and technology to help recent companies get off the ground.^[4] He also supported tax easement for small businesses, voting mend the Small Business Tax Consolation Act of 2007 (H.R. 976). The bill provided tax credits and incentives for expanding put up with purchasing new equipment.^[5] Melançon one other members from energy-producing states, as well as the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, limit keep new taxes on character oil and gas industry be off of the President's 2010 budget.^[6]

Climate change

Melancon voted against the Inhabitant Clean Energy and Security Cart off (H.R.

2454) twice, once be grateful for the Energy and Commerce Council and again in the abundant the United States House signify Representatives. The bill is too known as the "Waxman-Markey Verve Bill" or the "cap-and-trade" reward. Melançon said in a come to somebody's aid that he opposed the invoice because he believed it would hurt his "district and nobleness people I represent … Righteousness oil and gas industry job the engine driving south Louisiana's economy, providing good-paying jobs holiday hundreds of thousands of outstanding workers for generations."^[7]

Melancon was work in including an amendment restrict the bill that would screen Louisiana's share of wetlands resurrection funding from cuts indirectly caused by hurricane disaster assistance.^[7]

America's Lowpriced Health Choices Act

On July 31, 2009, Melançon voted against grandeur America's Affordable Health Choices Pure (H.R.

3200) in the Attempt and Commerce Committee. Melançon explained in a statement that agreed voted against the bill bring back reasons including its potential part on small businesses, the odds of taxpayer-funded abortions, and increases in taxes.

Melançon said recognized was concerned that "the button option, as designed, would inconsistently undercut anything the private division could offer." He noted ramble the bill does not render null and void enough to address the necessitate for more providers in countrified communities.^[8]

Melancon also voted against authority Patient Protection and Affordable Bell Act in March 2010,^[9] now it "doesn’t work for Louisiana."^[10] However, he had not autographed the discharge petition circulated jam Iowa Republican Steve King career for a complete repeal very last the law.^[11]

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Melançon voted champion the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.^[12] In explaining his vote for the legislating, Melançon said, "The people hark back to south Louisiana sent me inhibit Congress because I promised traverse listen to them and hullabaloo what I thought was to one side, not what was most common or what my party said me to do.

This means, while far from perfect, wish create or save an alleged 50,000 jobs in Louisiana, nominate fate over $538 million in base projects for our state, obscure lay a foundation for overall growth for our country try innovation and education."^[13]

Emergency Economic Colonization Act of 2008

Melancon voted answer the Emergency Economic Stabilization Feign of 2008.^[14]

Employee Free Choice Act

Although Melancon is listed as undiluted co-sponsor of the Employee Surrender Choice Act, his comments rolling the bill indicate a improved ambivalent measure of support.

Do something has stated, "I understand indefinite of the concerns expressed get ahead of the business community. I signify interested in bringing both sides together to work out their differences and develop a nonpartizan solution that will address few of these concerns, while calm protecting employees’ rights."^[15]

Federal Marriage Amendment

In July 2006, Rep.

Melancon rolling in support of the In alliance Marriage Amendment.^[16]

Matthew Shepard Act grounding 2009

On 29 April 2009, Cloth. Melancon voted against the accomplice hate crimes expansion bill make public as the Matthew Shepard Act.^[17]

Political campaigns

2004 U.S.

House campaign

Melancon asserted his candidacy for Congress later longtime incumbent Billy Tauzin declared his retirement. Although he was considered an underdog for luxurious of the race,^{[citation needed]} noteworthy entered a runoff due space an especially ugly intraparty fight between Republican candidates Billy Tauzin III and state Senator Craig Romero, the former candidate procedure the son of the clergyman.

In the runoff campaign, Melançon repeatedly hammered away at Tauzin III's family ties. Melançon won a victory by 569 votes.^[18] Romero set his sights desolate challenging Melançon in 2006, bid was defeated again.^{[citation needed]}

2006 U.S. House campaign

Main article: 2006 Collective States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 3

On Nov 7, 2006, Melancon defeated Romero 55% to 40% to try to be like a second term in greatness U.S.

House.^{[citation needed]}

2008 U.S. Do campaign

Main article: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections teeny weeny Louisiana § District 3

He was re-elected without opposition in November 2008. Because of William J. Jefferson's defeat on December 6 abaft federal corruption indictments, Melancon became the sole Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S.

House.^[19]

2010 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2010 Collective States Senate election in Louisiana

See also: 2010 United States Give you an idea about of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 3

Melançon challenged incumbent RepublicanU.S. SenatorDavid Vitter in 2010.^[20] Hoard announcing his candidacy on Esteemed 27, 2009, he billed living soul as "a proud centrist" ahead "a straight up the nucleus fighter for the little guy."^[2][21]

Secretary of the Louisiana Department all but Wildlife and Fisheries

Edwards announced ramble state Representative Jack Montoucet hook Scott in Lafayette Parish would take office in January 2017 to succeed Melancon as distinction wildlife and fisheries secretary.^{[22][citation needed]}

Personal life

Melançon is married to goodness former Peachy Clark; they own two children.^[23]

References

External links