Richard Baker



Richard Hugh Baker was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives between 1987 and 2008, and represented the 6th District of Louisiana. The district is based in the state capital, Baton Rouge, and includes much of that city's metropolitan area. (map)

Iraq War
Baker voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Hurricane Katrina
According to The Wall Street Journal, Baker caused some controversy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he was overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." Baker later tried to explain he has long wanted to improve low-income housing. 

Baker, a former developer, introduced the "Baker Bill" to aid in reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina. Critics of the bill charge it is "a disguised attempt to favor the mortgage industry by bailing local lenders out with government money, rather than incurring major losses from foreclosure of the destroyed property" and "the biggest land grab in history.'' Supporters say it is "the closest thing to a real solution" that has been offered. []

Bio
Baker was born May 22, 1948 in New Orleans and graduated from Louisiana State University. He stayed in Baton Rouge after graduation and founded a real estate agency. He worked as a Real Estate Developer from 1971-86. In 1971, just a year out of school, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives as a Democrat from a predominantly blue-collar district in Baton Rouge and served eight terms. In 1986, Baker switched to the Republican Party due to a long-running feud with Governor of Louisiana, Edwin Edwards. Soon afterwards, 6th District Congressman Henson Moore announced he was running for the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Russell Long (he was defeated in that race by 7th District Congressman John Breaux). Moore encouraged Baker to run for the seat. No other candidate filed to run, ensuring Baker's election. He was reelected unopposed in 1988 and 1990.

Now Baker is considered one of the most conservative members of Congress with a lifetime rating of "91" from the American Conservative Union. The "National Journal" ranked Baker the 17th most conservative House member for 2005, an achievement for which Baker proudly issued a press release. 

Redistricting
In 1992 Louisiana lost a congressional seat as a result of redistricting after the 1990 Census. Clyde Holloway, who had represented the Alexandria-based 8th District, had his home drawn into Baker's district. Baker barely avoided a December runoff, winning by 2,700 votes. After unopposed runs in 1994 and 1996, Baker faced his first Democratic challenger ever in 1998. That year, Marjorie McKeithen, the daughter of longtime Louisiana Secretary of State Fox McKeithen ran against him. Court-ordered redistricting before the 1996 elections had drawn considerably more blacks into the district than Baker had previously represented. Amid a nationwide backlash against Republicans for what was seen as overzealous behavior during the impeachment of Bill Clinton, Baker just barely held onto his seat by over 1,000 votes. He had a slightly easier time in 2000, winning 68% of the vote. Redistricting after the 2000 census drew more blacks into the district, but Baker has fended off his opposition fairly easily, facing no major-party opposition in 2002 and two weak Democrats in 2004. In 2006 he once again won reelection, drawing 81% of the vote. 

Resignation
On January 15, 2008, Baker announced he would leave Congress and take a position as CEO of Managed Funds Association, a lobbying firm that represents the hedge fund industry. Baker represented Louisiana's 6th Congressional District for 22 years, and was a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. He will resign his seat in Congress in February.

Money in politics
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Committees

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment - Ranking Member
 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommitee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommitee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommitee on Economic Opportunity
 * Subcommitee on Health

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises - Chair
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
 * Subcommittee on Health

Organizational Memberships

 * Southern Legislative Conference
 * ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council)
 * Central Area Homebuilders
 * EastBaton Rouge Airport Commission

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Technorati Search: Richard Baker
 * Google News Search: Richard Baker
 * Yahoo! News Search: Richard Baker
 * Power Trips: How much did Richard Baker travel?
 * GovTrack Statistics: Richard Baker

Articles

 * Some GOP Lawmakers Hit Jarring Note in Addressing Hurricane Katrina by Charles Babington, Washington Post, 9/10/05.
 * A Big Government Fix-it Plan for New Orleans by Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 1/5/06.
 * In Race for Financial Services Gavel, Industry Players Pick Sides by Elana Schor, The Hill, 11/30/05.
 * President Avoids Endorsing Baker Bill by James Varney, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 1/13/06.
 * The Man with the Plan by Jeremy Alford, Baton Rouge Business Report, 2/28/06.
 * Novak Sits Down with Baker by Robert Novak, Union Leader, 3/7/06.
 * The Battle of New Orleans by Quinn Hillyer, The American Spectator, 3/10/06.