Corrine Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Corrine Brown | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 1993– |
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| Preceded by | Charles Bennett |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | November 11, 1946 (age 60) Jacksonville, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | single |
| Religion | Baptist |
Corrine Brown (born November 11, 1946) is an American politician. She has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing Florida's 3rd congressional district (map). Her district includes parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole, and Orange Counties.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Brown was educated at Florida A&M University where she received a bachelor's and master's degree, and the University of Florida, where she was awarded an Education Specialist degree. She received an honorary doctor of law degree from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, and has been on the faculty at the latter two schools and at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. She served in the Florida House of Representatives for 10 years before entering government at the national level, and she is currently a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. In college she became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, one of four African American Greek letter sororities in the United States.
[edit] Complaints and investigations
Controversy has followed Brown since the start of her national political career. A few weeks after becoming a member of the U.S. House in 1993, the Federal Elections Commission began investigating her. Her former campaign treasurer said Brown had neglected to take action against an aide who had committed forgery, and Brown told the FEC that her federal campaign reports contained several errors. In 1996, there was another investigation concerning charges that Brown improperly received and spent a $10,000 check from an account used by National Baptist Convention leader Henry Lyons for illegal activities. Brown admitted receiving the check but denied she had used the money improperly.
On June 9, 1998, the Congressional Accountability Project filed an ethics complaint against Brown. The Project called for the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to investigate several violations of House Rule 10.[1] One of the complaints was that Foutanga Dit Babani Sissoko, a West African businessman, purchased a $50,000 Lexus for Brown's daughter after Brown lobbied U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to release him from prison through the use of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Project held this violated the House gift rule, but Brown denied she had acted improperly. The congressional subcommittee investigating Brown found insufficient evidence to issue a Statement of Alleged Violation, but said she had acted with poor judgment in connection with Sissoko.[2]
In 1998, Brown hired jazz and gospel singer Roslyn Burrough as a "congressional outreach specialist". Burrough was paid $40,000 at taxpayer expense for two 12-week engagements.[3]
On February 25, 2004 Brown referred to the George W. Bush administration as a "racist" "bunch of white men" in a meeting with senior State Department officials and members of Congress. Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega, a Mexican American, said that he deeply resented "being called a racist and branded a white man." Brown replied to Noriega and Cuban-American Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart that "you all look alike to me". Brown later apologized for her statements, but still contends that President Bush's involvement in the 2004 Haiti Rebellion was racist.
[edit] Political activity
In her prior (2003-2005) term, Brown cosponsored legislation regarding civil rights and foreign relations. She has also participated with Michael Moore's "Slacker" college voter drive tour.
On the first day of early voting for the 2004 General Election, Brown, with several supporters, stood on the steps of the entrance of the Duval County Supervisor of Elections headquarters, an early voting site, and began passing out a "pseudo-ballot," directing people to vote for only Democratic candidates and Florida amendments that should pass. It was not until Noon that Brown and her supporters moved to the mandatory fifty feet away from the entrance. Brown claimed her intention had been to increase awareness of early voting, and that she had not knowingly violated the fifty feet rule.[4]
In 2006, Brown voted no for the Child Custody Protection Act, Public Expression of Religion Act, Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act, Military Commissions Act, and Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006. She voted yes for the SAFE Port Act.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ethics complaint. Congressproject.org.
- ^ [http://www.house.gov/ethics/Press_Statement_CorrineBrownend.html "Statement of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct in the Matter of Representative Corrine Brown"] (September 21, 2000). House.gov.
- ^ Guinta, Peter (June 30, 2004). [http://www.staugustine.com/stories/102498/congress_election.shtml "Congress seat battle continues" ]. The St. Augustine Record.
- ^ Meenan, Kyle (October 19, 2004). First Coast News Report. FirstCoastNews.com.
[edit] References
- Tallahassee Democrat: Feb. 26, 2004 Coast Guard stops boat carrying 21 Haitians
- WJXT (Jacksonville): Corrine Brown Calls Administration's Policy On Haiti 'Racist'
- Washington Post: Brown Sorry She Called Powell Aide 'White'
- Rep. Corrine Brown and her long trail of lies, deceit and unpaid bills, Capitol Hill Blue, August 1999
- Doug Thompson, The most corrupt member of Congress?" Capitol Hill Blue, May 17, 2005
- Ken Silverstein, "The ITERA/Weldon Link: Congressman flacked for daughter's client despite being briefed on its shady practices", Harper's Magazine, October 24, 2006
- Anthony Gancarski, "Rep. Corrine Brown: A Good Fit for Her District?", CounterPunch, January 31, 2003
- "Ethics finds troubling conduct by Rep. Corrine Brown", CNN.com, September 21, 2000
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown official House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission - Corrine Brown campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues - Corrine Brown issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org - Corrine Brown campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Corrine Brown (FL) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Corrine Brown profile
- Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Corrine Brown voting record
- Corrine Brown for Congress official campaign site
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles E. Bennett |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 3rd congressional district 1993-Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
