Wikipedia

Francis Rooney

Laurence Francis Rooney III(born December 4, 1953) is an American politician and diplomat who was aU.S. representativeforFlorida's 19th congressional districtfrom 2017 to 2021. ARepublican,he served as theU.S. ambassador to the Holy Seefrom 2005 until 2008. Rooney earned a 95.90% lifetime score from theAmerican Conservative Union.[1]

Francis Rooney
Official portrait, 2017
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromFlorida's19thdistrict
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byCurt Clawson
Succeeded byByron Donalds
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
In office
November 12, 2005 – January 10, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJim Nicholson
Succeeded byMary Ann Glendon
Personal details
Born
Laurence Francis Rooney III

(1953-12-04)December 4, 1953(age 71)
Muskogee, Oklahoma,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Kathleen Collins
​
(m.1976)​
Children3
EducationGeorgetown University(BA ,JD)

Rooney is chairman of Rooney Holdings, formerly known as Rooney Brothers Company, an investment and holding company based inNaples, Florida.With a net worth of $22.6 million, Rooney had been one of thewealthiest members of Congress.[2]

On October 19, 2019, Rooney announced that he would not run for re-election toCongressin2020.He was succeeded by state representativeByron Donalds.[3]

Early life and education

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Born inMuskogee, Oklahoma,he is the oldest child of Laurence Francis and Lucy Turner Rooney's six children. Rooney graduated fromGeorgetown Preparatory School.He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromGeorgetown Universityin 1975 and aJuris Doctorfrom theGeorgetown University Law Centerin 1978.

Career

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Business ventures

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Rooney as Ambassador
Rooney withPope Benedict XVI,First LadyLaura Bush,andBarbara Bushin 2006

Rooney served as the chief executive officer and President at Rooney Holdings, Inc. from 1984 to 2016 and presently serves as Chairman. Rooney and his family own Manhattan Construction Group, which includes Manhattan Construction Company; he represents the fourth generation of the Rooney family to own the company. Manhattan Construction Company builtAT&T Stadium,Globe Life Field,Choctaw Stadium(once Globe Life Park and Texas Rangers Ballpark), theBOK Center,theSmoothie King Center(once New Orleans Sports Arena), andNRG Stadium(once Reliant Stadium), theUnited States Capitol Visitor Centerat theUnited States Capitol,the originalOklahoma State Capitolin Guthrie, and work at the relocatedOklahoma State Capitolin Oklahoma City including adding the Dome in 2002 and the interior restoration completed in 2022, theU.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases(USAMRIID) Replacement Project, theCato InstituteHeadquarters andWalter Reed Army Institute of ResearchPhases I and II, and multiple projects atDallas/Fort Worth International Airport,George Bush Intercontinental Airport,andSouthwest Florida International Airport.The company built theGeorge H. W. Bush Presidential Library & Museumand theGeorge W. Bush Presidential Centerearning it the distinction as the only construction company to have built two presidential libraries.

Central America

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Rooney was a member of the advisory board of thePanama Canal Authorityfrom 2002-2005 and 2008-2016.[4]He was among the U.S. delegation led byColin Powellto the inauguration ofPanamanian presidentMartín Torrijos.Rooney is a member of theInter-American Dialogue.

Political fundraising

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Rooney atCPACin 2017

Rooney is a major Republican donor, having contributed to the campaign ofGeorge W. Bush.Rooney served on the fundraising team ofConnie Mack IV.[5]Rooney donated $1 million toRestore Our Future,Mitt Romney'sSuper PAC,[6]and Rooney hosted a fundraiser for Romney in Rooney'sNaples, Floridahome.[7]In 2015, Rooney gave over $2 million toJeb Bush's Super PAC.[8]

U.S. House of Representatives

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2016 campaign

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In May 2016, incumbent Republican congressmanCurt Clawsonannounced he would not run for a third full term. Soon afterward, Rooney entered the Republican primary to succeed him—the real contest in this heavily Republican district. Rooney spent $4 million of his own money and far outspent his opponents in an election that was shortened due to the timing of Clawson's late announcement.[9]In the August 30 primary, he defeated Sanibel Councilman Chauncey Goss and radio personalityDan Bongino.Rooney received an unprecedented endorsement fromRick Scott,who is his neighbor in theNaples, FloridaPort Royal community.[10]As expected, he won handily in the November general election to become only the fifth person to represent this district since its creation in 1983 (it had been the 13th District from 1983 to 1993, the 14th from 1993 to 2013, and the 19th since 2013).

Tenure

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Rooney was sworn in on January 3, 2017. He was a member of the conservativeRepublican Study Committee[11]and theClimate Solutions Caucus.[12]

In 2017, Rooney proposed the Pell Performance Act, alongsideRalph Norman,which proposes thatPell Grantsturn intoStafford loansif students fail to graduate college within six years of being awarded the grant.[13]

Committee assignments

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Political positions

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Education

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Rooney is in favor of havingPell Grantsturn intoStafford Loansif students who were awarded the grants do not graduate within six years of receiving their award.[13]

Healthcare

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Rooney wants to repeal theAffordable Care Act(Obamacare) and calls it "an experiment that didn't work."[19]He voted for theAmerican Health Care Act of 2017.[20]

Gun policy

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As of 2017, Rooney has a "B" rating from theNRA Political Victory Fund,indicating a voting record that generally supports gun rights.[21] As a Congressman, Rooney has voted in favor of several pieces of legislation to expand gun rights, including a yes vote on H. R. 38 (theConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act), which would enableconcealed carry reciprocityamong all States if and when it is signed into law.[22]

In March 2017, Rooney voted in favor of the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, which, if signed into law, will allowveteranswho are considered "mentally incompetent" to purchase ammunition and firearms unless declared a danger by a judge.[23] Rooney also voted in favor of H.J.Res.40, which successfully used theCongressional Review Acttoblock the implementationof an Obama-era Amendment to theNICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007that was aimed at preventing the mentally-infirm from legally purchasing firearms.[24]

Following the 2018Stoneman Douglas High School shooting,Rooney announced a proposal to limit mass shootings. The proposal includes supporting theFix NICS Act of 2017,mandating background checks for every firearm purchase, and enacting a gun violence restraining order system to provide a legal justification for temporarily confiscating firearms from those deemed a threat to themselves or others. Rooney also supports a mandatory 3-daywaiting periodfor all gun sales, a ban onbump stocks,and raising the minimum age to purchase any firearm to 21. Additionally, his proposal included making schools more secure and hiringveteransand retiredlaw enforcement officersas armed security guards for schools.[25]Rooney has also expressed support for the controversial idea ofarming teachersto confront school shooters.[26]However, in response to questions on if he would support reinstating theFederal Assault Weapons Ban,Rooney replied, "How willing are we to throw the Constitution out the window?"[27]Rooney has stated that his support of any new gun control legislation is contingent on the inclusion of ariderof theConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017.[28]

Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Rooney attracted national attention in December 2017 when he expressed frustration with FBI officials who investigated PresidentDonald Trumpand suggested that theFederal Bureau of Investigationbe purged of "politically compromised" agents. Rooney's statements aligned him closely with Trump.[29][30][31]

Economic issues

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Tax reform

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Rooney favorstax reformand voted in favor of theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[32]

Environmental issues

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Climate change

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On November 28, 2018, Rooney co-introduced theEnergy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018,saying, "To let the free market price out coal, we should consider value pricing carbon. A revenue-neutral carbon fee is an efficient, market-driven incentive to move toward natural gas and away from coal, and to support emerging alternate sources of energy."[33]He also cosponsored the2019 version of the bill.

In an op-ed published on Politico in September 2019, Rooney declared, "I’m a conservative Republican and I believe climate change is real. It’s time for my fellow Republicans in Congress to stop treating this environmental threat as something abstract and political and recognize that it’s already affecting their constituents in their daily lives."[34]However, his voting record has not always been so pro-environment. He has voted to delay enactment of ozone standards,[35]and to repeal a rule requiring energy companies to reduce waste and emissions.[36]

Arctic Refuge drilling

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Although he voted in favor of theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,[37]whichauthorized drilling for oilin theArctic National Wildlife Refuge,in September 2019 he was the only House Republican who voted in favor of a bill that would repeal this authorization.[38]

International issues

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Immigration and refugees

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Rooney is in favor ofimmigration reform.[19]He has spoken out againstDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.[39]At the time of Rooney's stated position on DACA, a large majority of American citizens were in support of the program,[40][41]including according to an August 31 through September 3, 2017 poll[42]where 57% of self-identified as Republican voters.[43]

Social issues

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Abortion

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Rooney is opposed to terminating an unwanted pregnancy starting as early as conception.[44]He is against using federal funding to pay for abortions or fundPlanned Parenthood.[19]

Honors

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In April 2016, he was awarded the John Carroll Award[45]byGeorgetown University.In November 2020, he was inducted into theOklahoma Hall of Fame[46]and in June 2022, he was inducted into theOrder of Isabela la Catolica.[47]

Rooney holds honorary degrees from theUniversity of Notre Dame(2006),[48]theUniversity of Dallas(2010),Seton Hall University(2021),[49]andAve Maria School of Law(2022).

Controversies

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Laredo Petroleum

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Rooney sat on the board of theTulsa, Oklahomabasedpetroleumandnatural gasexploration and production company,Laredo Petroleumthat was accused in 2012 of underpayingroyaltiesto landowners of property where the company was conducting operations. The lawsuit, filed by Chieftain Royalty Company, alleged that "Laredo used its position as operator and as an oil and gas working interest owner to secretly underpay royalty due plaintiff and class members on production of gas and its constituents from theOklahomaWell, "and the company had been" unjustly enriched. "Rooney owns 1 million shares of Laredo Petroleum and has been on the board since 2010. Despite denying the allegations made in the lawsuit, Laredo settled the claim for $6.6 million.[50][51]

Deep state comments

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Rooney has made statements suggesting that he believes in the existence of adeep state in the United States.[52]In a December 26, 2017,MSNBCinterview, Rooney, called into question the integrity of the FBI and Justice Department,who were conducting an investigationinto Russian State interference in the 2016 electionsand any possible collusion between Russia and the Donald Trump presidential campaign along with any related crimes, alluded to a "deep state", presumably seeking to undermine the Trump presidency. Rooney stated there ought to be a "purge" within those departments.[53]Rooney suggested this is evidenced by there having been isolated incidents among members of those agencies who were documented as having been demoted or, where relevant, removed from the Mueller probe for having expressed anti-Trump bias or pro-Hillary Clinton bias.

Personal life

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Rooney isRoman Catholic.[54]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Center for Legislative Accountability 2018 Ratings of Congress"(PDF).TheAmerican Conservative Union Foundation.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2020-01-18.Retrieved2019-10-30.
  2. ^"Ranking the Net Worth of the 115th".Archivedfrom the original on November 12, 2019.RetrievedNovember 18,2019.
  3. ^Zanona, Melanie; Dixon, Matt; Vasquez, Christian (October 19, 2019)."GOP congressman who was open to impeachment calls it quits".Politico.Washington, DC.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2019.RetrievedOctober 19,2019.
  4. ^"Panama Canal Board of Directors meets with Advisory Board".pancanal.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-08-11.Retrieved2018-08-11.
  5. ^Derby, Kevin (December 6, 2011)."GOP Senate Hopeful Connie Mack Gets the Backing of Financial Heavy Hitters".Sunshine State News.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2013.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
  6. ^Wolford, Ben (February 5, 2012)."Naples residents gave $1.25 million to super-PAC promoting Romney candidacy".Naples Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2014.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
  7. ^Haake, Garrett (April 15, 2012)."Mitt Romney rakes in cash during spring break".NBC News.Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2013.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
  8. ^Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars (July 31, 2015)."GOP's big donors rally to help Jeb Bush".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2017.RetrievedAugust 28,2017.
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  11. ^"Member List".Pew Research Center. Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2017.Retrieved2 January2018.
  12. ^"90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members".Citizen´s Climate Lobby.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2019.Retrieved22 November2018.
  13. ^abFox, Zach."Student debt could worsen under SC congressman's proposal, colleges worry".The Herald.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2017.RetrievedDecember 24,2017.
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  19. ^abcLayden, Laura."U.S. Rep. Rooney gets tough questions at rowdy town hall talks in N. Naples, Cape Coral".USA TODAY.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2017.RetrievedDecember 24,2017.
  20. ^Aisch, Gregor (4 May 2017)."How Every Member Voted on the House Health Care Bill".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-05-08.Retrieved2018-08-14.
  21. ^"Francis Rooney's Political Summary on Issue: Guns".ISPY.Vote Smart.Archivedfrom the original on 7 March 2018.Retrieved6 March2018.
  22. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 663".clerk.house.gov.U.S. Federal Government. 6 December 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 26 February 2018.Retrieved5 March2018.
  23. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 169".clerk.house.gov.U.S. Federal Government. 16 March 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2018.Retrieved5 March2018.
  24. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 77".clerk.house.gov.U. S. Federal Government. 2 February 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2018.Retrieved6 March2018.
  25. ^Derby, Kevin (6 March 2018)."Francis Rooney Unveils Plan to Deal With Gun Violence".Sunshine State News.Florida.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2018.Retrieved6 March2018.
  26. ^Elias, Dave (15 February 2018)."Should teachers be armed with guns at school?".NBC2.Southwest Florida.Archivedfrom the original on 7 March 2018.Retrieved6 March2018.
  27. ^Conley, Lisa (22 February 2018)."Francis Rooney talks gun control, faces protesters at Marco Island town hall".Naples Daily News.Naples, Florida.Archivedfrom the original on 15 August 2020.Retrieved6 March2018.
  28. ^Pinsker, Adam (22 February 2018)."Heckled and pressured, Rooney won't back assault rifle ban".Fox4 News.Cape Coral, Florida.Archivedfrom the original on 7 March 2018.Retrieved6 March2018.
  29. ^Watkins, Eli (December 27, 2017)."GOP congressman explains his call for FBI 'purge'".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017....Rooney said he was "pretty frustrated" with FBI officials whom he believes displayed bias...
  30. ^"Rooney explains his call for FBI" purge "".NBC 2.December 27, 2017. Archived fromthe originalon December 28, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017....concerned that the DOJ and the FBI, whether you want to call it 'deep state' or what, are kind of off the rails...
  31. ^Morin, Rebecca (December 26, 2017)."Trump claims FBI used 'bogus' dossier to go after his campaign".Politico.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  32. ^Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017)."How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2017.RetrievedDecember 24,2017.
  33. ^"Bipartisan carbon fee bill introduced in House".Citizens' Climate Lobby.2018-11-28.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-03-28.Retrieved2019-03-28.
  34. ^"I'm a conservative Republican. Climate change is real".Politico.2019-09-11.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-09-11.Retrieved2019-09-11.
  35. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 391".Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-09-18.Retrieved2019-09-11.
  36. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 78".Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-09-15.Retrieved2019-09-11.
  37. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 699".Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-22.Retrieved2019-10-18.
  38. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 518".Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-10-20.Retrieved2019-10-18.
  39. ^Leary, Alex."With Trump to decide fate of DACA, where do Florida officials stand?".Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  40. ^"Americans back DACA by a huge margin".ABC News.September 25, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  41. ^"Americans Back DACA by a Huge Margin"(PDF).langerresearch.September 25, 2017.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-02-10.
  42. ^"Poll: Majority opposes deporting Dreamers".Politico.5 September 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  43. ^"Morning Consult: National Tracking Poll #170817: Crosstabulation Results".Politico.2017.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-11-08.
  44. ^"Public Notes on 16AFA_Q1A".ontheissues.org.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  45. ^"John Carroll Award Recipients".Georgetown Alumni.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-06-25.Retrieved2022-06-20.
  46. ^"Rooney, Francis L. | 2020".oklahomahof.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-28.Retrieved2022-06-20.
  47. ^"exteriores.gob.es".Spain Embassy to the United States.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-08-13.Retrieved2022-06-20.
  48. ^Dame, Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre (17 January 2006)."Trustees to confer honorary degrees during meetings in Rome".Notre Dame News.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-10.Retrieved2018-08-11.
  49. ^"Biography | U.S. Representative Francis Rooney".francisrooney.house.gov.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-21.Retrieved2018-08-11.
  50. ^Dixon, Matt (2017-12-15)."Rooney on board of oil company sued in 2012 for allegedly bilking landowners".Politico PRO.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-01-16.Retrieved2018-01-15.
  51. ^"Laredo Petro".Laredo Petro.2010-02-23.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-01-16.Retrieved2018-01-15.
  52. ^"Rep. Francis Rooney wants to withhold funding to colleges with 'safe zones'".Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  53. ^"GOP Rep. Francis Rooney: FBI and DOJ Are" Off The Rails, "Need To" Purge "The Deep State".realclearpolitics.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  54. ^Religious affiliation of members of 116th Congress(PDF)(Report).Pew Research Center.2019-01-03.Retrieved2023-04-22.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U. S. Ambassador to the Holy See
2005–2008 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromFlorida's 19th congressional district
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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