CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
Nov. 4, 2008 – 10:21 p.m.
111th House Freshmen: Tom Rooney, R-Fla. (16)
By Rachel Kapochunas, CQ Staff
Election: Defeated Rep. Tim Mahoney , D
Residence: Tequesta
Born: Nov. 21, 1970; Philadelphia, Pa.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Family: Wife, Tara Rooney; three children
Education: Syracuse U., attended 1989; Washington & Jefferson College, B.A. 1993 (English literature); U. of Florida, M.A. 1996 (political science); U. of Miami, J.D. 1999
Military: Army, 2000-04
Career: Lawyer; children’s services organization director; military and state prosecutor; college instructor; congressional aide
Political highlights: No previous office
Rooney is on a mission to restore conservative principles to a seat that has been under Democratic control since last year and to a party that he says has strayed from its core values.
Rooney is prepared to “fight for limited government and lower taxes and lower spending” in Washington and believes his party’s “biggest problem” has become excessive spending.
“Having low taxes is great, but if you don’t have low spending, too, it’s just not going to work,” he says.
Rooney opposes abortion rights and amnesty for illegal immigrants and supports the gun rights of individuals.
111th House Freshmen: Tom Rooney, R-Fla. (16)
A military veteran who only recently entered politics, Rooney thinks he stands out from his future colleagues. “I think not being a politician at any level, I certainly bring a sense of citizen legislator in the near term,” he says.
He hopes to sit on the Armed Services Committee but says that, regardless of his panel assignments, advocating for the troops will be a priority.
Rooney says his experience will enable him to ask the “right questions” about troop protection, veterans’ benefits and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
His election bolsters the growing number of recent veterans in Congress, a development he considers critical.
“It’s going to be vital that we have new veterans [in office] as modern warfare continues to evolve away from conventional and into insurgency,” he says.
Comments
I don't agree with Rooney's social conservative views at all, but Mahoney was obviously an accidental congressman in this conservative and will now have more time to spend on his love life.
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