William Lacy Clay, Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| William Lacy Clay | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | William L. Clay, Sr. |
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| Born | July 27, 1956 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ivie Lewellen Clay |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
William Lacy Clay, Jr., sometimes known as Lacy Clay (born July 27, 1956), American politician, was elected as Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives in 2000 to represent Missouri's 1st congressional district (map). The district includes the northern two-thirds of St. Louis, as well as most of St. Louis County.
Clay, Jr. was born in St. Louis, but his family moved to Washington D.C., when his father, Bill Clay, was elected to Congress.
In his teenage years, Clay Jr. attended Silver Spring, Maryland, public schools and graduated in the Springbrook High School class of 1974. He then attended the University of Maryland, College Park, from which he earned a degree in political science and certification to be a paralegal. He entered the Missouri House of Representatives in 1983, the same year that he graduated. While serving, he studied at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government but did not obtain a degree [1]. In 1991 he was elected to the Missouri State Senate.
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[edit] Congressional career
In 2000, Clay, Sr. retired after 32 years in Congress. Clay, Jr. won a crowded six-way Democratic primary with an unexpectedly large 60 percent of the vote, which was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic district. He has been reelected three times with no substantive opposition, never dropping below 70 percent of the vote.
Since his first term, Clay has been a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He is currently chairman of the Information Policy Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Financial Services Committee. Ordinarily, House Democrats who serve on the Financial Services Committee would have to give up their other committee assignments. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and committee chairman Henry Waxman granted him a waiver allowing him to remain on the Oversight Committee.
Clay made news in early 2007 when, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (cofounded by his father), he objected to the possible inclusion of white congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee, who represents a majority black district and had made a campaign promise to attempt to become the first white member of the CBC. Although it is not part of the CBC's bylaws that members must be black, all members so far have been black.[1] He said, "Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. He's white and the Caucus is black. It's time to move on. We have racial policies to pursue and we are pursuing them, as Mr. Cohen has learned. It's an unwritten rule. It's understood." In response to the decision, Cohen stated, "It's their caucus and they do things their way. You force your way in." Clay issued an official statement from his office in reply to Rep. Cohen's complaint: "Quite simply, Rep. Cohen will have to accept what the rest of the country will have to accept — there has been an unofficial Congressional White Caucus for over 200 years, and now it's our turn to say who can join 'the club.' He does not, and cannot, meet the membership criteria, unless he can change his skin color. Primarily, we are concerned with the needs and concerns of the black population, and we will not allow white America to infringe on those objectives." Some have said that since Cohen represents a district with 60% black voters, that he has a legitimate interest in helping the goals of the CBC, and the decision should not be solely based on skin color.[1]
Citizens for Ethics issued a report in June 2007 saying that Clay's sister Michelle Clay is a registered lobbyist for the Kansas City airport and previously, for the city of St. Louis. They reported that in the 2006 election cycle, Michelle Clay's law office, Clay and Associates, received $51,800 in consulting fees from her brother's campaign funds, along with an additional $9,963 for reimbursements. In the 2004 election cycle, Michelle Clay's firm received $52,514 for consulting, and in 2002 Michelle Clay herself was paid $32,00 for campaign management and legal fees. During the 2004 election, Clay's campaign reimbursed his father more than $6,000 for book purchases.[2]
[edit] Committee Assignments
- Financial Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
- Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
- Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia Subcommittee
- Information Policy, Census and National Archives Subcommittee (Chairman)
[edit] Political views
Clay, Jr.'s voting record has been decidedly liberal, like that of his father. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which his father was a founding member.
During Clay's previous 17 years in the state legislature, he authored Missouri's Hate Crimes Law.
Clay made it clear that he supports the Employment Nondiscrimination Act which would make it illegal to discriminate against employees of any sexual orientation (i.e. gay, lesbian, and bisexual). He also noted that he believes that the 33 states that are allowed to fire employees due to sexual orientation are in the wrong.
Clay has been a consistent critic of the War in Iraq and was among those who voted against the 2002 Iraq War Resolution. Clay's NPAT also displays disagreement with elements of the War on Drugs. The congressman believes that government reform is necessary to make sure every citizen's voice is heard. Clay also continues to fight for programs that will improve that status of the poor, including initiatives to allow lower-class people to purchase homes.
Clay is also active in election reform, and believes that any electronic voting system must include a paper trail to verify the results.
Clay added his name as cosponsor to a bill calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney, House Resolution 333.
He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed. The Politico. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ Family Affair. Citizens for Ethics. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay, 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
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Lacy Clay Jr. for Congress, Campaign site
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by William L. Clay, Sr. |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st congressional district 2001-01-03 – present |
Incumbent |
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