Bill Sali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Sali | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | C. L. "Butch" Otter |
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| Born | February 17, 1954 Portsmouth, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Terry Sali |
| Residence | Kuna |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Evangelical Christian |
William T. "Bill" Sali (born February 17, 1954) is the United States Representative from Idaho's 1st congressional district. The district includes the western third of the state, as well as most of Boise, the state capital. Sali previously served in the Idaho Legislature as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives.
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[edit] Personal life
Sali was born in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1954, and moved to Idaho with his family in 1962. He graduated from Boise State University in 1981 and the University of Idaho law school in 1984.
Sali and his wife, Terry, reside in Kuna, Idaho. They have been married since 1976 and have six adult children. Prior to his career in politics, Sali was an attorney, professional musician, farmer, and Caterpillar machinery salesman. [1]
[edit] State Legislature
Sali was first elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1990. During his time there, he gained a reputation as a staunch conservative on social and economic issues, frequently drawing the ire of the more moderate Republican house leadership.[2][3]
Sali served as vice-chairman of the state House Health and Welfare Committee and as Chairman of the Special Committee on Health Care. He also sat on the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Committee, the Human Resources Committees, and the Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee. [4]
[edit] 2006 Congressional race
On May 23, 2006, Sali won the Republican nomination in Idaho's 1st congressional district with 26 percent of the vote in a six-way race.[5] His opponent in the general election campaign was Democrat Larry Grant.
Over the years, Sali had been involved in disputes with some prominent Idaho Republicans, including former Idaho House speaker Bruce Newcomb and 2nd district congressman Mike Simpson.[6] Despite past arguments, the state[citation needed] and national Republican Party came out in support of Sali's candidacy. Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned for him, saying, "He’s somebody you can count on to look out for the taxpayer."[7] Dolores Crow, Chairwoman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee in the Idaho legislature, said in a television advertisement that "We need Bill Sali to represent us in Washington, D.C." [8]
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and then Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert also came to Idaho to support Sali, and his campaign received substantial financial backing from the Club for Growth, the Republican National Committee, and the National Right to Life PAC.
Sali was elected to Congress on November 7, 2006, defeating Grant 50% to 45%.
[edit] U.S. House of Representatives
Sali was elected president of the 2007–2008 Republican freshman class.[9]
[edit] Committee Assignments
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Information Policy, Census and National Archives Subcommittee
[edit] State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
In 2007, Congress took up the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health care for about 6 million children and 670,000 adults from families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicare but not enough to afford health insurance. Congressional Democrats and many Republicans tried to use the opportunity to dramatically expand the program but were opposed by President George W. Bush and other Republicans. In 2006, 5.4 million children were eligible but not enrolled in SCHIP or Medicaid and 9.4 million total children were uninsured.
Bill Sali voted against the first House bill, which passed along party lines. It would have added $47 billion over five years to the $25 billion cost of the program and added about 5 million people to the program, including children, some legal immigrants, pregnant women and adults aged 18 and 19. The bill was financed mainly by an increase in cigarette taxes.[10]
The first house bill was seen as deficient as the bill reported out of conference created a loophole allowing potential illegal immigrants access to the program. [11] Congressman Sali noted the flaw in Comments in the Idaho Statesman "The Congressional Budget Office predicted that Pelosi's SCHIP proposal would have cost taxpayers $7.5 billion as illegal aliens began signing up. The SCHIP proposal would have allowed Social Security numbers as proof of qualification, even though those numbers are notoriously abused in employment." [12]
House Democrats, with 45 Republicans, later compromised and passed a bill which expanded the plan by $35 billion and would have insured about 3.5 million more children from families generally making between 250% and 300% of the federal poverty line (about $51,000 to $62,000 for a family of four). Most non-pregnant, childless adults were excluded, as were most legal immigrants and all illegal immigrants. Bill Sali voted against the bill.[13]
His stated reason was "Currently about 700,000 adults are enrolled in SCHIP and receive “children’s health care.” In Idaho only about 350 adults receive SCHIP, but in Minnesota, 90 percent of SCHIP enrollees are adults. In Wisconsin, about two-thirds of SCHIP enrollees are adults. Seven states enroll more adults than children in their current SCHIP programs. The expanded SCHIP proposal would grow those numbers. In fact, the number of adults receiving SCHIP was projected to be 780,000 if the bill passed. Because Idaho hasn’t gone that route, Idaho taxpayers are subsidizing health care for adults on SCHIP in those states" and "Not only would it raise cigarette taxes, you would have to have 22 million new smokers just to pay for the expansion. Obviously that’s not going to happen, nor should it. That means tobacco tax revenues will not come in, and the expansion will be “paid for” by deficit spending. That is a cruel burden to place on our kids and grandkids. When they become adults they will be paying the debt for today’s health care for rich kids, adults and illegal aliens at the same time that they are trying to provide health care for their own families." [14]
After President Bush vetoed the bill, Democratic leaders attempted to override the veto with the same bill but failed. Bill Sali voted against the bill.[15]
House Democrats then attempted to override it with another bill, which gave into Republican demands for increased checks for citizenship, the quick phasing-out of adult coverage, a hard limit of 300% of the federal poverty level and funding for families that covered their children through private insurance instead. Republicans, angry that the vote was scheduled during massive fires in California, blocked the veto override. Bill Sali voted against the bill.[16]
The republican anger over this new vote was predicated on the fact that the fires had resulted in 9 republican congressman in opposition to the bill from the fire areas not being present for the vote as noted by Congressman Putnam, 3rd ranking Republican "By calling for a vote tomorrow, Democrats are cynically exploiting the absence of these Republicans to manufacture a veto-proof majority" . [17]
[edit] Minimum Wage
He opposed legislation to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour[18], as well as a Republican motion to recommit.[19]
[edit] Iraq War
Sali has consistently voted to support the Iraq War and has opposed all legislation aimed at withdrawing the United States' troops from Iraq. [20]
As the Congressman noted "None of us like war. We all wish that victory in Iraq had been swift, clear-cut and definitive and that a stable and free government would have been operating in Baghdad, able to stand on its own. Clearly great progress has been made, particularly in the past year, and the future of Iraq is now more promising than ever. Yet, we remain at war. At a minimum, we owe it to our soldiers and to our national security to win this war by supporting those in the field. Only by doing so can we bring our soldiers safely home."
[edit] Immigration Reform
Sali is a member of the House Immigration Reform Caucus and is an opponent of President Bush's proposal for comprehensive immigration policy reform. "Amnesty does nothing to secure our borders," Sali said. [22]
[edit] Other legislative action
In July 2007, Sali introduced legislation allowing for separate votes on bills that contain multiple subjects. Sali based his proposal on his experience in the Idaho Legislature, noting that Idaho's constitution forbids grouping unrelated projects in a single bill. "Frankly, the process [in the Idaho Legislature] is an orderly process, and while it is political it is somewhat predictable," Sali told the Idaho Statesman. "Congress is a whole other deal."[23]
In August 2007, Sali introduced his second proposal to reform Congress. That bill called for Congress to make available a "red-line" version of legislation so that congressional representatives and the general public can easily see what is being added and removed from a statute.[24]
Sali told the Spokane, WA based Spokesman Review newspaper that there are other areas in Congress that need to be reformed. He said congressional committees hold hearings on topics, not on legislation, and often it's not clear why a hearing was called in the first place. "For a member of Congress to try and discern what is the takeaway message from these people who actually do have to testify in front of us can be very difficult," Sali said. "Too often the hearings end up being nothing more than a photo opportunity for people," he said. "If that sounds goofy to you, it's only because it is."[25]
In 2006, Sali linked abortion to breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute has said there is no known link between the two. [26][27] That caveat aside, of the more than 40 independent studies on the issue at least half support the Congressman's contention that there appears to be a link between abortion and incidents of breast cancer.[28]
[edit] Controversy
In August 2007, Sali expressed concerns over what he perceives as a deterioration of the "Christian heritage" of the United States and the rise of multiculturalism in U.S. politics—largely with reference to the 2006 election of Keith Ellison, the first Muslim member of the U.S. House of Representatives and to the Hindu prayer offered by Rajan Zed in the opening of the U.S. Senate on July 12, 2007. Sali said these events were "not what was envisioned by the Founding Fathers" and said that America was founded on Christian principles.[29]
Speaking with the Idaho Press-Tribune, Sali explained his view that multiculturalism is in conflict with the national motto "E Pluribus Unum," or "out of many, one." Sali said multiculturalism would mean "out of the many, the many." "The question is, is multiculturalism good or not?" Sali said. "I don’t think the Founding Fathers were multicultural. Multiculturalism is the antithesis of (the motto)." In regard to the view that the nation was founded on Christian principles, Sali said, "If we’re going to move away from those principles ... we better consider the blessings of God that have been bestowed on this country and the protective hand of God that’s been over this country."
In another interview Sali said, "The idea that somehow we can move to multi-culturalism and still remain the same — I think that's a little dangerous, too." "From my standpoint, I believe the Founding Fathers were overwhelmingly Christian and the God they were talking about is the God of the Bible."[30]
Sali has been accused by some of wanting to impose a religious test for elected officials[31][32]; however his spokesman said that Sali had no such intention.[33] In an interview with the Idaho Statesman, Sali said of Ellison, "He got elected the same way I did," "People certainly have the right to elect anyone they want."[34] He also denied the claim that he wanted a religious test for office, citing the no religious test clause of the Constitution. However, he stated that he was opposed to multiculturalism in the U.S. government, saying, "Our nation was founded on principles that the founders took largely from Scripture. Those principles provide the basis for our form of government and are the source of the rights we enjoy as Americans."[35]
[edit] References
- ^ Representative Bill Sali: About Bill Retrieved August 11, 2007
- ^ 2006 NEW MEMBER PROFILES: Bill Sali. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Dan Popkey (2006-10-13). Sali talks about GOP unity but ignores his own advice. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Government Is Not God: Bill Sali Retrieved August 11, 2007
- ^ Ben Ysursa, Secretary of State (May 23, 2006). Idaho Secretary of State - Elections, Campaign Disclosure and Lobbyists. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Dan Popkey. "Congressional candidate rubs leaders of GOP the wrong way", Idaho Statesman, April 7, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- ^ Betsy Z. Russell. "Cheney: 'You all know Bill'", Idaho Statesman, August 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Television advertisement: "I'm voting for Bill Sali". Posted on YouTube (October 29, 2006).
- ^ Jonathan E. Kaplan (2007-01-23). TheHill.com - Hodes elected freshman class president. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ opencongress.org
- ^ SCHIP Bill Still Opens Federal Money to Illegals, Republicans Claim - 09/26/2007
- ^ Rep. Bill Sali: Congress must find better, more fiscally responsible solution | Reader's Opinion | Idaho Statesman
- ^ opencongress.org
- ^ Rep. Bill Sali: SCHIP expansion would end up helping rich kids (Nov. 1, 2007) | Talking Points: Guest opinions from Idaho political leaders & candidates | Idaho Statesman
- ^ opencongress.org
- ^ opencongress.org
- ^ Orlando Sentinel - Putnam slams Democrats for SCHIP vote during wildfires by Mark Matthews
- ^ House Roll Call Vote on the Fair Minimum Wage Act.
- ^ House Roll Call Vote to Recommit With Instructions (Fair Minimum Wage Act).
- ^ Key votes by Sali in US Congress 2007.
- ^ Rep. Bill Sali: Support all military members for their service to our country | Talking Points: Guest opinions from Idaho political leaders & candidates | Idaho Statesman
- ^ Sali hailed as key voice against amnesty.
- ^ Sali aims to increase transparency with introduction of two new bills.
- ^ Sali aims to increase transparency with introduction of two new bills.
- ^ Sali charts his own course in Congress.
- ^ NATION IN BRIEF - washingtonpost.com
- ^ KTVB.COM | Boise, Idaho News, Weather, Sports, Video, Traffic & Events | IDAHO NEWS
- ^ Breast Cancer Risk & Abortion
- ^ Idaho Congressman Disturbed by Hindu Prayer in Senate, Election of Muslim to House. American Family News Network (August 8, 2007).
- ^ http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/129935.html
- ^ Randy Stapilus, "Them what don't belong", Reidenbaugh Press, August 9, 2007
- ^ "Rep. Bill Sali: Religious Diversity In Congress 'Was Not Envisioned By The Founding Fathers'", Think Progress
- ^ Eric Kleefeld, "Sali Spokesman Clarifies Remarks: My Boss Is Not A Bigot!", TPMCafe, August 12, 2007
- ^ http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/129935.html
- ^ Idaho Press-Tribune
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman Bill Sali, U.S. House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Bill Sali for Congress, Campaign site
- Right Mind Lewiston Tribune, April 8, 2006
- YouTube TV ad "Dolores Crow TV ad"
- YouTube TV ad "Melodee and Julie testimonials"
- Sali official website "Sali hailed as key voice against amnesty"
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by C.L. Otter |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st congressional district 2007-01-04 – present |
Incumbent |
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