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{{Short description|American |
{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1934)}} |
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{{redirect|Senator Shelby|the United States senator from Illinois|Shelby Moore Cullom}} |
{{redirect|Senator Shelby|the United States senator from Illinois|Shelby Moore Cullom}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} |
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} |
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| name = Richard Shelby |
| name = Richard Shelby |
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| image = Richard Shelby, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg |
| image = Richard Shelby, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg |
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| caption = |
| caption = Official portrait, 2011 |
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| jr/sr = United States Senator |
| jr/sr = United States Senator |
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| state = [[Alabama]] |
| state = [[Alabama]] |
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| predecessor = [[Jeremiah Denton]] |
| predecessor = [[Jeremiah Denton]] |
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| successor = [[Katie Britt]] |
| successor = [[Katie Britt]] |
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{{collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Committee chairmanships |
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⚫ | |||
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes |
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| term_start1 = February 3, 2021 |
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⚫ | |||
| term_end1 = January 3, 2023 |
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| term_start1 = April 10, 2018 |
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| term_end1 = February 3, 2021 |
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| predecessor1 = [[Thad Cochran]] |
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⚫ | |||
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| successor1 = [[Patrick Leahy]] |
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⚫ | |||
| term_end2 = February 3, 2021 |
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| term_start2 = January 3, 2017 |
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| term_end2 = April 10, 2018 |
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| predecessor2 = Roy Blunt |
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⚫ | |||
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| successor2 = [[Roy Blunt]] |
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⚫ | |||
| term_end3 = April 10, 2018 |
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| term_start3 = January 3, 2015 |
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| term_end3 = January 3, 2017 |
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| predecessor3 = [[Tim Johnson (South Dakota politician)|Tim Johnson]] |
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⚫ | |||
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| successor3 = [[Mike Crapo]] |
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| term_start4 = January 3, 2003 |
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| term_end4 = January 3, 2007 |
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| predecessor4 = [[Paul Sarbanes]] |
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| successor4 = [[Chris Dodd]] |
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⚫ | |||
| term_end5 = January 3, 2007 |
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| term_start5 = January 20, 2001 |
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| term_end5 = June 6, 2001 |
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| predecessor5 = [[Bob Graham]] |
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| office6 = Chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committee]] |
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| successor5 = Bob Graham |
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| term_start6 = January 3, 1997 |
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| term_end6 = January 3, 2001 |
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| predecessor6 = [[Arlen Specter]] |
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| successor6 = Bob Graham |
| successor6 = Bob Graham |
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{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}} |
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| term_start7 = January 3, 1997 |
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| state7 = [[Alabama]] |
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| district7 = {{ushr|AL|7|7th}} |
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| term_start7 = January 3, 1979 |
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| term_end7 = January 3, 1987 |
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| predecessor7 = [[Walter Flowers]] |
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| successor7 = [[Claude Harris Jr.]] |
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| state_senate8 = Alabama |
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| district8 = 16th |
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| term_start8 = November 4, 1970 |
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| term_end8 = November 8, 1978 |
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| predecessor8 = Clint Reid |
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| successor8 = [[Ryan deGraffenried|Ryan deGraffenried Jr.]] |
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| term_end9 = January 3, 1979 |
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| predecessor9 = Clint Reid |
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| successor9 = [[Ryan DeGraffenried]] |
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| birth_name = Richard Craig Shelby |
| birth_name = Richard Craig Shelby |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|5|6}} |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|5|6}} |
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| death_date = |
| death_date = |
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| death_place = |
| death_place = |
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| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ( |
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (after 1994) |
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| otherparty = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (until 1994) |
| otherparty = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (until 1994) |
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| spouse = {{marriage|Annette Nevin|1960}} |
| spouse = {{marriage|Annette Nevin|1960}} |
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| children = 2 |
| children = 2 |
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| education = {{nowrap|[[University of Alabama]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB |
| education = {{nowrap|[[University of Alabama]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])}} |
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| signature = Richard Shelby Signature.svg |
| signature = Richard Shelby Signature.svg |
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| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Richard Shelby Introduces S.1753, the National Consumer Credit Reporting System Improvement Act of 2003.ogg|title=Richard Shelby's voice|type=speech|description=Shelby, as chair of the [[Senate Banking Committee]], introduces the Senate version of the [[Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act]]<br/>Recorded November 4, 2003}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Richard Craig Shelby''' (born May 6, 1934) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Alabama]] from 1987 to 2023. First elected to the U.S. Senate in [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986|1986]] as a Democrat who later switched to the Republican Party in 1994, he chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]] from 2018 to 2021. He previously chaired the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committee]], the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Senate Banking Committee]], and the [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Senate Rules Committee]]. He was the longest-serving U.S. senator from Alabama, surpassing [[John Sparkman]]'s record in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thornton |first1=William |title=Richard Shelby now Alabama's longest-serving senator |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/03/richard-shelby-now-alabamas-longest-serving-senator.html |access-date=March 3, 2019 |agency=AL.com |date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724223706/https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/03/richard-shelby-now-alabamas-longest-serving-senator.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
'''Richard Craig Shelby''' (born May 6, 1934) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Alabama]] from 1987 to 2023. First elected to the U.S. Senate in [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986|1986]] as a Democrat who later switched to the Republican Party in 1994, he chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]] from 2018 to 2021. He previously chaired the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committee]], the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Senate Banking Committee]], and the [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Senate Rules Committee]]. He was the longest-serving U.S. senator from Alabama, surpassing [[John Sparkman]]'s record in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thornton |first1=William |title=Richard Shelby now Alabama's longest-serving senator |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/03/richard-shelby-now-alabamas-longest-serving-senator.html |access-date=March 3, 2019 |agency=AL.com |date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724223706/https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/03/richard-shelby-now-alabamas-longest-serving-senator.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Born in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], Shelby received his law degree from the [[Birmingham School of Law]] in 1961. He went on to serve as city prosecutor from 1963 to 1971. During this period he worked as a [[United States magistrate judge|U.S. magistrate]] for the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|Northern District of Alabama]] (1966–1970) and Special Assistant [[Attorney General of Alabama]] (1969–1971). He won a seat in the [[Alabama Senate]] in 1970. In 1978, he was elected from the [[Alabama's 7th congressional district|7th district]] to the [[United States House of Representatives]], where he was among a group of [[conservative Democrats]] known as the [[boll weevil (politics)|boll weevils]]. |
Born in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], Shelby received his law degree from the [[Birmingham School of Law]] in 1961. He went on to serve as city prosecutor from 1963 to 1971. During this period he worked as a [[United States magistrate judge|U.S. magistrate]] for the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|Northern District of Alabama]] (1966–1970) and Special Assistant [[Attorney General of Alabama]] (1969–1971). He won a seat in the [[Alabama Senate]] in 1970. In 1978, he was elected from the [[Alabama's 7th congressional district|7th district]] to the [[United States House of Representatives]], where he was among a group of [[conservative Democrats]] known as the [[boll weevil (politics)|boll weevils]]. |
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In [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986|1986]], Shelby won a tight race as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1994, the day after the [[Republican Revolution]] in which the GOP gained the majority in [[United States Congress|Congress]] midway through President [[Bill Clinton]]'s first term, Shelby switched parties and became a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]. He was reelected by a large margin in [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1998|1998]], facing no significant electoral opposition thereafter. |
In [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986|1986]], Shelby won a tight race as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1994, the day after the [[Republican Revolution]] in which the GOP gained the majority in [[United States Congress|Congress]] midway through President [[Bill Clinton]]'s first term, Shelby switched parties and became a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]. He was reelected by a large margin in [[United States Senate election in Alabama, 1998|1998]], facing no significant electoral opposition thereafter. Apart from his narrow win as a Democrat in 1986, Shelby always won his Senate seat with more than 60% of the vote. |
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In February 2021, Shelby announced that he would not seek reelection in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chandler |first=Kim |date=February 5, 2021 |title=AP Sources: Alabama Senator Has Indicated He Won't Run Again |agency=The Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/alabama-3da7dc8dadb6918ad6f0dcfc4fe125a8 |access-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205214934/https://apnews.com/article/alabama-3da7dc8dadb6918ad6f0dcfc4fe125a8 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Katie Britt]], his former chief of staff, won the election to succeed him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cason |first=Mike |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Katie Britt makes history as Alabama's 1st woman elected to U.S. Senate |url=https://www.al.com/election/2022/11/katie-britt-can-make-history-as-alabamas-1st-woman-elected-to-us-senate.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=al.com |language=en}}</ref> |
In February 2021, Shelby announced that he would not seek reelection in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chandler |first=Kim |date=February 5, 2021 |title=AP Sources: Alabama Senator Has Indicated He Won't Run Again |agency=The Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/alabama-3da7dc8dadb6918ad6f0dcfc4fe125a8 |access-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205214934/https://apnews.com/article/alabama-3da7dc8dadb6918ad6f0dcfc4fe125a8 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Katie Britt]], his former chief of staff, won the election to succeed him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cason |first=Mike |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Katie Britt makes history as Alabama's 1st woman elected to U.S. Senate |url=https://www.al.com/election/2022/11/katie-britt-can-make-history-as-alabamas-1st-woman-elected-to-us-senate.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=al.com |language=en}}</ref> At the time of his retirement, he was the dean of Alabama's congressional delegation. Due to his party switch, Shelby is the last Democrat to have held or won election to Alabama's Class 3 Senate seat. |
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Due to his party switch, Shelby is the last Democrat to have held or win election to Alabama’s Class 3 Senate seat. |
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==Early life and education== |
==Early life and education== |
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Shelby was born in [[Birmingham, Alabama]],<ref name="wapo-bio">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22932/|title=Richard C. Shelby, Jr.|date=June 30, 2004|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=February 23, 2009|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415045846/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22932/|url-status=live}}</ref> the son of Alice L. (née Skinner) and Ozie Houston Shelby.<ref name="rootsweb1">{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/shelby.htm |title=1 |publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513160710/http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~battle/genealogy/senators/shelby.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He graduated in 1953 from [[Hueytown High School]] in Hueytown, Alabama, then the [[University of Alabama]], receiving an undergraduate degree in 1957. |
Shelby was born in [[Birmingham, Alabama]],<ref name="wapo-bio">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22932/|title=Richard C. Shelby, Jr.|date=June 30, 2004|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=February 23, 2009|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415045846/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22932/|url-status=live}}</ref> the son of Alice L. (née Skinner) and Ozie Houston Shelby.<ref name="rootsweb1">{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/shelby.htm |title=1 |publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513160710/http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~battle/genealogy/senators/shelby.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He graduated in 1953 from [[Hueytown High School]] in Hueytown, Alabama, then the [[University of Alabama]], receiving an undergraduate degree in 1957. He was admitted to the [[Alabama State Bar]] on August 29, 1961. He received an [[LL.B.]] from the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] in 1963. |
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== Early career == |
== Early career == |
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Shelby is a member of the [[American Bar Association]], the [[Alabama State Bar]], the [[American Judicature Society]], Alabama Law Institute, [[Delta Chi]] fraternity, and [[Phi Alpha Delta]] legal fraternity. |
Shelby is a member of the [[American Bar Association]], the [[Alabama State Bar]], the [[American Judicature Society]], Alabama Law Institute, [[Delta Chi]] fraternity, and [[Phi Alpha Delta]] legal fraternity. |
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Shelby was a city prosecutor in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], from 1963 to 1971.<ref name="wapo-members">{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S000320|title=Richard Shelby (R)|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=June 4, 2014|archive-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204443/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S000320|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1966 to 1970, he was a U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama; from 1969 to 1971, he was a special assistant state attorney general. |
Shelby was a city prosecutor in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], from 1963 to 1971.<ref name="wapo-members">{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S000320|title=Richard Shelby (R)|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=June 4, 2014|archive-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204443/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S000320|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1966 to 1970, he was a U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama; from 1969 to 1971, he was a special assistant state attorney general. |
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Shelby was elected to the [[Alabama Senate]] in 1970 and served until 1978. That year he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from the Tuscaloosa-based 7th district upon [[Walter Flowers]]'s retirement. He was reelected three times. Shelby was one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress, and a member of the [[boll weevil (politics)|boll weevils]], a group of moderate to conservative-leaning Democrats who often worked with President [[Ronald Reagan]] on defense issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativeamerica-online.com/conservative-senators-6-richard-shelby/|title=Conservative Senators – #6 – Richard Shelby|work=conservativeamerica-online.com|access-date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003134306/http://conservativeamerica-online.com/conservative-senators-6-richard-shelby/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Shelby was elected to the [[Alabama Senate]] in 1970 and served until 1978. That year he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from the Tuscaloosa-based 7th district upon [[Walter Flowers]]'s retirement. He was reelected three times. Shelby was one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress, and a member of the [[boll weevil (politics)|boll weevils]], a group of moderate to conservative-leaning Democrats who often worked with President [[Ronald Reagan]] on defense issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativeamerica-online.com/conservative-senators-6-richard-shelby/|title=Conservative Senators – #6 – Richard Shelby|work=conservativeamerica-online.com|access-date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003134306/http://conservativeamerica-online.com/conservative-senators-6-richard-shelby/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==U.S. Senate== |
==U.S. Senate== |
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[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C47700 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Shelby greeting [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1988]] |
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===Elections=== |
===Elections=== |
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====1986==== |
====1986==== |
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{{main|1986 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|1986 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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In the [[1986 United States Senate election in Alabama|1986 U.S. Senate election in Alabama]], Shelby |
In the [[1986 United States Senate election in Alabama|1986 U.S. Senate election in Alabama]], Shelby won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat held by Republican [[Jeremiah Denton]], the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]]. He won a very close race as the Democrats regained control of the Senate. |
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====1992==== |
====1992==== |
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{{main|1992 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|1992 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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Shelby was easily reelected even as [[Bill Clinton]] lost [[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1992|Alabama's electoral votes]]. |
Shelby was easily reelected even as [[Bill Clinton]] lost [[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1992|Alabama's electoral votes]]. |
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====1998==== |
====1998==== |
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{{main|1998 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|1998 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican, one day after the [[Republican Revolution]] in which Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving them a 53–47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in [[1998 United States Senate election in Alabama|1998]] by a large margin. |
On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican, one day after the [[Republican Revolution]] in which Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving them a 53–47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in [[1998 United States Senate election in Alabama|1998]] by a large margin. |
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====2004==== |
====2004==== |
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{{main|2004 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|2004 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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He faced no significant opposition in [[2004 United States Senate election in Alabama|2004]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.)|url=http://www.rollcall.com/members/11.html|access-date=August 15, 2014|publisher=Roll Call|archive-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824182706/http://www.rollcall.com/members/11.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
He faced no significant opposition in [[2004 United States Senate election in Alabama|2004]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.)|url=http://www.rollcall.com/members/11.html|access-date=August 15, 2014|publisher=Roll Call|archive-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824182706/http://www.rollcall.com/members/11.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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====2010==== |
====2010==== |
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{{main|2010 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|2010 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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He faced no significant opposition and was reelected to a fifth term. |
He faced no significant opposition and was reelected to a fifth term. |
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====2016==== |
====2016==== |
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{{main|2016 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
{{main|2016 United States Senate election in Alabama}} |
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He was reelected to a sixth term.<ref name="Dean">{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/could_the_tea_party_challenge.html#incart_river|title=Could the Tea Party challenge Sen. Richard Shelby? Sure, but there are $17 million reasons not to|work=AL.com|date=June 30, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014|first=Charles|last=Dean|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132800/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/could_the_tea_party_challenge.html#incart_river|url-status=live}}</ref> |
He was reelected to a sixth term.<ref name="Dean">{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/could_the_tea_party_challenge.html#incart_river|title=Could the Tea Party challenge Sen. Richard Shelby? Sure, but there are $17 million reasons not to|work=AL.com|date=June 30, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014|first=Charles|last=Dean|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132800/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/could_the_tea_party_challenge.html#incart_river|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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A September 2009 poll showed Shelby had a 58% approval rating, with 35% disapproving.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=be14ad40-d8e9-4c99-8100-57f0f59fa64b |title=SurveyUSA News Poll #15743 |publisher=Surveyusa.com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215535/http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=be14ad40-d8e9-4c99-8100-57f0f59fa64b |url-status=live }}</ref> |
A September 2009 poll showed Shelby had a 58% approval rating, with 35% disapproving.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=be14ad40-d8e9-4c99-8100-57f0f59fa64b |title=SurveyUSA News Poll #15743 |publisher=Surveyusa.com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215535/http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=be14ad40-d8e9-4c99-8100-57f0f59fa64b |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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In 2014, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' criticized Shelby for hoarding campaign and PAC contributions and not sharing them with colleagues.<ref name=wp/> |
In 2014, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' criticized Shelby for hoarding campaign and PAC contributions and not sharing them with colleagues.<ref name="wp" /> |
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=== Tenure === |
=== Tenure === |
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====1980s==== |
====1980s==== |
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[[File:Richard Shelby 97th Congress 1981.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Shelby during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1981.]] |
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In 1987, Shelby opposed Reagan's nomination of [[Robert Bork]] to the Supreme Court, a move attributed to lobbying by Alabama African-American leaders who reminded Shelby that he had relied on support from black voters in narrowly defeating Denton in 1986. In 1991, Shelby supported [[George H. W. Bush|President George H. W. Bush]]'s conservative Supreme Court nominee [[Clarence Thomas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55748032.html?dids=55748032:55748032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+05%2C+1987&author=Bob+Minzesheimer&pub=USA+TODAY+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=President+to+stick+with+Bork+to+end&pqatl=google |work=USA TODAY |title=President to stick with Bork to end |first=Bob |last=Minzesheimer |date=October 5, 1987 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025125354/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55748032.html?dids=55748032:55748032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+05,+1987&author=Bob+Minzesheimer&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=President+to+stick+with+Bork+to+end&pqatl=google |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/104734077.html?dids=104734077:104734077&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+07%2C+1987&author=By+Susan+Page.+Newsday+Washington+Bureau&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=Heflin%3A+When+in+Doubt%2C+Don%27t&pqatl=google |title=Heflin: When in Doubt, Don't |date=October 7, 1987}}</ref> |
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C47700 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Shelby greeting [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1988]]In 1987, Shelby opposed Reagan's nomination of [[Robert Bork]] to the Supreme Court, a move attributed to lobbying by Alabama African-American leaders who reminded Shelby that he had relied on support from black voters in narrowly defeating Denton in 1986. In 1991, Shelby supported [[George H. W. Bush|President George H. W. Bush]]'s conservative Supreme Court nominee [[Clarence Thomas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55748032.html?dids=55748032:55748032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+05%2C+1987&author=Bob+Minzesheimer&pub=USA+TODAY+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=President+to+stick+with+Bork+to+end&pqatl=google |work=USA TODAY |title=President to stick with Bork to end |first=Bob |last=Minzesheimer |date=October 5, 1987 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025125354/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55748032.html?dids=55748032:55748032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+05,+1987&author=Bob+Minzesheimer&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=President+to+stick+with+Bork+to+end&pqatl=google |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/104734077.html?dids=104734077:104734077&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+07%2C+1987&author=By+Susan+Page.+Newsday+Washington+Bureau&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=Heflin%3A+When+in+Doubt%2C+Don%27t&pqatl=google |title=Heflin: When in Doubt, Don't |date=October 7, 1987 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
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====1990s==== |
====1990s==== |
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In 1991, Shelby sponsored legislation granting federal recognition to the [[MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians]]. Though confident it would pass, Shelby stressed the "need to get more documentation regarding establishment of their tribal identity." The Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs voted 11 to 2 in favor of the legislation on July 18.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/04/us/new-ways-to-recognize-tribes-split-indians.html|title=New Ways to Recognize Tribes Split Indians|date=August 4, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 19, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205741/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/04/us/new-ways-to-recognize-tribes-split-indians.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In 1991, Shelby sponsored legislation granting federal recognition to the [[MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians]]. Though confident it would pass, Shelby stressed the "need to get more documentation regarding establishment of their tribal identity." The Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs voted 11 to 2 in favor of the legislation on July 18.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/04/us/new-ways-to-recognize-tribes-split-indians.html|title=New Ways to Recognize Tribes Split Indians|date=August 4, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 19, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205741/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/04/us/new-ways-to-recognize-tribes-split-indians.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Shelby publicly feuded with President [[Bill Clinton]] during the first half of Clinton's first term. At a meeting with Vice President [[Al Gore]], he turned to the TV cameras and denounced the Clinton program as "high on taxes, low on [spending] cuts".<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107016266/ ''Indianapolis Star'', March 19, 1997, p. 7]{{subscription}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026163111/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107016266/ |date=October 26, 2016 }}.</ref> |
Shelby publicly feuded with President [[Bill Clinton]] during the first half of Clinton's first term. At a meeting with Vice President [[Al Gore]], he turned to the TV cameras and denounced the Clinton program as "high on taxes, low on [spending] cuts".<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107016266/ ''Indianapolis Star'', March 19, 1997, p. 7]{{subscription required}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026163111/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107016266/ |date=October 26, 2016 }}.</ref> |
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Shelby served on the [[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] from 1995 to 2003, stepping down because of a Senate rule limiting committee terms to eight years. He took an adversarial stance toward the intelligence community during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. He helped sink [[Anthony Lake]]'s nomination as CIA director in 1997 and promised to investigate the use of American-made satellites by the Chinese to gather intelligence. Shelby took a hard line on leaks of classified information. In 2000 he introduced a bill, vetoed by Clinton, "that would have broadened the law that criminalizes release of national defense information."<ref name=Pincus>[[Walter Pincus|Pincus, Walter]] (February 17, 2006). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602186.html Senator May Seek Tougher Law on Leaks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109010042/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602186.html |date=November 9, 2017 }}", ''[[The Washington Post]]''</ref> According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'': |
Shelby served on the [[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] from 1995 to 2003, stepping down because of a Senate rule limiting committee terms to eight years. He took an adversarial stance toward the intelligence community during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. He helped sink [[Anthony Lake]]'s nomination as CIA director in 1997 and promised to investigate the use of American-made satellites by the Chinese to gather intelligence. Shelby took a hard line on leaks of classified information. In 2000 he introduced a bill, vetoed by Clinton, "that would have broadened the law that criminalizes release of national defense information."<ref name=Pincus>[[Walter Pincus|Pincus, Walter]] (February 17, 2006). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602186.html Senator May Seek Tougher Law on Leaks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109010042/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602186.html |date=November 9, 2017 }}", ''[[The Washington Post]]''</ref> According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'': |
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In January 1992, Shelby met with [[Chair of the Federal Reserve]] [[Alan Greenspan]], advocating that the basic cost of money be reduced from 3.5% to 3% to stimulate the economy. He confirmed afterward that he intended to vote for Greenspan for another term as Federal Reserve Chair and said that Greenspan was not opposed to his suggestion to cut the discount rate to its lowest in 20 years in addition to agreeing with him on the need for a restoration of investment tax credits and a special tax rate for capital gains along with the providing of incentives to encourage savings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19920129&id=LF4eAAAAIBAJ&pg=3682,3633754|title=Shelby urges another cut in interest rates|date=January 29, 1992|work=[[TimesDaily]]|location=Florence, Alabama|access-date=October 16, 2020|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212223006/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19920129&id=LF4eAAAAIBAJ&pg=3682%2C3633754|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In January 1992, Shelby met with [[Chair of the Federal Reserve]] [[Alan Greenspan]], advocating that the basic cost of money be reduced from 3.5% to 3% to stimulate the economy. He confirmed afterward that he intended to vote for Greenspan for another term as Federal Reserve Chair and said that Greenspan was not opposed to his suggestion to cut the discount rate to its lowest in 20 years in addition to agreeing with him on the need for a restoration of investment tax credits and a special tax rate for capital gains along with the providing of incentives to encourage savings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19920129&id=LF4eAAAAIBAJ&pg=3682,3633754|title=Shelby urges another cut in interest rates|date=January 29, 1992|work=[[TimesDaily]]|location=Florence, Alabama|access-date=October 16, 2020|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212223006/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19920129&id=LF4eAAAAIBAJ&pg=3682%2C3633754|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In 1992, Shelby's aide Tom Barnes was murdered in a hold-up robbery. In response, Shelby supported the reinstatement of the death penalty in D.C.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGrady |first1=Clyde |title=How the murder of a young Senate aide ushered in the |
In 1992, Shelby's aide Tom Barnes was murdered in a hold-up robbery. In response, Shelby supported the reinstatement of the death penalty in D.C.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGrady |first1=Clyde |title=How the murder of a young Senate aide ushered in the 'tough on crime' era |url=https://rollcall.com/2019/04/30/how-the-murder-of-a-young-senate-aide-ushered-in-the-tough-on-crime-era/ |date=April 30, 2019}}</ref> |
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In 1999, Shelby opposed the [[Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act]], which repealed parts of the [[Glass–Steagall Legislation]], and was the only Republican senator and one of eight senators overall to vote against it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-23/consumer-unit-born-of-2008-crisis-would-be-shelby-target |title=Consumer Unit Born of 2008 Crisis Would Be Shelby Target |work=[[Businessweek]] |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108010011/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-23/consumer-unit-born-of-2008-crisis-would-be-shelby-target |url-status= |
In 1999, Shelby opposed the [[Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act]], which repealed parts of the [[Glass–Steagall Legislation]], and was the only Republican senator and one of eight senators overall to vote against it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-23/consumer-unit-born-of-2008-crisis-would-be-shelby-target |title=Consumer Unit Born of 2008 Crisis Would Be Shelby Target |work=[[Businessweek]] |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108010011/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-23/consumer-unit-born-of-2008-crisis-would-be-shelby-target |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="106-354.EH">Congressional roll-call: [https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00354 S.900 as reported by conferees: Financial Services Act of 1999, Record Vote No: 354] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215044951/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00354 |date=February 15, 2018 }}, November 4, 1999, Clerk of the Senate. Sortable unofficial table: [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/106/senate/1/votes/354/ On Agreeing to the Conference Report, S.900 Gramm-Bliley-Leach Act, roll call 354, 106th Congress, 1st session] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803061353/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/106/senate/1/votes/354/ |date=August 3, 2015 }}. Votes Database at ''[[The Washington Post]]'', retrieved on October 9, 2008</ref><ref group=note>Fifty-two Republicans and 38 Democrats voted for the bill. Shelby voted against it as did seven Democratic Senators: [[Barbara Boxer]] (Calif.), [[Richard Bryan]] (Nevada), [[Byron Dorgan]] (N. Dakota), [[Russell Feingold]] (Wisc.), [[Tom Harkin]] (Iowa), [[Barbara Mikulski]] (Maryland) and [[Paul Wellstone]] (Minn.). Sen. [[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]] (R-Illinois) voted "present", while Sen. [[John McCain]] (R-Arizona) did not vote.</ref> |
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On February 12, 1999, Shelby was one of 50 senators to vote to [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|convict and remove Bill Clinton from office]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Roll Call of Votes on Articles of Impeachment|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=February 12, 1999|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106164903/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
On February 12, 1999, Shelby was one of 50 senators to vote to [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|convict and remove Bill Clinton from office]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Roll Call of Votes on Articles of Impeachment|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=February 12, 1999|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106164903/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In March 2009, as the Obama administration was expected to reverse limits on embryonic stem-cell research imposed by the Bush administration, Shelby said, "My basic tenet here is I don't think we should create life to enhance life and to do research and so forth. I know that people argue there are other ways. I think we should continue our biomedical research everywhere we can, but we should have some ethics about it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/08/obama.stem.cells/index.html|title=Embryonic stem cell reversal is distraction, congressman says|date=March 8, 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-date=November 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104125943/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/08/obama.stem.cells/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, he was one of 14 senators to vote against a procedural move that essentially guaranteed a major expansion of a national service corps. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill's cost for the fiscal year 2010 of $418 million and around $5.7 billion for 2010 through 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/national-service-corps-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/|title=National Service Corps Bill Clears Senate Hurdle|first=Kate|last=Phillips|date=March 23, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207201750/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/national-service-corps-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In March 2009, as the Obama administration was expected to reverse limits on embryonic stem-cell research imposed by the Bush administration, Shelby said, "My basic tenet here is I don't think we should create life to enhance life and to do research and so forth. I know that people argue there are other ways. I think we should continue our biomedical research everywhere we can, but we should have some ethics about it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/08/obama.stem.cells/index.html|title=Embryonic stem cell reversal is distraction, congressman says|date=March 8, 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-date=November 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104125943/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/08/obama.stem.cells/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, he was one of 14 senators to vote against a procedural move that essentially guaranteed a major expansion of a national service corps. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill's cost for the fiscal year 2010 of $418 million and around $5.7 billion for 2010 through 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/national-service-corps-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/|title=National Service Corps Bill Clears Senate Hurdle|first=Kate|last=Phillips|date=March 23, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207201750/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/national-service-corps-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In February 2010, Shelby placed a [[secret hold|hold]] on more than 70 of Obama's nominees to various government posts, in a protest over an Air Force [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] contract and the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center.<ref>{{cite news | title=No Holds Barred | work=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06collins.html | date=February 6, 2010 | first=Gail | last=Collins | access-date=May 22, 2010 | archive-date=February 18, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218092710/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06collins.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=cnncheck>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/12/cnn-fact-check-how-transparent-is-the-senates-hold-process/?fbid=KUvAvc_LwuX | work=CNN Fact Check | title=How transparent is the Senate's hold process? | access-date=May 22, 2010 | date=February 12, 2010 | archive-date=February 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219054900/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/12/cnn-fact-check-how-transparent-is-the-senates-hold-process/?fbid=KUvAvc_LwuX | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Wilson, Scott., Murray, Shailagh. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020502098.html Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama holding up Obama nominees for home-state pork.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130015446/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020502098.html |date=November 30, 2016 }} ''[[The Washington Post]].'' February 6, 2010.</ref> He lifted all but three of the holds three days later, saying, "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security—the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued."<ref name=politico210>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32718.html#ixzz0fOtYDadW |title=Richard Shelby lifts hold on Obama nominees |author=Meredith Shiner |publisher=Politico.Com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212190656/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32718.html#ixzz0fOtYDadW |url-status=live }}</ref> White House spokesman [[Robert Gibbs]] criticized Shelby for "hold[ing] up qualified nominees for positions that are needed because he didn't get two earmarks"; Shelby denied the holds were over [[earmark (politics)|earmarks]].<ref name=cnncheck/><ref name=politico210/> |
In February 2010, Shelby placed a [[secret hold|hold]] on more than 70 of Obama's nominees to various government posts, in a protest over an Air Force [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] contract and the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center.<ref>{{cite news | title=No Holds Barred | work=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06collins.html | date=February 6, 2010 | first=Gail | last=Collins | access-date=May 22, 2010 | archive-date=February 18, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218092710/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06collins.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=cnncheck>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/12/cnn-fact-check-how-transparent-is-the-senates-hold-process/?fbid=KUvAvc_LwuX | work=CNN Fact Check | title=How transparent is the Senate's hold process? | access-date=May 22, 2010 | date=February 12, 2010 | archive-date=February 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219054900/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/12/cnn-fact-check-how-transparent-is-the-senates-hold-process/?fbid=KUvAvc_LwuX | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Wilson, Scott., Murray, Shailagh. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020502098.html Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama holding up Obama nominees for home-state pork.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130015446/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020502098.html |date=November 30, 2016 }} ''[[The Washington Post]].'' February 6, 2010.</ref> He lifted all but three of the holds three days later, saying, "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security—the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued."<ref name=politico210>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32718.html#ixzz0fOtYDadW |title=Richard Shelby lifts hold on Obama nominees |author=Meredith Shiner |date=February 8, 2010 |publisher=Politico.Com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212190656/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32718.html#ixzz0fOtYDadW |url-status=live }}</ref> White House spokesman [[Robert Gibbs]] criticized Shelby for "hold[ing] up qualified nominees for positions that are needed because he didn't get two earmarks"; Shelby denied the holds were over [[earmark (politics)|earmarks]].<ref name=cnncheck/><ref name=politico210/> |
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====2010s==== |
====2010s==== |
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[[File:Richard Shelby, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|thumb|Shelby in 2011]] |
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Shelby's high campaign contribution spending has been criticized; from 2008 until 2014 he had reimbursed himself and his wife more than $500,000 from his campaign and leadership PACs.<ref name=wp>{{cite news|author1=Colby Itkowitz|title=Sen. Shelby eats and travels in style on campaign and PAC funds, but doesn't share|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/10/01/sen-shelby-eats-and-travels-in-style-on-campaign-and-pac-funds-but-doesnt-share/|access-date=June 16, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 1, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323184019/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/10/01/sen-shelby-eats-and-travels-in-style-on-campaign-and-pac-funds-but-doesnt-share/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' called him a "stingy lawmaker".<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|author1=Allysia Finley|title=Stingy Republican Lawmakers|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/political-diary-stingy-republican-lawmakers-1411582646|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|date=September 24, 2014|archive-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617040810/http://www.wsj.com/articles/political-diary-stingy-republican-lawmakers-1411582646|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Shelby's high campaign contribution spending has been criticized; from 2008 until 2014 he had reimbursed himself and his wife more than $500,000 from his campaign and leadership PACs.<ref name=wp>{{cite news|author1=Colby Itkowitz|title=Sen. Shelby eats and travels in style on campaign and PAC funds, but doesn't share|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/10/01/sen-shelby-eats-and-travels-in-style-on-campaign-and-pac-funds-but-doesnt-share/|access-date=June 16, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 1, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323184019/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/10/01/sen-shelby-eats-and-travels-in-style-on-campaign-and-pac-funds-but-doesnt-share/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' called him a "stingy lawmaker".<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|author1=Allysia Finley|title=Stingy Republican Lawmakers|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/political-diary-stingy-republican-lawmakers-1411582646|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|date=September 24, 2014|archive-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617040810/http://www.wsj.com/articles/political-diary-stingy-republican-lawmakers-1411582646|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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During the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]], Shelby called for [[Law and order (politics)|law and order]] via Twitter. When Congress reconvened to certify the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]], Shelby voted to accept the results of the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Lauren |title=Alabama lawmakers discuss Capitol riot, misinformation campaigns |url=https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-discuss-capitol-riot-misinformation-campaigns |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=WBMA |date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107235216/https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-discuss-capitol-riot-misinformation-campaigns |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 13, 2021, Shelby voted to acquit Trump of inciting the Capitol attack.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/senate-impeachment-whip-count-where-democrats-republicans-stand/| title = Live impeachment vote count: How senators voted to convict or acquit Trump - Washington Post| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]| access-date = February 14, 2021| archive-date = February 14, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210214024915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/senate-impeachment-whip-count-where-democrats-republicans-stand/| url-status = live}}</ref> |
During the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]], Shelby called for [[Law and order (politics)|law and order]] via Twitter. When Congress reconvened to certify the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]], Shelby voted to accept the results of the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Lauren |title=Alabama lawmakers discuss Capitol riot, misinformation campaigns |url=https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-discuss-capitol-riot-misinformation-campaigns |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=WBMA |date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107235216/https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-discuss-capitol-riot-misinformation-campaigns |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 13, 2021, Shelby voted to acquit Trump of inciting the Capitol attack.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/senate-impeachment-whip-count-where-democrats-republicans-stand/| title = Live impeachment vote count: How senators voted to convict or acquit Trump - Washington Post| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]| access-date = February 14, 2021| archive-date = February 14, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210214024915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/senate-impeachment-whip-count-where-democrats-republicans-stand/| url-status = live}}</ref> |
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In August 2021, Shelby prevented an attempt to limit cryptocurrency tax-reporting requirements in the Senate infrastructure bill.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Jeff |title=Late effort to revamp cryptocurrency rules in infrastructure deal fails in Senate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/09/senators-reach-agreement-revamp-cryptocurrency-rules-it-may-prove-too-late-change-bill/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 9, 2021 |archive-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809232051/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/09/senators-reach-agreement-revamp-cryptocurrency-rules-it-may-prove-too-late-change-bill/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
In August 2021, Shelby prevented an attempt to limit [[cryptocurrency]] tax-reporting requirements in the Senate infrastructure bill.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Jeff |title=Late effort to revamp cryptocurrency rules in infrastructure deal fails in Senate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/09/senators-reach-agreement-revamp-cryptocurrency-rules-it-may-prove-too-late-change-bill/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 9, 2021 |archive-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809232051/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/09/senators-reach-agreement-revamp-cryptocurrency-rules-it-may-prove-too-late-change-bill/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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===Committee assignments=== |
===Committee assignments=== |
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==Political positions== |
==Political positions== |
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Shelby has a lifetime ideology score of 77.43 from the politically conservative American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Richard C. Shelby|url=http://ratings.conservative.org/people/S000320|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=American Conservative Union Foundation Center for Legislative Accountability}}</ref> The politically liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him a score of zero in their 2019 report.<ref>{{cite web|title=ADA Voting Records {{!}} Americans for Democratic Action|url=https://adaction.org/ada-voting-records/|access-date=2021-05-03|language=en-US|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428210317/https://adaction.org/ada-voting-records/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Shelby has a lifetime ideology score of 77.43 from the politically conservative American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Richard C. Shelby|url=http://ratings.conservative.org/people/S000320|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=American Conservative Union Foundation Center for Legislative Accountability}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The politically liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him a score of zero in their 2019 report.<ref>{{cite web|title=ADA Voting Records {{!}} Americans for Democratic Action|url=https://adaction.org/ada-voting-records/|access-date=2021-05-03|language=en-US|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428210317/https://adaction.org/ada-voting-records/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Abortion=== |
===Abortion=== |
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===Bill Clinton=== |
===Bill Clinton=== |
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In 1993, Shelby, still a Democrat at the time, was one of six Democratic senators to vote against the [[Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993]]. |
In 1993, Shelby, who was still a Democrat at the time, was one of six Democratic senators to vote against the [[Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993]]. |
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In 1999, Shelby was one of ten Republican senators to vote to acquit President [[Bill Clinton]] on the charge of perjury when Clinton was [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|tried in the Senate in 1999]], but he voted to convict Clinton of obstruction of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/|title=How the senators voted on impeachment|date=February 12, 1999|work=cnn.com|access-date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731044658/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In 1999, Shelby was one of ten Republican senators to vote to acquit President [[Bill Clinton]] on the charge of perjury when Clinton was [[Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton|tried in the Senate in 1999]], but he voted to convict Clinton of obstruction of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/|title=How the senators voted on impeachment|date=February 12, 1999|work=cnn.com|access-date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731044658/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Foreign policy=== |
===Foreign policy=== |
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====Russia==== |
====Russia==== |
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In December 2010, Shelby was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of [[New START|New Start]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Mark Memmott |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |title=Senate Ratifies START |publisher=npr.org |date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331202810/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |url-status=live }}</ref> a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well as 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when [[START I]] expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26|first=Peter|last=Baker|work=New York Times|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=December 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229151646/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2021, Shelby voted for Senate measure S.3436, which would impose sanctions on operators of the [[Nord Stream pipeline]]. Democrats blocked the measure. |
In December 2010, Shelby was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of [[New START|New Start]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Mark Memmott |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |title=Senate Ratifies START |publisher=npr.org |date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331202810/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |url-status=live }}</ref> a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well as 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when [[START I]] expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26|first=Peter|last=Baker|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=December 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229151646/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2021, Shelby voted for Senate measure S.3436, which would impose sanctions on operators of the [[Nord Stream pipeline]]. Democrats blocked the measure. |
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====Saudi Arabia==== |
====Saudi Arabia==== |
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===Gun law=== |
===Gun law=== |
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Shelby has an A+ rating from the [[ |
Shelby has an A+ rating from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]] for his support of [[Gun politics in the United States|gun rights]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF Endorses Richard Shelby for U.S. Senate |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100910/nra-pvf-endorses-richard-shelby-for-us-senate |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812193336/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100910/nra-pvf-endorses-richard-shelby-for-us-senate |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |language=en-US |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYTNRAScore17">{{cite web|last1=Bloch|first1=Matthew|last2=Fairfield|first2=Hannah|last3=Harris|first3=Jacob|last4=Keller|first4=Josh|last5=reporting|first5=Derek Willis/The New York Times Kitty Bennett contributed|title=How the National Rifle Association Rates Lawmakers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/19/us/politics/nra.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=December 19, 2012|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004091442/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/19/us/politics/nra.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, he voted against the Feinstein Amendment, which sought to stop the sale of firearms to people known or suspected to be terrorists. Asked by Scott Wapner why he voted against it, Shelby said, "I do believe that we should keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, would-be terrorists, and a lot of other people."<ref name="Levingston">{{cite web|last1=Levingston|first1=Ivan|title=A heated Shelby defends gun vote, also questions Fed credibility|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/21/a-heated-shelby-defends-gun-vote-also-questions-fed-credibility.html|website=CNBC|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=June 21, 2016|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004085338/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/21/a-heated-shelby-defends-gun-vote-also-questions-fed-credibility.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In January 2019, Shelby was one of 31 Republican senators to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by [[John Cornyn]] and [[Ted Cruz]] that would grant individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state the right to exercise this right in any other state with concealed carry laws while concurrently abiding by that state’s laws.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kcbd.com/2019/01/10/sens-cruz-cornyn-file-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/|title=Sens. Cruz, Cornyn file Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Bill|date=January 10, 2019|publisher=kcbd.com|access-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716191543/https://www.kcbd.com/2019/01/10/sens-cruz-cornyn-file-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In January 2019, Shelby was one of 31 Republican senators to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by [[John Cornyn]] and [[Ted Cruz]] that would grant individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state the right to exercise this right in any other state with concealed carry laws while concurrently abiding by that state’s laws.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kcbd.com/2019/01/10/sens-cruz-cornyn-file-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/|title=Sens. Cruz, Cornyn file Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Bill|date=January 10, 2019|publisher=kcbd.com|access-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716191543/https://www.kcbd.com/2019/01/10/sens-cruz-cornyn-file-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Space=== |
===Space=== |
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Shelby has supported development of the [[Space Launch System]] (SLS), but disagreed with how funds for the program have been spent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Morring|first=Frank|title=Senators Disagree On SLS Approach|url=http://web02.aviationweek.com/aw/mstory.do?id=news/awst/2011/08/22/AW_08_22_2011_p29-360621.xml&channel=space&headline=Senators%20Disagree%20On%20SLS%20Approach|access-date=September 27, 2011|newspaper=Aviation Week and Space Technology|date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=April 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405045841/http://web02.aviationweek.com/aw/mstory.do?id=news%2Fawst%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2FAW_08_22_2011_p29-360621.xml&channel=space&headline=Senators%20Disagree%20On%20SLS%20Approach|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011 he favored competition for the strap-on booster design.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shelby|first=Richard|title=Letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden|date=July 10, 2011 |url=http://www.competitivespace.org/papers/20110610_Shelby_SLS_Booster_Letter.pdf|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915222006/http://www.competitivespace.org/papers/20110610_Shelby_SLS_Booster_Letter.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A (partial) SLS competition in the works?|url=http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/06/17/a-partial-sls-competition-in-the-works/|work=Space Politics|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=August 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826033843/http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/06/17/a-partial-sls-competition-in-the-works/|url-status=live}}</ref> The SLS [[Earmark (politics)|earmark]] has been opposed by fiscal conservative groups, including the Tea Party.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Everett|title=TEA Party Catches Congress Hiding Earmark In Space|url=http://teapartywire.com/blog/2011/05/15/press-release-tea-party-catches-congress-hiding-earmark-in-space/|publisher=Tea Party Wire|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920062352/http://teapartywire.com/blog/2011/05/15/press-release-tea-party-catches-congress-hiding-earmark-in-space/|archive-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gasser|first=Andrew|title=Are Republican Senators Trying to Kill NASA?|url=http://www.teainspace.com/are-republican-senators-trying-to-kill-nasa/|publisher=Tea Party in Space|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014072959/http://www.teainspace.com/are-republican-senators-trying-to-kill-nasa/|archive-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simberg|first=Rand|title=Blame Congress and Pork, Not NASA|url=http://www.openmarket.org/2011/09/23/blame-congress-and-pork-not-nasa/|access-date=September 27, 2011|archive-date=September 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926042531/http://www.openmarket.org/2011/09/23/blame-congress-and-pork-not-nasa/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Shelby has supported development of the [[Space Launch System]] (SLS), but disagreed with how funds for the program have been spent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Morring|first=Frank|title=Senators Disagree On SLS Approach|url=http://web02.aviationweek.com/aw/mstory.do?id=news/awst/2011/08/22/AW_08_22_2011_p29-360621.xml&channel=space&headline=Senators%20Disagree%20On%20SLS%20Approach|access-date=September 27, 2011|newspaper=Aviation Week and Space Technology|date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=April 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405045841/http://web02.aviationweek.com/aw/mstory.do?id=news%2Fawst%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2FAW_08_22_2011_p29-360621.xml&channel=space&headline=Senators%20Disagree%20On%20SLS%20Approach|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011 he favored competition for the strap-on booster design.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shelby|first=Richard|title=Letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden|date=July 10, 2011 |url=http://www.competitivespace.org/papers/20110610_Shelby_SLS_Booster_Letter.pdf|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915222006/http://www.competitivespace.org/papers/20110610_Shelby_SLS_Booster_Letter.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A (partial) SLS competition in the works?|url=http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/06/17/a-partial-sls-competition-in-the-works/|work=Space Politics|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=August 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826033843/http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/06/17/a-partial-sls-competition-in-the-works/|url-status=live}}</ref> The SLS [[Earmark (politics)|earmark]] has been opposed by fiscal conservative groups, including the Tea Party.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Everett|title=TEA Party Catches Congress Hiding Earmark In Space|url=http://teapartywire.com/blog/2011/05/15/press-release-tea-party-catches-congress-hiding-earmark-in-space/|publisher=Tea Party Wire|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920062352/http://teapartywire.com/blog/2011/05/15/press-release-tea-party-catches-congress-hiding-earmark-in-space/|archive-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gasser|first=Andrew|title=Are Republican Senators Trying to Kill NASA?|url=http://www.teainspace.com/are-republican-senators-trying-to-kill-nasa/|publisher=Tea Party in Space|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014072959/http://www.teainspace.com/are-republican-senators-trying-to-kill-nasa/|archive-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simberg|first=Rand|title=Blame Congress and Pork, Not NASA|date=September 23, 2011 |url=http://www.openmarket.org/2011/09/23/blame-congress-and-pork-not-nasa/|access-date=September 27, 2011|archive-date=September 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926042531/http://www.openmarket.org/2011/09/23/blame-congress-and-pork-not-nasa/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Taxes=== |
===Taxes=== |
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==Electoral history== |
==Electoral history== |
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{| |
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! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2| Year |
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! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2| Office |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons}} |
{{Commons}} |
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* [https://shelby.senate.gov/ Senator Richard Shelby] official U.S. Senate website |
* [https://shelby.senate.gov/ Senator Richard Shelby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630232901/https://www.shelby.senate.gov/ |date=June 30, 2021 }} official U.S. Senate website |
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* [http://www.shelbyforsenate.com/ Richard Shelby for Senate] |
* [http://www.shelbyforsenate.com/ Richard Shelby for Senate] |
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* {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Alabama/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Richard_Shelby_%5BR%5D }} |
* {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Alabama/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Richard_Shelby_%5BR%5D }} |
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* {{C-SPAN|1859}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Alabama|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Alabama's 7th congressional district]]|years=1979–1987}} |
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Alabama|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Alabama's 7th congressional district]]|years=1979–1987}} |
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Latest revision as of 01:45, 28 May 2024
Richard Shelby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Official portrait, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States Senator from Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jeremiah Denton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Katie Britt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Walter Flowers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Claude Harris Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the Alabama Senate from the 16th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office November 4, 1970 – November 8, 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Clint Reid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Ryan deGraffenried Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Richard Craig Shelby May 6, 1934 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Republican (after 1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | Democratic (until 1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Annette Nevin (m. 1960) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | University of Alabama (BA, LLB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Craig Shelby (born May 6, 1934) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Alabama from 1987 to 2023. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 as a Democrat who later switched to the Republican Party in 1994, he chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee from 2018 to 2021. He previously chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee. He was the longest-serving U.S. senator from Alabama, surpassing John Sparkman's record in March 2019.[1]
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Shelby received his law degree from the Birmingham School of Law in 1961. He went on to serve as city prosecutor from 1963 to 1971. During this period he worked as a U.S. magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama (1966–1970) and Special Assistant Attorney General of Alabama (1969–1971). He won a seat in the Alabama Senate in 1970. In 1978, he was elected from the 7th district to the United States House of Representatives, where he was among a group of conservative Democrats known as the boll weevils.
In 1986, Shelby won a tight race as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate. In 1994, the day after the Republican Revolution in which the GOP gained the majority in Congress midway through President Bill Clinton's first term, Shelby switched parties and became a Republican. He was reelected by a large margin in 1998, facing no significant electoral opposition thereafter. Apart from his narrow win as a Democrat in 1986, Shelby always won his Senate seat with more than 60% of the vote.
In February 2021, Shelby announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022.[2] Katie Britt, his former chief of staff, won the election to succeed him.[3] At the time of his retirement, he was the dean of Alabama's congressional delegation. Due to his party switch, Shelby is the last Democrat to have held or won election to Alabama's Class 3 Senate seat.
Early life and education
Shelby was born in Birmingham, Alabama,[4] the son of Alice L. (née Skinner) and Ozie Houston Shelby.[5] He graduated in 1953 from Hueytown High School in Hueytown, Alabama, then the University of Alabama, receiving an undergraduate degree in 1957. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar on August 29, 1961. He received an LL.B. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1963.
Early career
Shelby is a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar, the American Judicature Society, Alabama Law Institute, Delta Chi fraternity, and Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.
Shelby was a city prosecutor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from 1963 to 1971.[6] From 1966 to 1970, he was a U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama; from 1969 to 1971, he was a special assistant state attorney general.
Shelby was elected to the Alabama Senate in 1970 and served until 1978. That year he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Tuscaloosa-based 7th district upon Walter Flowers's retirement. He was reelected three times. Shelby was one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress, and a member of the boll weevils, a group of moderate to conservative-leaning Democrats who often worked with President Ronald Reagan on defense issues.[7]
U.S. Senate
Elections
1986
In the 1986 U.S. Senate election in Alabama, Shelby won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat held by Republican Jeremiah Denton, the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction. He won a very close race as the Democrats regained control of the Senate.
1992
Shelby was easily reelected even as Bill Clinton lost Alabama's electoral votes.
1998
On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican, one day after the Republican Revolution in which Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving them a 53–47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in 1998 by a large margin.
2004
He faced no significant opposition in 2004.[8]
2010
He faced no significant opposition and was reelected to a fifth term.
2016
He was reelected to a sixth term.[9]
A September 2009 poll showed Shelby had a 58% approval rating, with 35% disapproving.[10]
In 2014, The Wall Street Journal criticized Shelby for hoarding campaign and PAC contributions and not sharing them with colleagues.[11]
Tenure
1980s
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Richard_Shelby_97th_Congress_1981.jpg/180px-Richard_Shelby_97th_Congress_1981.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Reagan_Contact_Sheet_C47700_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Reagan_Contact_Sheet_C47700_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 1987, Shelby opposed Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, a move attributed to lobbying by Alabama African-American leaders who reminded Shelby that he had relied on support from black voters in narrowly defeating Denton in 1986. In 1991, Shelby supported President George H. W. Bush's conservative Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.[12][13]
1990s
In 1991, Shelby sponsored legislation granting federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Though confident it would pass, Shelby stressed the "need to get more documentation regarding establishment of their tribal identity." The Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs voted 11 to 2 in favor of the legislation on July 18.[14]
Shelby publicly feuded with President Bill Clinton during the first half of Clinton's first term. At a meeting with Vice President Al Gore, he turned to the TV cameras and denounced the Clinton program as "high on taxes, low on [spending] cuts".[15]
Shelby served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1995 to 2003, stepping down because of a Senate rule limiting committee terms to eight years. He took an adversarial stance toward the intelligence community during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. He helped sink Anthony Lake's nomination as CIA director in 1997 and promised to investigate the use of American-made satellites by the Chinese to gather intelligence. Shelby took a hard line on leaks of classified information. In 2000 he introduced a bill, vetoed by Clinton, "that would have broadened the law that criminalizes release of national defense information."[16] According to The Washington Post:
Civil liberties groups and news organizations, which argued that the legislation would chill their ability to get information from officials, lobbied for the veto. ...In 2002, with George W. Bush in the White House, Shelby reintroduced his language, but then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft said that "rigorous investigation" and enforcement of existing laws—not new legislation—were the best way to fight leaks.[16]
In 1991, Shelby supported the Crime Bill S.1241[17] sponsored by Senator Joseph Biden that instituted a national waiting period for handgun purchases as well as a federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.[18]
In January 1992, Shelby met with Chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, advocating that the basic cost of money be reduced from 3.5% to 3% to stimulate the economy. He confirmed afterward that he intended to vote for Greenspan for another term as Federal Reserve Chair and said that Greenspan was not opposed to his suggestion to cut the discount rate to its lowest in 20 years in addition to agreeing with him on the need for a restoration of investment tax credits and a special tax rate for capital gains along with the providing of incentives to encourage savings.[19]
In 1992, Shelby's aide Tom Barnes was murdered in a hold-up robbery. In response, Shelby supported the reinstatement of the death penalty in D.C.[20]
In 1999, Shelby opposed the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, which repealed parts of the Glass–Steagall Legislation, and was the only Republican senator and one of eight senators overall to vote against it.[21][22][note 1]
On February 12, 1999, Shelby was one of 50 senators to vote to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office.[23]
2000s
Shelby was highly critical of CIA Director George Tenet in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.[24] From 2003 until 2007, he chaired the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.[25] As of 2022,[26] he is a member of the Appropriations Committee and chaired its subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science[27] and was formerly a member of the Special Committee on Aging.[citation needed] He lost his chairmanships in 2007 when Democrats regained control of the Senate.
In 2004, a federal investigation concluded that Shelby revealed classified information to the media while a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.[28] Specifically, he revealed classified information on June 19, 2002, to Carl Cameron, the chief political correspondent on Fox News. The information consisted of two messages between Al-Qaeda operatives intercepted by the National Security Agency on September 10, 2001, but not translated until the day after the attacks—"the match is about to begin" and "tomorrow is zero hour." The Department of Justice declined to file criminal charges against Shelby and transferred the case to the Senate Ethics Committee. In 2005 the committee concluded its probe into the leak.[29]
As chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs, Shelby opposed legislation that would have permitted additional competition in the title insurance industry.[30]
Shelby co-chairs the Congressional Privacy Caucus and Zero Capital Gains Tax Caucus.[31] He is also the Senate co-chair of the National Security Caucus and a member of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Centrist Coalition.[31]
In March 2009, as the Obama administration was expected to reverse limits on embryonic stem-cell research imposed by the Bush administration, Shelby said, "My basic tenet here is I don't think we should create life to enhance life and to do research and so forth. I know that people argue there are other ways. I think we should continue our biomedical research everywhere we can, but we should have some ethics about it."[32] Later that month, he was one of 14 senators to vote against a procedural move that essentially guaranteed a major expansion of a national service corps. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill's cost for the fiscal year 2010 of $418 million and around $5.7 billion for 2010 through 2014.[33]
In February 2010, Shelby placed a hold on more than 70 of Obama's nominees to various government posts, in a protest over an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker contract and the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center.[34][35][36] He lifted all but three of the holds three days later, saying, "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security—the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued."[37] White House spokesman Robert Gibbs criticized Shelby for "hold[ing] up qualified nominees for positions that are needed because he didn't get two earmarks"; Shelby denied the holds were over earmarks.[35][37]
2010s
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Richard_Shelby%2C_official_portrait%2C_112th_Congress.jpg/220px-Richard_Shelby%2C_official_portrait%2C_112th_Congress.jpg)
Shelby's high campaign contribution spending has been criticized; from 2008 until 2014 he had reimbursed himself and his wife more than $500,000 from his campaign and leadership PACs.[11] The Wall Street Journal called him a "stingy lawmaker".[38]
In May 2011, Shelby was one of five Republicans to vote against a Republican bill expanding offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. coastal waters and requiring the Interior Department to complete multiple offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Virginia and Alaska.[39]
In March 2015, Shelby announced the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee would "review proposals aimed at providing greater clarity in Fed decision-making and at reforming the composition of Federal Reserve System" and that he had asked for input from the original regional reserve bank presidents for the Federal Reserve.[40]
In March 2017, Shelby called Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch "an outstanding nominee” and said that Republicans should abolish the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees if Democrats blocked his appointment, arguing that that party used the "nuclear option" first.[41]
In December 2017, after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley issued a statement requesting that the nomination of Brett Talley for federal judge in Alabama be withdrawn, a spokesman for Shelby said that Shelby considered Talley "a great young attorney" and had spoken with him the previous week while asking "for his letter of withdrawal in hopes that Mr. Talley can gain more experience."[42]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Brett_Kavanaugh_with_Richard_Shelby.jpg/220px-Brett_Kavanaugh_with_Richard_Shelby.jpg)
In August 2018, after Rand Paul proposed an amendment to tie a spending bill to the funding of Planned Parenthood, Shelby warned that the amendment could attract supporters while becoming a spoiler for a larger government spending bill.[43]
In September 2018, Shelby reported that the House and Senate were close to a deal on a third package of spending bills for 2019. Representative Nita Lowey disputed the claim, saying that she did not believe a deal would be reached until after the House adjourned and a House Republican aide responded that there was no time to complete the package.[44]
In November 2018, Shelby, Senators Mitch McConnell, and John Thune met with President Trump at the White House, Shelby stating after the meeting that he told Trump the Republicans should avoid a partial government shutdown over Trump's wishes for a border wall and that he was unsure whether Trump's position was affected by his comments.[45]
In February 2019, after Trump delivered the 2019 State of the Union Address, Shelby called it a reiteration of Trump's support for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and confirmed an interaction with House Appropriations Committee chair Nita Lowey, a leading Democratic negotiator.[46]
2020s
In September 2020, with less than two months left in the presidential election, Shelby supported an immediate Senate vote on Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. Yet in March 2016, Shelby refused to consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee, saying the "decision should be made after the upcoming presidential election so that the American people have a voice."[47]
During the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Shelby called for law and order via Twitter. When Congress reconvened to certify the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Shelby voted to accept the results of the election.[48] On February 13, 2021, Shelby voted to acquit Trump of inciting the Capitol attack.[49]
In August 2021, Shelby prevented an attempt to limit cryptocurrency tax-reporting requirements in the Senate infrastructure bill.[50]
Committee assignments
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/RichardShelbyXtra.jpg/180px-RichardShelbyXtra.jpg)
- Senate Committee on Appropriations (ranking member)[51]
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science[51]
- Subcommittee on Defense[51] (vice chair)
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development[51]
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security[51]
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies[51]
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies[51]
- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs (former chair)[51]
- Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (former chair)[51]
- Joint Committee of Congress on the Library[52] (vice chair)
Caucus memberships
Political positions
Shelby has a lifetime ideology score of 77.43 from the politically conservative American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability.[53] The politically liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him a score of zero in their 2019 report.[54]
Abortion
Shelby opposes abortion and said on his Senate campaign website that Roe v. Wade is "terribly flawed on both a constitutional and moral basis." He also opposes taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and voted against a short-term funding bill in Congress because it did not defund Planned Parenthood.[55] When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Shelby called it "welcome news" and said, "It is our moral and ethical duty to protect the dignity of human life, particularly when it comes to the unborn."[56]
Budget and economy
Both during the George W. Bush administration, in 2008, and the Obama administration, in 2009, Shelby was vocal in his opposition to bailing out banks and other corporations (such as AIG).[57]
In 2010, Shelby initially opposed the Republican Party's moratorium on earmark funding.[58] The same year, he voted to block three amendments to regulate banks, including an amendment #3812 to S. 3217 to cap ATM fees at $0.50 per transaction and to bar banks borrowing taxpayer money through TARP funds to use those funds for their own benefit.[59]
In 2011, Shelby opposed the nomination of Nobel Economics Prize laureate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Peter Diamond to the board of the Federal Reserve on the grounds that Diamond "lacked the necessary qualifications".[60] Since becoming Senate Banking chair, Shelby has made "regulatory relief and financial regulation reform his top priority".[61] In May 2015, he revealed the so-called Shelby Bill, easing regulatory restrictions on smaller banks and increasing scrutiny of the Federal Reserve.[61]
In May 2015, Shelby introduced legislation that if enacted would increase congressional scrutiny of the Federal Reserve and ease some regulatory burdens on multiple small banks and loosen oversight to banks such as U.S. Bancorp and SunTrust Banks enacted under the Dodd-Frank Act. In a written statement, he called the legislation "a working document intended to initiate a conversation with all members of the committee who are interested in reaching a bipartisan agreement to improve access to credit and to reduce the level of risk in our financial system."[62]
Civil rights
Shelby voted to make English the sole language of the federal government.[63]
He voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment.[64]
Shelby has a 0% rating from the ACLU for the 116th Congress.[65] He has a 4% rating from the ACLU for the 115th Congress (2017–19).[65]
Bill Clinton
In 1993, Shelby, who was still a Democrat at the time, was one of six Democratic senators to vote against the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
In 1999, Shelby was one of ten Republican senators to vote to acquit President Bill Clinton on the charge of perjury when Clinton was tried in the Senate in 1999, but he voted to convict Clinton of obstruction of justice.[66]
Foreign policy
Iran
In December 2002, Shelby said, "We don't need another nuclear power -- not with Iran sponsoring terrorism that it has in the past. The fact that they are seemingly pursuing an avenue to build nuclear weapons should be disturbing to everybody."[67]
In March 2015, Shelby was one of 47 Republican senators to sign a letter to Iran warning that a nuclear deal with the U.S. would have to first be approved by Congress.[68] In July, he called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action "a bad deal" and questioned why the U.S. would support the agreement if Russia President Vladimir Putin favored it.[69]
In September 2016, Shelby was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of State John Kerry advocating that the U.S. use "all available tools to dissuade Russia from continuing its airstrikes in Syria" from an Iranian airbase near Hamadan "that are clearly not in our interest" and stating that the US should enforce the airstrikes' violation of "a legally binding Security Council Resolution" on Iran.[70]
Russia
In December 2010, Shelby was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of New Start,[71] a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well as 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when START I expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.[72] In January 2021, Shelby voted for Senate measure S.3436, which would impose sanctions on operators of the Nord Stream pipeline. Democrats blocked the measure.
Saudi Arabia
In March 2018, Shelby voted to table a resolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy, and Mike Lee that would have required Trump to withdraw American troops either in or influencing Yemen in the next 30 days unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.[73]
Gun law
Shelby has an A+ rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund for his support of gun rights.[74][75] In 2016, he voted against the Feinstein Amendment, which sought to stop the sale of firearms to people known or suspected to be terrorists. Asked by Scott Wapner why he voted against it, Shelby said, "I do believe that we should keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, would-be terrorists, and a lot of other people."[76]
In January 2019, Shelby was one of 31 Republican senators to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by John Cornyn and Ted Cruz that would grant individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state the right to exercise this right in any other state with concealed carry laws while concurrently abiding by that state’s laws.[77]
Health care
Shelby opposed Obama's health reform legislation, voting against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009[78] and against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[79]
In August 2009, Shelby opined that the United States had "the best health care system in the world" and cited the need to expand the system without destroying it.[80]
After Senator Ted Cruz's 21-hour speech opposing the Affordable Care Act, Shelby joined Cruz and 17 other senators in a failed vote against cloture on a comprehensive government funding bill that would also have continued funding healthcare reform.[81]
In September 2017, after the Senate reached an agreement during a lunch not to vote on a Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act that week, Shelby said, "Why have a vote if you know what the outcome is and it's not what you want? I don't know what you gain from that. But I do believe that the health care issue is not dead, and that's what counts."[82]
Immigration
Shelby voted for a 1994 moratorium on certain forms of immigration.[83]
Space
Shelby has supported development of the Space Launch System (SLS), but disagreed with how funds for the program have been spent.[84] In 2011 he favored competition for the strap-on booster design.[85][86] The SLS earmark has been opposed by fiscal conservative groups, including the Tea Party.[87][88][89]
Taxes
Shelby supports a flat tax and supported the Bush Administration's tax cuts.[90] He cites disagreements with Democrats on tax policy as one of the main reasons he became a Republican; he feels the Democrats are too willing to enact tax increases.[91]
Shelby is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[92]
Donald Trump
During the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Shelby opposed the introduction of new witnesses[93] and voted to acquit.[94]
During the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Shelby voted to acquit based on his belief that impeachment does not apply to former officials.[95]
On May 28, 2021, Shelby abstained from voting on the creation of an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[96]
Buildings named after him
- The Shelby Hall Research Center at the University of Alabama is named for Shelby and his wife, a professor emerita at the university. The 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) new center opened in 2007 and combines mathematics, chemistry and biology research in one building.[97]
- The Richard C. and Annette N. Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at the University of Alabama at Birmingham opened in April 2006. The 12-story building cost $70 million and is 310,000 square feet (29,000 m2).[98]
- The Senator Richard C. and Dr. Annette N. Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, part of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University, was dedicated on April 18, 2008. Shelby helped secure $30 million of the $54 million cost of Phase I of the project.[99]
- In Mobile, Shelby Hall houses the University of South Alabama College of Engineering and School of Computer and Information Sciences. The 155,000 square feet (14,400 m2) facility was named after Richard and Annette Shelby for their commitment to higher education in Alabama. Senator Shelby was instrumental for securing $40 million in federal grants to fund the $50 million project.[100] The building was dedicated on September 9, 2012.[101]
- The 207,000-square-foot Shelby Center for Science and Technology was dedicated at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in October 2007.[102] It includes 18 teaching laboratories, 13 classrooms, 15 research laboratories, two teaching auditoriums, and 146 offices.[103]
- The Richard C. Shelby Atrium and Auditorium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a state-of-the-art video conferencing center, the first of its kind along the Gulf Coast, has earned the distinguished LEEDS certification for the reduction of negative environmental impact in construction practices and materials.[104]
- The Richard C. Shelby Center for Missile Intelligence serves as the headquarters of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), a component of the Defense Intelligence Agency in Huntsville, Alabama.[105] Shelby has supported MSIC in the past.[106]
Electoral history
Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | % | P. | Total | % | ±% | P. | |||||||
1986 | U.S. Senator | Democratic | 420,155 | 51.33% | 1st | 609,360 | 50.28% | +3.23% | 1st | Won | Gain | ||
1992 | Democratic | Uncontested | 1,022,698 | 64.81% | +14.53% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
1998 | Republican | Uncontested | 817,973 | 63.24% | +30.16% | 1st | Won | Gain | |||||
2004 | Republican | Uncontested | 1,242,200 | 67.55% | +4.31% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
2010 | Republican | 405,042 | 84.34% | 1st | 968,181 | 65.18% | –2.37% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||
2016 | Republican | 505,586 | 64.91% | 1st | 1,335,104 | 63.96% | –1.22% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||
Personal life
Shelby has been married to Annette Nevin Shelby for over 60 years; the couple have two sons, Richard Jr. and Claude.[107][108] As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Shelby's net worth was more than $19 million.[109]
See also
- List of American politicians who switched parties in office
- List of United States senators who switched parties
Explanatory notes
- ^ Fifty-two Republicans and 38 Democrats voted for the bill. Shelby voted against it as did seven Democratic Senators: Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Richard Bryan (Nevada), Byron Dorgan (N. Dakota), Russell Feingold (Wisc.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Barbara Mikulski (Maryland) and Paul Wellstone (Minn.). Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Illinois) voted "present", while Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) did not vote.
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Further reading
- Bamford, James (2004). A Pretext for War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America's Intelligence Agencies. New York: Doubleday. pp. 127–131. ISBN 0-385-50672-4.
External links
- Senator Richard Shelby Archived June 30, 2021, at the Wayback Machine official U.S. Senate website
- Richard Shelby for Senate
- Richard Shelby at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Collected news and commentary Archived June 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Politico
- Appearances on C-SPAN