Tom DeLay

Thomas D. DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Well known for his staunch conservative stances in foreign and domestic policy, the Texas Republican and former insect exterminator was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984. In 1994 he was elected by his Republican colleagues as Majority Whip. With the retirement of fellow Texan Dick Armey from the House, DeLay was selected as House Majority Leader for the 108th Congress.

DeLay blames Senate Democrats and what he dubbed "BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) environmentalists" for blocking legislative solutions to problems such as the 2003 U.S.-Canada blackout. [1] He has also been vehemently critical of liberal causes, most notably the environment and labor unions.

DeLay has been making headlines in 2003 when he pushed a controversial Congressional redistricing plan in Texas with Karl Rove, George W. Bush's advsior. The plan called for hopes of the GOP to gain as many as seven new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In order to push his plan, he needed a Republican majority in the Texas Legislature. He is currently under investigation for ethical violations, stemming from complaints filed by Representative Chris Bell of Texas. Some of the complaints involve illegal campaign financing.

Quotes

On the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

"The EPA, the Gestapo of government, pure and simply has been one of the major claw-hooks that the government maintains on the backs of our constituents." - As reported in the AP [1995 July 29]

On Newt Gingrich:

"Newt Gingrich is an incredible leader. He is a leader of our time, and he's going to lead us into the future. And we're going to accomplish the things that we've all dreamed of." - As reported from "Late Edition" on CNN [4/6/97]

On the federal government:

"I am the federal government." - DeLay was responding to a government employee who tried to prevent him from smoking on government property. As reported in the New York Times [2003 June 13]
"...I am not a federal employee. I am a constitutional officer. My job is the Constitution of the United States, I am not a government employee. I am in the Constitution." - From "Talk Back Live" on CNN [1995 December 19]

On the working poor:

"Emotional appeals about working families trying to get by on $4.25 an hour [the minimum wage in 1996] are hard to resist. Fortunately, such families do not exist." - From the Congressional Record, H3706 [1996 April 23]

On war:

"Nothing is more important in the face of a war than cutting taxes." - From a speech made to bankers [3/12/03]

On the International Criminal Court:

"Kofi Annan's kangaroo court...a clear and present danger to the war on terrorism and Americans fighting it all over the world." - AP 2004 July 16[1]

On the role of women in the home:

"I have seen these liberal psychologists and sociologists talk about there is no need for the man in the family. The woman can take care of it. A woman can take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure. To provide stability." - From a radio interview. His wife, Christine DeLay quickly asked to "edit this out," then turned to Tom and said: "This is not a good thing for you to be saying."

Tom DeLay

Quotes

External links