Tim Scott (politician)
Encyclopedia
Timothy Eugene "Tim" Scott (born September 19, 1965) is the U.S. Representative
for . Elected in November 2010 to the 112th Congress, he and Allen West of Florida are the first Republican
African-American Representatives from the South
since Reconstruction, and the first Republican African-American members of Congress since 2003. Scott is also one of the two members of the freshman class chosen to sit at the House Republican leadership table. Scott, a fiscal and cultural conservative, ran for Congress on a platform of reducing federal spending and taxes. He was endorsed by Tea Party
groups and prominent right-leaning Republicans.
Previously, Scott served one term in the South Carolina General Assembly
(2009–2011), and 13 years on the Charleston County
Council (1996–2008). A graduate of Charleston Southern University
, Scott owns an insurance agency and has worked as a financial advisor.
to Ben Scott, Sr. and Francis Scott, a nursing assistant. His parents were divorced when he was 7, and he grew up in poverty under the care of his mother who worked 16-hour days. He has an older brother who is a U.S. Army
officer in Germany
.
Scott attended Presbyterian College
from 1983 to 1984, and graduated from Charleston Southern University
in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science
in Political Science
.
In addition to his political career, Scott owns an insurance agency, and works as a financial advisor.
Council, becoming the first black Republican elected to any office in South Carolina since Reconstruction, and serving for a time alongside Paul Thurmond, the son of the late Republican U.S. Senator, Strom Thurmond
. In 1996, he was the Republican nominee for a South Carolina state Senate seat, but lost to incumbent Democrat Robert Ford
.
In 1997, Scott supported having the Ten Commandments
posted outside the county council chambers, saying it would remind members of the absolute rules they should follow. The county council then unanimously approved the display and Scott nailed a King James version of the Commandments to the wall. Shortly after, the ACLU
and Americans United for Separation of Church and State
sued. After an initial court ruling said the display was unconstitutional, the council settled to avoid accruing more legal fees. Regarding the costs of the suit, Scott said, "Whatever it costs in the pursuit of this goal (of displaying the Commandments) is worth it".
Scott served on the Council from 1995 until 2008, becoming Chairman in 2007. He also chaired the Economic Development Committee of the Charleston County Council.
He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
for District 117 in 2008, becoming the first Republican African-American representative in more than 100 years.
Scott entered the election for lieutenant governor before switching to the race for South Carolina's 1st congressional district
following the retirement announcement of Republican incumbent Henry Brown
. The 1st district is based in Charleston
, and includes approximately the northern 3/4 of the state's coastline (except for Beaufort
and Hilton Head Island
, which are in the 2nd District
).
Scott was number one in the nine candidate Republican primary of June 8, 2010, receiving 32 percent of the vote—nearly double that of second place finisher Paul Thurmond. Scott also defeated Carroll A. Campbell, III, the son of former South Carolina governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Because no candidate had received 50 percent or more of the vote, a runoff was held on June 22, 2010 with Scott defeating Thurmond 68 percent to 32 percent. During the primaries, Scott was endorsed by the anti-tax National Club for Growth
, various Tea Party movement groups, former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin
, Republican House Whip
Eric Cantor
, former Arkansas
governor Mike Huckabee
, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, and the founder of the Minuteman Project.
According to the Associated Press
, Scott "swamped his opponents in fundraising, spending almost $725,000 during the election cycle to less than $20,000 for his November opponents". He won the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Democrat Ben Frasier
by a margin of 65 to 29 percent. Following the election, Scott and Allen West of Florida became the first African-American Republicans in Congress since J.C. Watts
retired in 2003. Scott also became the first African-American Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in 114 years.
to families whose incomes were lowered to the point of eligibility because a family member was participating in a labor strike
. He introduced legislation in July 2011 to strip the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) of its power to prohibit employers from relocating to punish workers who join unions or strike. The rationale for the legislation is that government agencies should not be able to tell private employers where they can run a business. Scott described the legislation as a common sense proposal that would fix a flaw in federal labor policy and benefit the national and local economies. The NLRB had recently opposed the relocation of a Boeing
production facility from Washington state to South Carolina.
Scott successfully advocated for federal funds for a Charleston harbor dredging project estimated at $300 million, arguing that the project is neither an earmark
nor an example of wasteful government spending. He said the project was merit-based, and in the national interest because larger cargo ships could use the port and jobs would be created.
During the summer 2011 debate over raising the U.S. debt ceiling, Scott said that President Barack Obama
could be impeached
over the debt crisis. Scott supported the inclusion of a balanced budget
constitutional amendment
in the debt ceiling bill, and opposed compromise bills that did not include the amendment. Before voting "no" on the final compromise legislation, Scott and other first term conservatives prayed for guidance in a congressional chapel. Afterwards, Scott acknowledged he had received divine inspiration regarding his vote, and joined rest of the South Carolina congressional delegation in voting no on the measure.
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . Elected in November 2010 to the 112th Congress, he and Allen West of Florida are the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
African-American Representatives from the South
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
since Reconstruction, and the first Republican African-American members of Congress since 2003. Scott is also one of the two members of the freshman class chosen to sit at the House Republican leadership table. Scott, a fiscal and cultural conservative, ran for Congress on a platform of reducing federal spending and taxes. He was endorsed by Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
groups and prominent right-leaning Republicans.
Previously, Scott served one term in the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
(2009–2011), and 13 years on the Charleston County
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
Council (1996–2008). A graduate of Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University, founded in 1964 as Baptist College, is an independent comprehensive university located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern enrolls a maximum of 3,200 students. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the university's mission is...
, Scott owns an insurance agency and has worked as a financial advisor.
Early life, education, and early career
Scott was born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to Ben Scott, Sr. and Francis Scott, a nursing assistant. His parents were divorced when he was 7, and he grew up in poverty under the care of his mother who worked 16-hour days. He has an older brother who is a U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Scott attended Presbyterian College
Presbyterian College
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, USA. Presbyterian College, or PC, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA. PC was founded in 1880 by William Plumer Jacobs, a prominent Presbyterian minister who also founded the nearby Thornwell Home and...
from 1983 to 1984, and graduated from Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University, founded in 1964 as Baptist College, is an independent comprehensive university located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern enrolls a maximum of 3,200 students. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the university's mission is...
in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
In addition to his political career, Scott owns an insurance agency, and works as a financial advisor.
Local and state politics (1995-2010)
Scott was elected in 1995 to the Charleston CountyCharleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
Council, becoming the first black Republican elected to any office in South Carolina since Reconstruction, and serving for a time alongside Paul Thurmond, the son of the late Republican U.S. Senator, Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
. In 1996, he was the Republican nominee for a South Carolina state Senate seat, but lost to incumbent Democrat Robert Ford
Robert Ford (politician)
Robert Ford is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate since 1993, representing District 42, which is located in Charleston...
.
In 1997, Scott supported having the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
posted outside the county council chambers, saying it would remind members of the absolute rules they should follow. The county council then unanimously approved the display and Scott nailed a King James version of the Commandments to the wall. Shortly after, the ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization 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." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a group that advocates separation of church and state, a legal doctrine interpreted by AU as being enshrined in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Mission:The guiding principle of Americans...
sued. After an initial court ruling said the display was unconstitutional, the council settled to avoid accruing more legal fees. Regarding the costs of the suit, Scott said, "Whatever it costs in the pursuit of this goal (of displaying the Commandments) is worth it".
Scott served on the Council from 1995 until 2008, becoming Chairman in 2007. He also chaired the Economic Development Committee of the Charleston County Council.
He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
for District 117 in 2008, becoming the first Republican African-American representative in more than 100 years.
Elections
2010Scott entered the election for lieutenant governor before switching to the race for South Carolina's 1st congressional district
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
following the retirement announcement of Republican incumbent Henry Brown
Henry E. Brown, Jr.
Henry Edward Brown, Jr. is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
. The 1st district is based in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and includes approximately the northern 3/4 of the state's coastline (except for Beaufort
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
and Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
, which are in the 2nd District
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
The 2nd Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in central and eastern South Carolina. It includes all of Lexington, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; most of Richland County and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties...
).
Scott was number one in the nine candidate Republican primary of June 8, 2010, receiving 32 percent of the vote—nearly double that of second place finisher Paul Thurmond. Scott also defeated Carroll A. Campbell, III, the son of former South Carolina governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Carroll Ashmore Campbell, Jr. was a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as 112th Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995.-Early life:He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, the oldest of six children...
Because no candidate had received 50 percent or more of the vote, a runoff was held on June 22, 2010 with Scott defeating Thurmond 68 percent to 32 percent. During the primaries, Scott was endorsed by the anti-tax National Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, various Tea Party movement groups, former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, Republican House Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
, former Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, and the founder of the Minuteman Project.
According to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Scott "swamped his opponents in fundraising, spending almost $725,000 during the election cycle to less than $20,000 for his November opponents". He won the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Democrat Ben Frasier
Ben Frasier
Ben Frasier, Jr. is a frequent political candidate in South Carolina and the Democratic Party nominee for a congressional seat in the November 2010 election....
by a margin of 65 to 29 percent. Following the election, Scott and Allen West of Florida became the first African-American Republicans in Congress since J.C. Watts
J.C. Watts
Julius Caesar "J. C." Watts, Jr. is an American politician from Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League. Watts served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican, representing the 4th...
retired in 2003. Scott also became the first African-American Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in 114 years.
Tenure
In March 2011, Scott co-sponsored a welfare reform bill that would deny food stampsSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , historically and commonly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal-assistance program that provides assistance to low- and no-income people and families living in the U.S. Though the program is administered by the U.S. Department of...
to families whose incomes were lowered to the point of eligibility because a family member was participating in a labor strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. He introduced legislation in July 2011 to strip the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
(NLRB) of its power to prohibit employers from relocating to punish workers who join unions or strike. The rationale for the legislation is that government agencies should not be able to tell private employers where they can run a business. Scott described the legislation as a common sense proposal that would fix a flaw in federal labor policy and benefit the national and local economies. The NLRB had recently opposed the relocation of a Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
production facility from Washington state to South Carolina.
Scott successfully advocated for federal funds for a Charleston harbor dredging project estimated at $300 million, arguing that the project is neither an earmark
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
nor an example of wasteful government spending. He said the project was merit-based, and in the national interest because larger cargo ships could use the port and jobs would be created.
During the summer 2011 debate over raising the U.S. debt ceiling, Scott said that President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
could be impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
over the debt crisis. Scott supported the inclusion of a balanced budget
constitutional amendment
Article Five of the United States Constitution
Article Five of the United States Constitution describes the process whereby the Constitution may be altered. Altering the Constitution consists of proposing an amendment and subsequent ratification....
in the debt ceiling bill, and opposed compromise bills that did not include the amendment. Before voting "no" on the final compromise legislation, Scott and other first term conservatives prayed for guidance in a congressional chapel. Afterwards, Scott acknowledged he had received divine inspiration regarding his vote, and joined rest of the South Carolina congressional delegation in voting no on the measure.
- Taxes and spending – Scott believes that federal spending and taxes should be reduced.
- Health care – Scott believes the 2010 health care reform lawPatient Protection and Affordable Care ActThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
should be repealed. Scott states that the health care in the U.S. is one of the greatest in the world, asserting that people all over the world come to study in American medical schools, waiting lists are rare, and Americans are able to choose their insurance, providers, and course of treatment. Scott supports an alternative to the health care bill that he says keeps these benefits while controlling costs by reforming the medical tort system by having a limit on non-economic damages and by reforming Medicare. - Earmarks- Scott opposes earmarks.
- Economic development - He supports infrastructure development and public works for his district believing it will improve the economy. He opposes restrictions on deepwater oil drilling.
- Social issues – Scott is pro-lifePro-lifeOpposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
. Scott supports adult and cord blood stem cell research. He opposes embryonic stem cell research funded by taxpayers. He opposes the creation of human embryos for experimentation. and opposes assisted suicideAssisted suicideAssisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
. - Immigration – Scott supports federal legislation that is similar to the Arizona law, Arizona SB 1070. He supports strengthening penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. He also promotes cultural assimilationCultural assimilationCultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
by making English the official language in the government, and by requiring new immigrants to learn English. - Labor –Scott has a pro-business orientation.
- Foreign Policy -Scott advocates a continued military presence in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and believes an early withdrawal will benefit Al-QaedaAl-QaedaAl-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. He also views IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
as the world's most dangerous country and believes that the US should aid pro-democracy groups there.
Committee assignments
Scott was appointed by the House Republican Steering Committee to both the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Small Business. He declined to join the Congressional Black CaucusCongressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
.
Personal life
Scott is unmarried. He owns an insurance agency and he is also a partner in Pathway Real Estate Group, LLC.Electoral history
External links
- Tim Scott, U.S. Congressman official U.S. House site
- Tim Scott for Congress official campaign site