Voice of the Conservative Vote: Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman went to the U.S. House of Representatives with a vision of limited government and strong support for American families, robust military and a balanced budget.

On November 8, 1994, with enthusiastic grassroots support of some 2,100 volunteers, Steve put an end to the 42-year congressional career of the dean of the House, Texas Congressman Jack Brooks. This earned Steve the title of “Newsmaker of the Year for 1994″ and the nickname “Giant Killer.” One Wallstreet reporter commented that Congressman Stockman’s grassroots support was amazing and something to marvel at.

But Steve’s army of volunteers was no accident. He had conceived and coordinated “Mobilizing Morality in America” conferences across his district with Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, David Barton, Peter Marshall and other leading conservative and Christian leaders. Steve first created the Pastors’ Round Table and the concept of “Citizen Sundays” that promoted early voting after church on Sunday.

Brooks, whom Steve defeated, had been in office for one-third of the time Texas had been a state and, at that time, Brooks had served longer than Cuba’s Fidel Castro or Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Hence, Stockman’s nickname of “giant killer” upon his victory after being outspent 12-to-1 in a district of five Democrats for every single Republican. Clearly, Stockman’s appeal crossed party lines.

As a young woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton had served the Congressional Judiciary Committee under Congressman Brooks during Nixon’s impeachment. Hillary and Brooks became good friends and, after his victory, Stockman became the number one target of the Democrat Party, White House and national labor unions.

As the top Democrat target, Congressman Stockman ran for reelection in 1996, with an opponent, Nick Lampson, who was the tax collector in Beaumont, Texas. Despite topping Lampson in November of 1996, just 4 weeks later Steve faced a special election due to a US Supreme Court ruling that led to redrawn Texas congressional district lines. Steve had a birthday, two federal elections, and a wedding anniversary, all within 30 days.

His district that, before the ruling, was an amazing five Democrats for every Republican had become even more Democrat. Despite considerable help from the Democrat Party, Hillary and the Clinton administration, unions, and highly questionable voting, Congressman Stockman was narrowly defeated in December of 1996.

Tenure:

During the first 100 days, Steve fought to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, starting with Congress itself. As sponsor of the Drier/Stockman package of opening day reforms, Steve dramatically pared down the hierarchy of the House by eliminating three full house committees, 23 subcommittees and cutting committee staff by one-third saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Stockman’s opening day reforms required Congress to operate under the same laws as everyone else and eliminated many of the “perks” the former Democrat-controlled Congress had enjoyed. They also required Congress, for the first time, to open Congressional proceedings each day with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Steve worked tirelessly to protect the US Constitution. In less than 100 days, he pushed welfare reform legislation, a $500-per-child tax credit for families, a balanced budget amendment and regulatory relief legislation. He was known as one of the most ardent defenders of Constitution in Congress and was named tax payers best friend.

Steve was a member of the revolutionary freshman class of the 104th Congress; Steve served on the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services and its subcommittee on investigations which scrutinize the Clintons over their involvement in the Whitewater scandal. He also served on the House Committee on Science and its subcommittees on Energy and the Environment.

Steve worked hard to represent the immediate concerns of families and employers in his Texas district. He was the original author of bills to give federal tax credits to anyone who had children in private school or were home educated – later to become a popular alterative to vouchers. (The speaker buried the bill in committee but the idea and concept to this day is pushed by many) Congressman Stockman co-authored “Megan’s Law,” the well-known law that protects children from pedophiles by allowing notification of communities when a sex offender moves into their midst.

In addition to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, his Texas district contained the highest number per capita of oil and gas refineries and downstream petrochemical plants in the world. Steve authored a comprehensive oil and gas regulatory relief bill, while working to encourage domestic production through exploration credits and incentives. Other projects included working to save shrimpers by reworking the Endangered Species Act, helping rice farmers avoid mandatory use of farm land and sponsoring a bill making the sale of alcohol to minors illegal.

Congressman Stockman voted to cut taxes, his own pay and pension, and the number of congressional committees. Stockman never asked for nor received a federal earmark to benefit his district. Instead, he believed the best “earmark” he could do for his district was to leave a balanced budget for the next generation.

Media Communications:

Appearing on national radio and television programs like the McNeil/Lehrer Newshour, Steve became the freshman Congressional spokesman against America’s “bailout” of the Mexican government. His past experience with the talk-debate format is extensive. He was guest on the three networks’ morning shows (Today, Good Morning America and CBS’ This Morning), the McNeil-Lehrer Newshour, Hardball with Chris Matthews, as well as several shows on Net TV which invited him frequently.Congressman Stockman’s wit and candor made him the choice of many conservative talk radio hosts. According to Lexus-Nexus, no other freshman Congressman garnered more media attention. In 1996, Congressman Stockman set a record by participating as a guest for 12 hours straight on various national and regional talk shows during the San Diego National Republican Convention. The wide attention he garnered in just a few months, helped produce for him the second largest donor database in Congress.

Awards and Commendations:

Some of the awards and commendations awarded Steve were the “Taxpayers Best Friend Award” by Citizens for Tax Reform; a consistent “100 percent” rating by the American Conservative Union; “Taxpayer’s Hero Award” by Citizens Against Government Waste; “Pro-Family Congressman” of the year by the American Family Association; and “Newsmaker of the Year” the regional Texas press core.Steve Stockman was endorsed, among others, by Don Wildmon of the American Family Association, Bev LaHaye of Concern Woman for America, Phyllis Schlaffly of the Eagle Forum, National Right to Life, Gun Owners of America, the National Taxpayers Union, the National Rifle Association, the American Medical Association, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Political Action Committee for Engineers, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Concerned Insurance Texas Agents, and Associated Builders and Contractors.

Post Congressional Activity:

After congress Steve acquired his series 6 and 36 securities-insurance licenses, served as vice president of a Texas national bank, and later president of a fiber optics company. Steve served as a national and international political consultant for a variety of government and political entities. Congressman Steve Stockman works with non-profits shipping medicine and medical equipment to third world countries.

Congressman Stockman has taught political technology for the Leadership Institute for years all over the country and served as director of its Campus Leadership Program. As director, Steve helped start more then 1,000 conservative groups on college campuses. In addition, he raised well over a million dollars for the program. Both Steve and Patti served with Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation. Steve was a speaker at the UN global warming conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on behalf of Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).

Later, the Leadership Institute appointed him Vice President of Executive Development. Steve moved to Texas in 1979 and earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. His wife Patti is employed by NASA where she oversees all the agency policy on privacy and records management. Patti has also served on the Board of Directors for Concerned Women for America. She is also active in various Christian and conservative causes and enjoys participation in Bible Study Fellowship, International.