David Scott (D-Ga.)

U.S. Representative (since January 2003)

(Congress Bio Directory)

Why He Matters

With nearly three decades of experience in the Georgia legislature, Scott came to Congress in 2003 with a reputation as a bipartisan bridge-builder representing the patchwork-like 13th Congressional District.

While in Congress, Scott has garnered a centrist record, and is particularly known as a pro-business Democrat.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Founder, president, owner, Dayn-Mark Advertising, (1979-present); Georgia state Senate (1982-2002); Georgia House of Representatives, (1974-1982)
Birthday: June 27, 1946
Hometown: Aynor, S.C.
Alma Mater: Florida A&M University, B.A., 1967; University of Pennsylvania, M.B.A., 1969
Spouse: Alfredia
Religion: Baptist
Committees: Financial Services ; Agriculture
DC Office: 225 Cannon House Office Building, 202-225-2939

State/District Office: Jonesboro, 770-210-5073; Smyrna, 770-432-5405
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Path to Power

Born the son of a Baptist minister in Aynor, S.C., Scott moved around the country as a child. His teenage years were spent in Scarsdale, N.Y., where he was the only African- American at his high school.

After getting his undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University, Scott received an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969.

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In 1974, Scott was elected to the state House. He served in the chamber through 1982 when he moved to the state Senate, where he sat for two decades.

With his wife Alfredia, Scott founded the Dayn-Mark advertising agency in the late 1970s, where the future congressman served as the company president and CEO until 2002.

2002 House Bid

Scott said he was inspired to run for Congress during redistricting battles in the Georgia legislature in 2001 when the southern Atlanta suburbs were potentially going to be split in two districts, which Scott believed would dilute the clout of its large black population.

In 2002, Scott was one of five Democrats, three of whom were state senators, torun for sprawling Metro Atlanta's new 13th district. The August primary was expected to be a free-for-all, but Scott prevailed with 55 percent of the vote despite running in a district that included only a sliver of the city-centric state Senate district he represented. He had the help of two prominent campaign co-chairmen, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and baseball legend (and brother-in-law) Hank Aaron, and political observers said his billboard campaign was effective. Scott won the general election easily with 59 percent of the vote.

In 2004, Scott didn't have a Republican challenger. In 2006, Scott's district was redrawn into territory where a large portion of voters were unfamiliar with him. He faced Republican Deborah Honeycutt, also an African-American, who sent out mailings to fellow party members likening Scott to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The mailings resulted in a $1 million campaign war chest for Honeycutt, nearly matching Scott's. Scott won with two-thirds of the vote. In a 2008 rematch with Honeycutt, Scott's win was even larger.

Scott sits on the House Agriculture, Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees. In 2007, he was also named to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, an organization composed of members of various legislatures worldwide.

The Issues

Scott has a middle-of-the-road voting record, garnering a 77.3 liberal rating from National Journal in 2008. In the 111th Congress, Scott has been more loyal to the party line. As of October 2009, he had voted with Democrats 98.4 percent of the time in the 111th Congress.

Scott was one of 11 House Democrats who backed a 2004 procedural vote that barred any Democratic amendments for a bill that contained a buyout provision for tobacco farmers, including those in Georgia.

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Social Issues

Scott has voted for failed measures in 2004 and 2006 that sought to establish a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

In 1994, then state Sen. Scott sponsored a bill passed by the Georgia legislature that required all students to pause for a moment of quiet reflection at the beginning of each school day. Scott sponsored the measure as a means to counteract what he saw as a rising tide of violence.

In August 2009, after being criticized for saying a prayer before a townhall meeting at a public school, Scott said, "well I can tell you this ma'am, David Scott's gonna pray wherever I want to."

The Economy

Though he voted against the first version of the fall 2008, $700-billion financial bailout bill, Scott backed the final version after being assured the legislation would aid homeowners facing foreclosures. Scott crafted an added provision dedicating $14 billion to aid those homeowners.

After Democrats took over Congress in 2007, Scott backed Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), then the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in increasing the group's outreach efforts to business representatives and lobbyists.

Health-Care Reform

Scott made headlines when he lashed out at a constituent, who turned out to be a doctor at an August 2009 townhall meeting. When asked why he would support a bill that was unlikely to work, Scott accused Dr. Brian Hill of "hijacking" the event.

He later said he received death threats and hate mail, as well as a swastika painted on his local House office sign.

Following the incidents, Scott said his determination to pass a health-care overhaul increased over the August 2009 recess because of misinformation and unfair tactics engaged in by reform opponents.

On his House web site, Scott says that "the truly smart way to address the healthcare crisis in this country is to have a balance of public and private entities coming together and finding compromise on the numerous healthcare ideas and initiatives on the table."

Scott said he supports a public option. He supports reversing scheduled cuts in Medicare reimbursements. Scott said any costs associated with reform must be kept in check.

The Network

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) has called Scott his "second favorite Democrat" after ex-Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.). Gingrey said in 2006 the two Georgia congressmen and their wives are very close friends.

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