Vitter's Ideology and Voting Record

Let the Tempest Come

On his campaign for governor website, Vitter describes himself as "a bold, conservative reformer who's tackling our most significant problems with Louisiana common sense." As far as one can tell, Vitter has presented himself as the typical "head-banging conservative" from a red state and while managing to rise steadily within the Senatorial hierarchy. Now in the middle of a run for governor, the positions taken and credits claimed by Vitter while in Congress have become a valuable asset on the trail.

DW-Nominate Scores

The DW-Nominate Score for the 1st Session of the 113th Congress, as tabulated by admittedly liberal weblog with political analysis on US current events Daily Kos, had Vitter at 0.749 points away from the Center, making him the 6th most conservative Republican senator in the chamber. It is worth noting that, but for Mike Lee of Utah, the 6 most conservative senators on the list all hail from Southern states, which are overwhelmingly red in their ideological orientation.

Party Vote

All the evidence purports to show that Vitter has usually toed the party line when it comes to votes on the Senate floor. And why should he do otherwise. Voting with the Republican Party on issues such as immigration, Obamacare, and the Keystone XL Pipeline plays well back home.

ADA and Interest Group Scores

The Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) 2014 Voting Records gave Vitter a score of 5 percent, meaning that Vitter did not vote with the organization on all but one of the 20 salient issues they focused on.

As can be seen on his votesmart.com, Vitter's standing with interest groups are not in the least surprising. The more conservative groups such as the NRA, the National Right to Life Committee, and Americans for Legal Immigration give him top marks, while liberal interest groups such as NARAL-Pro-choice America rate him in the single digits.

Crossing the Aisle

As announced by The Advocate, a leading Baton Rouge-based political media house, on March 14, 2015, Vitter joined Democratic counterpart Tom Udall to oversee the rollout of a chemical regulation bill they cosponsored. The bill, saluted by the Environmental Protection Fund, is a sharp about-turn for Vitter who has a hard-earned pro-business reputation. His support was perhaps made less problematic when Lousiana's chemical companies came out in support of the bill. Louisiana is home to the country's second-largest chemical industry, second only to Texas.

The chemical regulation bill highlights a certain Vitter proclivity to make overtures to the left of the aisle so long as they do not antagonize his base and they help advance his standing in the Senate. His staunch support for former Senator Mary Landrieu's last-minute push for the Keystone XL Pipeline is a case in point.

However, according to govtrack.us, Vitter was one of the least bipartisan senators in the 113th Congress. Only 8% of the 85 bills and resolutions he introduced had both a Democratic and a Republican cosponsor.

COMMITTEE MAN

Vitter

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

With the swearing in of the 114th Congress, Vitter assumed chairmanship of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Founded in 1940 as the Special Committee to Study Problems of American Small Business, the committee oversees all legislation, petitions, and other matters relating to the Small Business Administration (SBA).

As chairman, Vitter "advocates for Louisiana's small businesses by shaping policy that will reinvigorate small business growth by freeing them from unnecessary impediments from the federal government." Just two weeks ago, on March , the Senate passed Vitter's "No Washington Exemption from ObamaCare" bill (S.16). The bill aims to plug a loophole in the Affordable Care Act that allows Congress to designate itself as a "small business" so members of Congress can procure a taxpayer-funded subsidy for ObamaCare.

Vitter has also used his position atop the committee to bolster his small business credentials back home in Louisiana. The very first committee hearing Vitter chaired this year was held - not in Washington, D.C., but in Bossier City, Louisiana. The last field hearing on April 2 was hosted in Lafayette, Louisiana, and the Small Business of the Week for the week of March 27 was Marucci Sports in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Committee on the Judiciary

The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, founded in 1816, is one of the original standing committees in the Senate. Its broad legislative jurisdiction has assured its primary role as a forum fro the public discussion of social and constitutional issues. The Committee also has oversight of key activities of the executive branch, and is responsible for the initial stages of the confirmation process of all judicial nominations for the federal judiciary. This Committee is in Vitter's area of expertise as he is a lawyer by profession. He traded a spot on the Armed Forces Committee for the more prestigious Judicial Committee. Announcing his appointment to this Committe, the Washington Times, a daily renowned for its extensive access to conservative politicians, wrote that "Vitter promised to use his position on the Judiciary Committee to launch attacks on the Obama administration's agenda." 

Vitter hasn't had to wait long. The Judiciary Committee has been preoccupied with hearings for Loretta Lynch, the President's nominee for Attorney General. Vitter has come out publicly to express his reservations to seeing Ms. Lynch as the next A-G. In his February 2015 Newsletter to supporters, Vitter wrote:

I've been working tirelessly to block . . . Loretta Lynch. Her record shows she's in lockstep with his illegal executive actions, especially in regard to amnesty for those who have unlawfully entered the country. Moreover, Ms. Lynch is suspected of playing a role in mega-bank HSBC's money-laundering scheme. She's simply unfit to be Attorney-General.

As can be gleaned from this statement, a hard-line stance toward Lynch's nomination allows Vitter to take positions on various issues. He gets to beef up on his anti-Obama Amnesty bona fides, even as he positions himself as an anti-corruption sheriff. This plays well back home in Louisiana where the President's immigration measure is wildly unpopular and where graft plagues the state government.

Committee on Environment and Public Works

First established in 1837 to oversee the construction of Federal buildings in the fledgling National capital, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has seen its jurisdiction extend to cover legislation pertaining to the interstate highway system, flood control, air and water pollution, and endangered species.

Vitter has sought to use his seat on the Committee to push for more accountability by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies. Louisiana has a bountiful ecosystem, especially in the Bayou region. Vitter has worked to protect the natural heritage of his state, while ensuring that regulation does not thwart business, state or local interests.

On March 10, 2015, Vitter partnered with Tom Udall (D-N.M.) to introduce The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act aimed at protecting "Americans from toxic chemicals by enacting common-sense and necessary reforms to update United States' ineffective, outdated chemical regulatory program."

Subcommittees: Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Oversight, Transportation and Infrastructure.

Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was established in 1913 to oversee issues including, but not limited to: banking, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy.

The Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee helps Vitter to blaze a populist streak on a number of issues, allowing him to follow in the tradition of great Louisiana populists such as Huey Long. Consider, for instance, Vitters op-ed piece in The Hill calling for a repeal of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act: "Dodd-Frank actually establishes a permanent mechanism for government help for large failed banks" to the chagrin of many in the investing public who saw their live savings disappear in the 2008 crash.

The Committee also enables Vitter to cater to the needs of the big metropolitan areas in the state, including New Orleans with a population of almost 400,000.

Subcommittees: Housing, Transportation and Community Development, and Securities, Insurance and Investment.

STATE OF THE STATE, ACCORDING TO VITTER

The 2010 Election

In 2007, Vitter's appeared on the client list of the DC Madam prostitution ring, causing an industry of pundits to write off his political future. But, Vitter never saw formal charges leveled against him and a congressional panel cleared him of all wrongdoing.  By the time Vitter had to face re-election in 2010, the scandal had faded from voters' minds. He won reelection by almost 20 percentage points. He had faced down token opposition from Tea Partier Chet D. Traylor, a former associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court and had defeated Democrat U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon in the general election. Vitter was greatly helped along by the general dissatisfaction with Obama that characterized the 2010 elections. 

The 2012 Election

According to Politico, the foremost online political news outlet in the U.S., Mitt Romney won 57. 8 percent of the popular vote cast in Louisiana in 2012, compared to the 40.6 percent cast for Obama. Since the 1970s when Nixon embarked on a successful solid-South campaign, Louisiana has remained reliably red in subsequent general elections. Louisiana's urban centers and 30.4% African-American population usually support the Democratic Party, but this support is not enough to overcome the rural and evangelical support for the Republican Party.

In line with this narrative, U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy successfully challenged incumbent senator Mary Landrieu in 2014, producing an all-Republican senatorial delegation from Louisiana.

Cycle Fundraising, 2009 -2014, Campaign Committee and Leadership PAC

Raised:	$12,204,517
Spent:	$14,124,253
Cash on Hand:	$85,718
Debts:	$0
Last Report:	Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Credit: Center for Responsive Politics

These numbers show Vitter with a pretty significant war-chest in the run up to the gubernatorial election in 2015. The bulk of his funds come from the Oil and Gas, Health and Law industries. Vitter's financial strength far exceeds that of his closest declared opponent, Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne. 

Issues

In a statement made to the National Journal, a credible nonpartisan publication , Vitter said, "I'm running for governor to confront Louisiana's biggest challenges head-on, not avoid them or play politics with them. I'm running to build a brighter future for Louisiana.

One of the biggest issues in the upcoming gubernatorial race is going to be Louisiana's burgeoning budget deficit. According to Melinda Deslatte of the Associated Press, Louisiana currently has a $1.6 billion hole in its budget, a reality that may force Gov. Bobby Jindal to make draconian cuts to higher education funding.

2015 will also be shaped by whether Bobby Jindal makes true on his ambition to run for President of the United States. Democrats could use the election to push a referendum on his performance as governor. If this proves to be the case, Vitter will likely not be terribly affected since he has done a lot in recent times to distance himself from Jindal.

VITTER: A POLITICIAN'S POLITICIAN

Vote for the Crook, It's Important

A former Louisiana Congressman once remarked that at any given time, half the state of Louisiana is under water and the other half under indictment. Louisiana has a long, well-earned notoriety for producing politicians who outdo each other at being the most 'colorful'. The flamboyant and infamous Huey Long hailed from Louisiana. Nicknamed The Kingfish, Long practically wrote the book on patronage, packing the state government with his network of friends and political supporters.

In 1991, the gubernatorial contest pitted Edwin Edwards, a former congressman and governor famous for his corruption scandals and gambling debts, against David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Edwards won the race under the slogan: "Vote for the Crook, It's important." Edwards served out his term in the Governor's Mansion and proceeded to serve a  ten-year-sentence in prison on corruption-related charges.

Edwards 'Campaign Poster'

Against this backdrop, I present David Vitter, senior U.S. Senator from the Pelican State. While I wouldn't dare to compare Vitter to Long or Edwards, the former has done a masterful job resurrecting his political image and positioning himself as the successor-apparent to Bobby Jindal as Governor of Louisiana.

Ever since his name appeared on the client list of the DC Madam prostitution ring in 2007, Vitter's political future was written off by an industry of pundits. But, in a testament to Vitter's genius and to the unique preferences of Louisiana voters, not only did he win reelection by almost 20 percentage points 3 years after his "very serious sin," he is now poised to become the state's next chief executive.

The Anatomy of a Comeback

So how exactly did Vitter accomplish his revival? No one issue captures Vitter's political acumen better than his effusive support for the Keystone XL Pipeline project. He was one of the three initial senators (along with Richard Lugar and John Hoeven) who introduced legislation in November 2011 requiring the Secretary of State to grant a permit for the Keystone pipeline within 60 days.

"Thy shall not pass"

In a press release sent out from the Senator's office to accompany the introduction of the bill, Vitter said:

"We're fighting to keep the Keystone XL pipeline project on a realistic timeline for completion. This project would create approximately 20,000 new jobs, $700,000 new barrels of oil per day - oil we wouldn't need from the Middle East. Everyone in Washington talks about saving the economy and creating jobs - this would actually do something about that." 

Earlier in 2011, Vitter had introduced 3-D: The Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act of 2011, S. 706, which which sought to expedite permitting and decision making on the Keystone XL pipeline. Additionally, the Senator introduced an amendment in October 2011 to the "China Currency" bill that would have again expedited permitting the Keystone XL pipeline - a measure that was blocked by then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The Senator's February 2014 Newsletter had the following entry on the Keystone XL Pipeline:

"What other single project has the same positive job benefit, same positive energy security benefit, and five clean environmental impact statements? No other project. What other single project has the broad-based support that reflects the same spectrum and dominant majority among the American people? No other project. It's long past time to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, and I've been fighting with my colleagues in Congress to get it approved."

The Keystone XL bill seeks to permit the completion of the remaining 1,179-mile section of the Keystone pipeline from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska. At first glance, it is hard to see how passage of the bill benefits Louisiana, especially since the pipeline does not actually traverse Louisianan territory. While it is conceivable that some of the pipeline workers could come from Louisiana, this is not a strong enough justification for Vitter's unrelenting advocacy.

It all becomes apparent, however, when one considers Louisiana's status as an oil and gas state. According to Edward Chervenak, director of the Survey Research Center at the University of New Orleans, "any vote that supports the [energy] industry would tend to go over well" in the Pelican State. (To get an idea of the extent of Louisiana's love affair with oil and gas, just think about how easily its people were willing to let BP off the hook for the 2010 oil spill). 

The Three Amigos

Touting the virtues of the energy industry is a sure vote-getter in this part of the country, a fact which was not lost on Vitter when he campaigned vigorously for Bill Cassidy last year. According to LaPolitics, "Vitter cleared the rest of the GOP field for [Cassidy] early on, convincing Congressman John Fleming, state Rep. Paul Hollies and former Congressman Jeff Landry to sit this one out." Months before the midterms, Vitter was out knocking on doors with a national anti-abortion group campaigning against Democrat Mary Landrieu. In October 2014, he was instrumental in convincing Sen. John McCain to come stump for Cassidy and accompanied the two on the campaign trail. And at every stop, Vitter made it a point to mention his various efforts on behalf of the Keystone initiative. He even made concessions toward bipartisanship by attending a joint-press conference with Sen. Landrieu in February 2014, bringing pressure to bare on the President to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Vitter's absences from the Senate have not gone without notice. This month, online news outlet Vocativ named David Vitter 6th on a list of 10 senators least likely to be present for floor votes. He has missed 197 of the 3,196 votes since he took office in 2005, giving him an absentee rate of about 6.16 percent. The Senate average is 2.01 percent.

On to the Governor's Mansion

David Vitter has been participating in a series of forums across Louisiana. These forums, closed to the media, focus on issues relevant to voters.

Below are some of the forums Vitter has scheduled:

• Feb. 18 in Alexandria: Farming and fishing
• Feb. 23 in Baton Rouge: Tax and spending reform
• March 2 in Lafayette: U.S. energy boom
• March 12 in New Orleans: Violent crime
• March 23 in Baton Rouge: Addressing corruption and cronyism
• TBD: Making government customer-focused

Vitter held a similar round of forums last Fall, most of them focused on Higher Education.

Vitter faces Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards in the governor's race in 2016.

The Comeback of David Vitter

David Vitter

David Bruce Vitter is the senior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Vitter first entered the U.S. Senate in 2004, after defeating a number of Democratic opponents in a jungle primary. He won a second term in 2010. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives as, representing the suburban 1st congressional district of Louisiana. Vitter currently serves as the Deputy Majority Whip. 

Bio

Born: May 3, 1961 (Age 53) New Orleans, LA

Residence: Metairie, LA

Education: Tulane University Law School, Oxford University, Harvard University

Family: Married to Wendy Vitter. They have 4 children: Sophie, Lise, Airey and Jack.

Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic

Previous Occupation: Lawyer and adjunct law professor at Tulane University

Committees 

• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Chair)
• Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Committee on the Judiciary

DC Madam Scandal

In early July, 2007, Hustler magazine  identified Vitter's phone number among a published list of phone records of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, a.k.a. DC Madam, convicted by the U.S. government for running a prostitution service. Vitter released a statement, followed by a press conference, in which he took responsibility for his "sin" and asked for forgiveness. 

National Republicans very quickly absolved Vitter, fearing that his resignation will mean that Democratic governor Kathleen Blanco will appoint a Democrat to fill his seat. 

here were renewed calls for Vitter's resignation during a sexting scandal involving U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner in June 2011 (CNN).

Run for Governor

David Vitter announced on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 that he will run for governor in 2015. Vitter is the first sitting or ex-U.S. Senator to launch a gubernatorial bid in Louisiana since 1904, when Democrat Newton Blanchard was elected.

Not to be deterred by the public excoriation in the wake of the DC Madam Scandal, Vitter had begun laying the groundwork for his ascendance in his home state as far back as his days in the state legislature. There, he had successfully pushed for term limits for legislators, forcing many of the lawmakers he had served alongside to give up their seats in 2007. Vitter began recruiting conservative candidates to replace them and helped fund campaigns through the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority (LCRM), a PAC he had co-founded a couple years earlier. He also personally reached out to Democrats in conservative districts, encouraging them to get ahead of the state’s rightward turn. Scott Hobbs, a Louisiana-based political consultant, estimated that Vitter helped “at least sixty to seventy percent [of Republicans in the legislature] in some way” between 2007 and 2011. The end-result is that Vitter today has the backing of many of the state legislators in Baton Rouge, a fact which has earned him the ire of the current governor, Bobby Jindal (New Republic).

About Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. The state has roughly 4.5 million people, 62.6% of whom are White, 30.4% are Black, 2.8% are Asian, and the rest belong to other minorities. Energy and tourism constitute the major drivers of the Louisiana economy.

Links

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113661/bobby-jindal-and-david-vitters-feud
http://www.vitter.senate.gov/about-david
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/16/vitter/index.html
http://louisiana.gov/Explore/About_Louisiana/