James McCrery



James O. McCrery, III was a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the 4th District of Louisiana from 1989-2008. (map)

Iraq War
McCrery voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Advocate Article
In 1992, the Advocate magazine, a publication aimed at the gay and lesbian community, featured a cover story on McCrery that quoted a Dallas teacher. The teacher claimed he formerly had a relationship with McCrery and accused him of pandering to his conservative constituents by opposing gay rights. The magazine cited his support of anti-gay legislation as justification of his outing.

The article did little damage to his political career, and McCrery denied allegations made during the 1988 and 1992 campaigns that he is a homosexual.

Bio
He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on September 18, 1949. He was educated at Louisiana State University and was a lawyer and staff member for Representative Buddy Roemer before entering the House.

According to USA Today, "McCrery boast[ed] a role in shaping President Bush's tax cut bills and a measure granting prescription drug benefits for seniors... McCrery opposes abortion and supported the death penalty... The liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave McCrery's 2003 voting record 5 points out of 100; the American Conservative Union gave him 88 points."

2006 elections
In 2006, McCrery won reelection, garnering 58% of the vote, compared to the 17% of his closest competitor. 

2008 Retirement
McCrery announced in a statement on December 7, 2007 he would not seek re-election in 2008. The ten-term congressman reportedly thought of not seeking reelection in 2004 because of family reasons. However, he did seek another term after he sold his Louisiana house and moved his family to the Washington, D.C. area. In June 2007 he announced that he planned to move his family back to Shreveport, Louisiana.

In the statement, McCrery explained his decision to retire as his inability to chair the House Ways and Means Committee and the time spent in Washington away from his family. McCrery explained, "Chairman (Charles) Rangel (D-N.Y.) and I have developed a very good working relationship and we have had some success in developing bipartisan solutions, specifically in the area of trade. But on tax reform, Medicare and healthcare reform, and Social Security reform, our best efforts have come to naught."

Reps. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and David Camp (R-Mich.) are the next Republicans in the seniority in the Ways and means Committee. McCrery had over $960,000 on hand in his personal savings account and over $323,000 in his PAC.

Money in politics
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Committee assignments in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means -Ranking

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Social Security - Chair


 * The Republican Main Street Partnership

Contact
DC Office: 2104 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-1804 Phone: 202-225-2777 Fax: 202-225-8039 Web Email Website

District Office- Leesville: Southgate Plaza Shopping Center 1606 South Fifth Street Leesville, LA 71446 Phone: 337-238-0778 Fax: 337-238-0566

District Office- Shreveport: 6425 Youree Drive, Suite 350 Shreveport, LA 71105 Phone: 318-798-2254 Fax:

Resources

 * Official website
 * Jim McCrery from Issues 2000
 * Links to articles and blogs about Jim McCrery from Campaign for America's Future

Articles

 * McCrery is Top Spender on Corporate Travel by Michael Forsythe and Kristin Jensen, Bloomberg, 10/10/05