Roy Blunt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 7, 1997–
Preceded by	Mel Hancock
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	Niangua, Missouri
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Roseann Blunt (div.) Abigail Perlman Blunt
Religion	Baptist

Roy D. Blunt (born January 10, 1950) is a Republican politician from Missouri, currently representing that state's 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He is also the current House Minority Whip. Image File history File links Roy_Blunt. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is the lower of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Missouris 7th congressional district is currently represented by Republican Roy Blunt who has represented the district since 1997. ... // In politics The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ... Niangua is a city located in Webster County, Missouri. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or any follower of Jesus Christ who believes that baptism is administered by the full immersion of a confessing Christian. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... These are tables of congressional delegations from Missouri to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is the lower of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... The Majority Whip is an elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives who assists the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader to coordinate ideas on and garner support for proposed legislation. ...

After House Majority Leader Tom DeLay stepped down due to a criminal indictment in Texas, Blunt served as interim majority leader from September 29, 2005, to February 2, 2006, when John Boehner of Ohio was elected as DeLay's permanent replacement. The Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives acts as the leader of the party that has a majority control of the seats in the house (at least 218 of the 435 seats). ... Thomas Dale Tom DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Andrew Boehner (IPA pronunciation: ) (born November 17, 1949), is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as House Majority Leader, and a U.S. Representative from Ohios 8th congressional district, which includes parts of the city Dayton as well as several southwestern counties along the Indiana... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

Blunt is also the honorary chairman of the Rely on Your Beliefs Fund. The Rely on Your Beliefs Fund (ROYB Fund, ROBF) is an American 527 group. ...

Personal life

Blunt earned a B.A. in History from Southwest Baptist University in 1970. Two years later, he earned a M.A. in History from Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State University). Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is a private institute of higher education affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate (or graduate) course of one to three years in duration. ... Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) located in Springfield, Missouri is the states second largest university, second only to the University of Missouri in student enrollment. ...

Blunt has been married twice. He married Roseann in May 1967, and with her had three children: Matt (the current governor of Missouri), Amy Blunt Mosby, Andrew. Amy and Andrew are lawyers and lobbyists. After divorcing Roseann, he married Abigail Perlman, a Phillip Morris lobbyist on October 18, 2003. In April, 2006, he and Abigail adopted an 18-month old baby boy from Russia, whom they named Alexander Charles "Charlie" Blunt. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Matthew Roy Blunt (born November 20, 1970) was elected Governor of Missouri on November 2, 2004. ... The Governors of Missouri since its statehood in 1820 are: Alexander McNair 1821-24 Frederick Bates 1824-25 Abraham J. Williams 1825-26 John Miller 1826-32 Daniel Dunklin 1832-36 Lilburn W. Boggs 1836-40 Thomas Reynolds 1840-44 Meredith Miles Marmaduke 1844 John C. Edwards 1844-48 Austin... Altria Group, Inc. ... Lobbying is the practice of private advocacy with the goal of influencing a governing body, in order to ensure that an individuals or organizations point of view is represented in the government. ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

He has five grandchildren: Davis Mosby, Eva Mosby, Ben Blunt, William Branch Blunt, and Allyson Blunt.

Political career

Blunt entered politics in 1972, when he was elected county clerk and chief election official of Greene County, Missouri (where Springfield is located). Blunt was the Republican nominee for Missouri lieutenant governor in 1980, but lost to Democrat Ken Rothman. He served as Greene County clerk until 1984, when he was elected Missouri Secretary of State — the first Republican to hold that post in 50 years. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Greene County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Kenneth J. Rothman (born October 11, 1935) is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States. ...

He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Missouri in 1992, losing the Republican primary to Missouri Attorney General William L. Webster. The Governors of Missouri since its statehood in 1820 are: Alexander McNair 1821-24 Frederick Bates 1824-25 Abraham J. Williams 1825-26 John Miller 1826-32 Daniel Dunklin 1832-36 Lilburn W. Boggs 1836-40 Thomas Reynolds 1840-44 Meredith Miles Marmaduke 1844 John C. Edwards 1844-48 Austin... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... ...

From 1993 to 1996, Blunt was president of Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is a private institute of higher education affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. ...

Blunt was first elected to Congress in 1996, when incumbent Congressman Mel Hancock honored his pledge to serve only four terms. Blunt's district, one of the most Republican districts in the country, is located in the Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri, a district which includes Springfield and Joplin. The U.S. House election, 1996 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1996 which coincided with the re-election of Bill Clinton as President. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ... This article is about the Ozark Plateau. ... Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. ... Joplin is a city located in parts of southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of Missouri. ...

Upon entering the House, Blunt served on the International Relations Committee, the House Committee on Agriculture and the Transportation Committee. In 1999, he gave up seats on the latter two committees and joined the powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce. He has also served on the Republican Conference Steering Committee since his election to the Congress. That committee determines to which committees Republican Members are assigned and elevates Members to positions of Ranking Member or Chairman. The U.S. House Committee on International Relations (also known as the House International Relations Committee, the House Foreign Relations Committee or the House Foreign Affairs Committee), is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives which is in charge of bills and investigations related to the foreign...

After only one term, Blunt was appointed as Chief Deputy Whip, the highest appointed position in the House Republican Caucus. In that capacity, he served as the Republicans' chief vote-counter. When Dick Armey retired and fellow Texan DeLay was elected to succeed him, Blunt was elected to succeed DeLay as majority whip. Dick Armey on NBCs Meet the Press. ...

On January 8, 2006, one day after DeLay announced that he would not seek to regain his position, Blunt announced he would run to permanently replace DeLay. ^[1] On January 14, 2006, he issued a release claiming that the majority of the Republican caucus had endorsed him as DeLay's successor. ^[2] However, when the election was held by secret ballot on February 2, 2006, Boehner won on the second ballot, with 122 votes to 109 for Blunt. In November of 2006 he was elected by the House Republicans to their second highest position for the 110th Congress, the Minority Whip, defeating Congressman Shadegg of Arizona handily. ^[3] January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Since he was first elected in 1996, Blunt has been reelected four times without significant opposition. In 2004, he received 70.4% of the vote ^[4]. The U.S. House election, 1996 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1996 which coincided with the re-election of Bill Clinton as President. ... Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 109th Congress were held on November 2, 2004. ...

Positions and interest group ratings

Blunt has a very conservative voting record. He is generally rated highly by conservative interest groups and receives correspondingly low ratings from liberal groups. Advocacy is an umbrella term for organized activism related to a particular set of issues. ...

Social issues

Although Missouri Right to Life endorsed Webster over Blunt in the 1992 Republican gubernatorial primary, Blunt has voted pro-life in Congress and has a conservative record on most other social issues. He has voted to ban partial-birth abortions, and to restrict or criminalize transporting minors across state lines for the purpose of getting an abortion. ^[5] He also voted in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment which bans same-sex marriages and has voted against same-sex adoptions. He received 94% lifetime and 96% 2004 ratings from the American Conservative Union, a 14% rating from the American Civil Liberties Union^[6], and a 92% rating from the conservative Christian Coalition. ^[7] Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ... Partial-birth abortion (PBA) is a non-medical term used to refer to some late-term abortion procedures. ... The Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would define marriage in the United States as a union of one man and one woman. ... Same-sex marriage is a term for a marriage in which two people of the same sex live together as a family. ... The American Conservative Union (ACU) is a large conservative political lobbying group in the United States. ... The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a major American non-profit organization with headquarters in New York City, whose stated mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.[1] It... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ...

Global warming

In August 2006, Blunt said he would oppose any global warming mandates for the entire 110th Congress (2007-2009) if Republicans retain control. "I think the information is not adequate yet for us to do anything meaningful," he said.^[8] Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005. ... The 110th United States Congress will be in session from noon on January 3, 2007 until noon on January 3, 2009. ...

Education

Blunt has voted in favor of school prayer and supported the No Child Left Behind Act. He has voted in favor of school vouchers within the District of Columbia but has voted against broader legislation allowing states to use federal money to issue vouchers for private or religious schools. He has received a 17% rating from the National Education Association. ^[9] School prayer in its most common usage, refers to state-sanctioned and/or mandatory prayer of students in schools. ... Signing ceremony at Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio. ... An education voucher, commonly called a school voucher, is a certificate by which parents are given the ability to pay for the education of their children at a school of their choice, rather than the public school to which they were assigned. ... ... The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States, representing many of the countrys teachers along with other school personnel. ...

Guns

Blunt has voted to prohibit lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers if the guns they manufacture or sell are later used in a crime. He has also voted to reduce the waiting period for purchasing a gun from 72 hours to 24 hours. He has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. ^[10] National Rifle Association logo This article concerns the National Rifle Association of the USA. For the UK organisation, see National Rifle Association, UK The National Rifle Association, or NRA, is a non-profit group for the promotion of marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and personal protection firearm...

Business

Blunt received a 97% rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicating a pro-business voting record. He supported banking industry-backed efforts to overhaul U.S. bankruptcy laws, requiring consumers who seek bankruptcy protection to repay more of their debts. ^[11] Chambers of commerce are business advocacy groups which are usually not associated with government. ... The United States Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4), authorizes Congress to enact uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States. ...

Internet Gambling Ban

Blunt voted in favor of H.R. 4411 - The Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act^[12]. This amendment to the Safe Port Act prohibits the owners of any gambling web sites "where such bet or wager is unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received, or otherwise made" from performing transactions with U.S. financial institutions. H.R. 4411 provides exemptions for state-sponsored online gambling transactions including lotteries, horse racing, and dog racing. The Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (or SAFE Port Act, Pub. ...

Controversies

Ties to tobacco industry

In 2002, Blunt attempted to insert a provision, in support of tobacco corporations, into the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security. The "rider" would have made tobacco sales over the Internet more difficult, allowing tobacco companies to control distribution. At the time, Blunt was dating Altria lobbyist Abigail Perlman, whom he later married. The rider had not been cleared by the House leadership. It was removed from the final bill by agreement between Blunt's staff and the Speaker's staff. The same basic provision was later adopted by the Senate and became law, restricting the ability of criminals and terrorists to use blackmarket Internet sales of tobacco to underwrite illegal or nefarious activity. ^[13] The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), commonly known as Homeland Security, is a Cabinet department of the Federal Government of the United States with the responsibility of protecting the territory of the United States from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. ... In legislative practice, a rider is an additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislative assembly, having little connection with the subject-matter of the bill. ... Altria Group, Inc. ...

11:37, 21 December 2006 (UTC)11:37, 21 December 2006 (UTC)~~

Ties to Tom DeLay

On November 16, 2005, Travis County, Texas District Attorney Ronnie Earle subpoenaed documents that purportedly show communication between DeLay's political action committee and that of Roy Blunt, which would not have been inpermissable. The subpoenaed documents were bank records of DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC, which gave $75,000 to start the Texans for a Republican Majority. Federal Election Commission records show that Blunt's PAC also paid roughly $88,000 in fees since 2003 to a consultant facing indictment in Texas in the same case as DeLay. November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Travis County Courthouse Travis County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Ronnie Earle Ronald Dale Ronnie Earle (born February 23, 1942) is the district attorney for Travis County, Texas. ... In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group organized to elect or defeat government officials in order to promote legislation, often supporting the groups special interests. ... Americans for a Republican Majority also ARMPAC, a Political Action Committee formed by former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ... The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency created in 1975 by Congress to administer and enforce campaign finance legislation in the United States. ...

In June 2003, allegedly, Mr. Abramoff persuaded Majority Leader Tom DeLay to organize a letter, co-signed by Speaker Dennis Hastert, Whip Roy Blunt, and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor, that endorsed a view of gambling law benefitting Mr. Abramoff’s client, the Louisiana Coushatta, by blocking gambling competition by another tribe. Mr. Abramoff has donated $8,500 to Rep. Blunt’s leadership PAC, Rely on Your Beliefs. However, Blunt had a long history of opposing gambling enterprises operated by Native Americans due to the large presence of family-friendly tourism businesses in his Congressional district which includes Branson.

DeLay said of Blunt: "Roy Blunt has done a tremendous job. . . . His leadership is vital to our cause." ^[14]

References

1. ^ "Boehner, Blunt seek to replace DeLay: Lawmakers debate scandals' impact on mid-term elections", CNN.com, January 8, 2006
2. ^ "Blunt Claims Victory", National Journal, January 14, 2006
3. ^ Carl Hulse and David Stout, "Ohio Congressman Wins Majority Leader Race, Replacing DeLay", New York Times, February 2, 2006
4. ^ Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, Tuesday, November 02, 2004
5. ^ Roy Blunt on Abortion, OnTheIssues
6. ^ Roy Blunt on Civil Rights, OnTheIssues
7. ^ Roy Blunt on Families & Children, OnTheIssues
8. ^ [1], Energy and Environment Daily, August 2, 2006
9. ^ Roy Blunt on Education, OntheIssues
10. ^ Roy Blunt on Gun Control, OntheIssues
11. ^ Roy Blunt on Corporations, OntheIssues
12. ^ Votes on H.R. 4411
13. ^ "Blunt, Boehner Share Broad Network of Lobbyist Ties With DeLay", Bloomberg, January 10, 2006
14. ^ Thomas B. Edsall, "House Majority Whip Exerts Influence by Way of K Street", Washington Post, Tuesday, May 17, 2005

External links

• Blunt's official website at the U.S. House of Representatives
• Blunt for Congress
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Blunt's positions on major issues, from issues2000.org, a website owned by speakout.com

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