Steve Womack

Stephen Allen Womack[2] (/ˈwoʊˌmæk/; born February 18, 1957) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was Mayor of Rogers, Arkansas prior to his congressional tenure.

Steve Womack
Ranking Member of the
House Budget Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2019 (2019-01-03)
Preceded byJohn Yarmuth
Chair of the House Budget Committee
In office
January 11, 2018 (2018-01-11) – January 3, 2019 (2019-01-03)
Preceded byDiane Black
Succeeded byJohn Yarmuth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011 (2011-01-03)
Preceded byJohn Boozman
Mayor of Rogers
In office
1998–2011
Preceded byJohn Sampier
Succeeded byGreg Hines
Personal details
Born
Stephen Allen Womack

(1957-02-18) February 18, 1957
Russellville, Arkansas, United States
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Terri Williams
Children3
EducationArkansas Tech University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1979-2009[1]
Rank Colonel
UnitArkansas Army National Guard
AwardsLegion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal

Early life, education, and business career
Steve Womack as an Army National Guard lieutenant colonel in 2002

Womack was born in Russellville, Arkansas, the son of Elisabeth F. (Canerday) and James Kermit Womack.[3] He spent most of his childhood in Moberly, Missouri but moved back to Russellville at the age of 16 and graduated from Russellville High School in 1975. He graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1979. Shortly afterward, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He served for 30 years, retiring in 2009 as a colonel. Womack's father founded KURM-AM in 1979, and Womack served as station manager from 1979 to 1990. He then served as executive officer of the Army ROTC program at the University of Arkansas from 1990 to 1996, then joined Merrill Lynch as a financial consultant.

Mayor of Rogers

In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, the ninth largest city of Arkansas. He served for twelve years as the city's mayor.[4] During his time as mayor, Womack sought to crack down on illegal immigration by assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department.[5] As a result, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class-action suit against the city's police force for racial profiling.[6]

In 2002 and 2006 Womack won re-election unopposed.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas § District 3

In late 2009, Womack jumped into the race for the 3rd District after incumbent Republican John Boozman gave it up to run for the United States Senate. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the South and the nation (Republicans have held it since 1967), and it was generally believed whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's next congressman. He ranked first in the seven-candidate primary with 31% of the vote, failing to reach the 50% threshold.[8] In the June runoff, he defeated State Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe 52%-48%.[9]

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%-28%.[10]

2012
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas § District 3

Womack was originally set to face veteran Ken Aden in his re-election bid. However, on July 8, Aden withdrew from the race after admitting to exaggerating his military record. As it was too late to select a replacement candidate for Aden (under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party could only name a replacement at that late date if the original candidate died, moved out of the district or opted to seek another office), Womack faced no major-party opposition in November.[11] He won re-election to a second term with 76% of the vote.[12]

Tenure

In 2011, Womack filed an amendment to a spending bill in an attempt to defund Barack Obama's teleprompter.[13]

On February 14, 2013, Womack sponsored H.R. 684, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, a bill that would allow states to charge and collect sales taxes on internet purchases.[14] Supporters say the bill will create a "level playing field" between online retailers and brick and mortar retailers,[15] while opponents argue that the bill would increase the power of the states, threaten consumer privacy, increase taxes, and hurt small businesses.[16][17][18]

In 2010 Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.[19]

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014[20] lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.[21]

In a 2015 episode of his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver criticized Womack for blocking the enforcement of laws proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration that would have protected chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.[22]

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[23] Womack supports cutting taxes and making the tax filing process easier.[24] He believes that the act will let people "keep more of their paycheck, creates jobs and increases wages by making American businesses competitive again, and simplifies a code that has become riddled with loopholes."[25]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

In the wake of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Womack offered thoughts and prayers via social media.[27]

In 2016, Womack had a "D" rating from marijuana legalization advocacy group NORML regarding his voting record on cannabis-related matters.[28]

Personal life

Womack attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church in Rogers, Arkansas.[29]

Womack's son, James Phillip Womack, was sentenced to nine years in prison on felony gun and drug charges in April 2019.[30]

Electoral history
Year Office District Democratic Republican Other
2010 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district David Whitaker 27.56% Steve Womack 72.44%
2012 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 75.9% Rebekah Kennedy (G) 16.01%
2014 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 79.41% Grant Brand (L) 20.59%
2016 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 77.31% Steve Isaacson (L) 22.69%
2018 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Joshua Mahony Steve Womack

References
  1. "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier - Soldiers of the 112th Congress" (PDF). Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. "Rep. Steve Womack". legistorm.com. LegiStorm. 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. "Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  4. "Steve Womack (R)". Election 2012. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  5. "Arkansas Congressman Criticizes Constituent For Wearing Mexican Flag Shirt". Fox News Latino. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  6. A Town's Two Faces. Newsweek (2001-06-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  7. Bio at Rogers city site. Rogersarkansas.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  8. "Our Campaigns - AR District 03 - R Primary Race - May 18, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  9. "Our Campaigns - AR District 03 - R Runoff Race - Jun 08, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  10. "Our Campaigns - AR - District 03 Race - Nov 02, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  11. Brantley, Max (9 July 2012). "Ken Aden dropping out of 3rd District congressional race". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  12. "Our Campaigns - AR - District 03 Race - Nov 06, 2012". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  13. Newell, Jim. "Republican Tries to Defund Obama's Teleprompter". Gawker. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  14. "H.R. 684 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  15. "Bill Before U.S. Senate Will End Special Treatment of Online-Only Retailers". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  16. Melugin, Jessica. "Facts on the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 743, formerly S. 336)". Competitive Enterprise Institute. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  17. "NTU urges all Senators to vote "NO" on S. 743, the "Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA) of 2013."". National Taxpayers Union. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  18. "WE R HERE: Opposition to Senate Internet Tax Act Grows". Yahoo!Finance. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  19. http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/womack.pdf
  20. "What is the "GIPSA Rider" and why is the House once again attacking farmers' rights?". sustainableagriculture.net. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  21. Arnsdorf , Isaac (5 June 2019). "Chicken farmers thought Trump was going to help them, but his administration did the opposite". msn.com. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  22. Haas, Nathaniel (1 June 2015). "John Oliver vs. chicken". Politico. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  23. Almukhtar, Sarah (19 December 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. Kamper, Deni (21 December 2017). "What You Should Know About the New Tax Plan". NWAHOMEPAGE. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  25. "Senate OKs tax bill; House revote set". Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  26. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  27. Berkowitz, Bonnie; Cai, Weiyi; Lu, Denise; Gamio, Lazaro. "Everything lawmakers said (and didn't say) after the Orlando mass shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  28. "Arkansas Scorecard - NORML.org - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws". norml.org. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  29. "Ten Southern Baptists sworn in as new reps". bpnews.net. Baptist Press. 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2019. Here is information on the new House members who have been confirmed to be members of Southern Baptist churches. Arkansas: Rep. Rick Crawford, First District, Nettleton Baptist Church, Jonesboro; Rep. Tim Griffin, Second District, Immanuel BC, Little Rock.; Rep. Steve Womack, Third District, Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, Rogers.
  30. "Arkansas congressman's son gets 9-year term in gun, drug case". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Bentonville, Arkansas: WEHCO Media. 18 April 2019. ISSN 1060-4332. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019. BENTONVILLE -- The son of an Arkansas congressman was sentenced to nine years in prison last week after pleading guilty to drugs and firearm-related charges. James Phillip Womack, 31, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a counterfeit substance with purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of firearms by certain persons. Womack resolved his case through a plea agreement Shane Wilkinson, his attorney, reached with David James, deputy prosecutor. Womack is the son of U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Boozman		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district
2011–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Diane Black		 Chair of the House Budget Committee
2018–2019		 Succeeded by
John Yarmuth
New office Chair of the Joint Budget and Appropriations Reform Committee
2018–2019		 Position abolished
Preceded by
John Yarmuth		 Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee
2019–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Frederica Wilson		 United States Representatives by seniority
182nd		 Succeeded by
Rob Woodall
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