Roy Blunt: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|FormerAmerican Unitedpolitician States(born Senator from Missouri1950)}}

|successor3 = [[Amy Klobuchar]]

|successor4 = [[Richard Shelby]]

|status6 term_label6 = Acting

|successor6 = [[John Boehner]]

|leader7 = [[Dennis Hastert]]

|predecessor7 = [[Tom DeLay]]

|leader8 = [[Dennis Hastert]]

|predecessor8 = [[Dennis Hastert]]

|successor8 = [[Eric Cantor]]

|spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Roseann Ray|1967|2003|end=div}}<br>
* {{marriage|Abigail Perlman|2003}}

|father = [[Leroy Blunt]]
|education = [[Southwest Baptist University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Missouri State University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])

|module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Roy Blunt Chairs Hearing on FY2020 Department of Education Budget Request.ogg|title=Roy Blunt's voice|type=speech|description=Roy Blunt on the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]] in relation to the FY2020 [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] budget request<br />Recorded March 29, 2019}}

Blunt successfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010. The next year, he was elected [[Vice Chairman of the United States Senate Republican Conference|vice chairman]] of the Senate Republican Conference.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-12-13/senate-republicans-elect-thune-no-3-leader-as-alexander-focuses-on-2014|title=Senate Republicans Elect Thune, Barrasso and Blunt to Top Posts|first=Laura|last=Litvan|date=December 13, 2011 |website=Bloomberg|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> Blunt, who iswas the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation, was elected to serve as [[Senate Republican Policy Committee|Policy Committee]] chairman in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |title=McConnell reelected as leader, Thune promoted to whip |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/416616-mcconnell-re-elected-as-leader-thune-promoted-to-whip/ |website=The Hill |date=November 14, 2018 |access-date=November 17, 2018}}</ref> On March 8, 2021, he announced that he would not seek reelection in [[2022 United States Senate election in Missouri|2022]]. He was succeeded in the U.S. Senate by [[Missouri Attorney General]] [[Eric Schmitt]].<ref>{{Cite webAV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0tvkK689NY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/o0tvkK689NY |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Blunt Announcement on 2022 Election|publisher=Roy Blunt|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignoreYouTube|date=2021-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first1=Clare|last1=Foran|first2=Ted|last2=Barrett|first3=Ethan|last3=Cohen|first4=Alex|last4=Rogers|date=March 8, 2021|title=GOP Sen. Roy Blunt announces he will not run for reelection|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/08/politics/blunt-not-running-reelection/index.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrew Desiderio|title=Sen. Roy Blunt won't run for reelection in latest blow to GOP|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/08/gop-sen-roy-blunt-will-not-run-for-reelection-474342|access-date=2021-03-12|website=POLITICO|date=March 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenbaum |first=Jason |date=2022-11-09 |title=Eric Schmitt punches ticket to U.S. Senate with victory over Trudy Busch Valentine |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2022-11-08/eric-schmitt-punches-ticket-to-u-s-senate-with-victory-over-trudy-busch-valentine |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=STLPR |language=en}}</ref>

Two years later, he earned a [[master's degree]] in history from Southwest Missouri State University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.house.gov/People/Detail/9520|title=Roy Blunt: profile |publisher=United States House |access-date=2016-09-19}}</ref> During his time in college, he received three draft deferments from the Vietnam War.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senator-faces-controversy-over-vietnam-era-draft-deferments |title=Senator faces controversy over Vietnam-era draft deferments |work=The Rachel Maddow Show |date=February 12, 2016 |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> Blunt was a high school history teacher at Marshfield High School from 1970 to 1972;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wise|first1=Lindsay|title=Roy Blunt, a Capitol Hill master strategist, faces his toughest political challenge |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article108217977.html|access-date=October 22, 2016 |work=Kansas City Star|date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> he later taught at [[Southwest Baptist University]] and as a member of the adjunct faculty at [[Drury University]].<ref name=gasconade/>

Blunt voted to prohibit lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers if the guns they manufacture or sell are later used in a crime. He has also voted to require anyone who purchases a gun at a gun show to go through a background check that must be completed within 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web|title=H.R.2122 - Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/2122/|website=Congress.gov|date=June 18, 1999}}</ref> He has received an "A" rating from the [[NationalNRA RiflePolitical AssociationVictory Fund]] (NRA-PVF).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.issues2000.org/House/Roy_Blunt_Gun_Control.htm|title=Roy Blunt on Gun Control|author= OTI Staff|work=On The Issues|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate (2011–20222011–2023)==

In 2021, Blunt was one of 43 senators who voted to acquit Trump in his [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|second impeachment trial]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mastrangelo|first=Dominick|date=2021-03-09|title=Trump praises retiring Blunt, who opposed his conviction|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/542392-trump-praises-retiring-blunt-who-opposed-his-conviction/|access-date=2022-01-18|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref>

In January 2020, Blunt supported the Trump administration ordering the killing of [[Qasem Soleimani]].<ref>{{Cite web|title='Insulting and demeaning': Two GOP lawmakers rip Trump administration after Iran briefing|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/insulting-demeaning-lawmakers-rip-trump-administration-after-iran-briefing-n1112596|access-date=2022-01-18|website=NBC News|date=January 8, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>[[File:President Donald Trump and Roy Blunt.jpg|thumb|right|Blunt with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] in August 2017]]

Blunt has an "A" rating from the [[NationalNRA RiflePolitical AssociationVictory Fund]] (NRA-PVF) and has been endorsed in multiple elections.<ref name="NRAPVF-2010">{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF Endorses Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate in Missouri |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100903/nra-pvf-endorses-roy-blunt-for-us-senate |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812193327/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100903/nra-pvf-endorses-roy-blunt-for-us-senate |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |language=en-US |date=September 3, 2010 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="NRAPVF-2016">{{cite web|title=NRA Endorses Roy Blunt for Re-Election to U.S. Senate|url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20160810/nra-endorses-roy-blunt-for-re-election-to-us-senate|website=NRA-PVF|date=August 10, 2016|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101136/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20160810/nra-endorses-roy-blunt-for-re-election-to-us-senate|archive-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2013, Blunt was one of forty-six senators to vote against the passing of a bill which would have expanded background checks for all gun buyers. Blunt voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the bill, which failed to pass.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/modeling-the-senates-vote-on-gun-control|work=The New York Times|first=Nate|last=Silver|title=Modeling the Senate's Vote on Gun Control|date=April 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420020054/http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/modeling-the-senates-vote-on-gun-control|archive-date=April 20, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Weisman|first=Jonathan|date=April 17, 2013|title=Senate Blocks Drive for Gun Control|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/politics/senate-obama-gun-control.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York|access-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420013710/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/politics/senate-obama-gun-control.html|archive-date=April 20, 2013|quote=In rapid succession, a bipartisan compromise to expand background checks for gun buyers, a ban on assault weapons and a ban on high-capacity gun magazines all failed to get the 60 votes needed under an agreement between both parties.}}{{Subscription required|date=September 2023}}</ref>

In 2022, Blunt later became one of ten Republican Senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which involved a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/senate-gun-safety-agreement/index.html|title=Bipartisan group of senators announces agreement on gun control|publisher=CNN|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Judd|first3=Donald|date=June 12, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref> As a result of Blunt supporting the Safer Communities Act hunter safety and school archery programs have come under attack by the Department of Education.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/outdoors/2023/09/11/are-archery-and-shooting-courses-under-fire-at-missouri-schools/70800099007/ | title=Missouri's Bailey among 24 AGs seeking to protect funding for hunting safety, archery }}</ref>

In 2012, Blunt attempted to add an amendment to a highway funding bill that would allow employers to refuse to provide health insurance for birth control and contraceptives.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Aizenman |first1=N. C. |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |date=2012-03-01 |title=Birth control exemption bill, the 'Blunt amendment,' killed in Senate |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/birth-control-exemption-bill-the-blunt-amendment-killed-in-senate/2012/03/01/gIQA4tXjkR_story.html |access-date=2018-03-09 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In a press release, Blunt defended the amendment on the grounds that it protected the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights of religious employers; the amendment failed, with 51 senators voting against it.<ref>{{Cite news |author1=Tom Cohen |author2=Dan Merica |title=Senate kills controversial 'conscience' amendment - CNNPolitics |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/politics/senate-health-care/index.html |access-date=2018-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Swanson |first=Ian |date=2012-03-01 |title=Senate rejects Blunt amendment to limit birth-control mandate |language=en |work=TheHill |url=httphttps://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/213615107485-senate-rejects-blunt-amendment-to-killlimit-birth-control-mandate/ |access-date=2018-03-09}}</ref>

In 2013, Blunt voted against [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]], which would have outlawed employer discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Liebelson, Dana |date=November 7, 2013 |title=Meet the 32 Senate Republicans who voted to continue LGBT discrimination in the workplace |language=en-US |work=Mother Jones |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/11/senate-republicans-lgbt-discrimination-employment-transgender-gay/ |access-date=2018-03-09}}</ref> In 2022, Blunt stated his support for gay marriage, recanting his longstanding opposition, and later that year voted for the [[Respect for Marriage Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Garrett |title=POLITICO Playbook PM: Counting votes for the Senate's same-sex marriage bill |url=https://politi.co/3ofrGm2 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=POLITICO |date=July 20, 2022 |language=en |quote=Retiring Sen. ROY BLUNT (R-Mo.) “says he supports gay marriage but wants to look at the House bill,” per Bobic.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00362.htm |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

Blunt has been married twice. He married Roseann Ray in May 1967; he had three children with her: [[Matt Blunt|Matt]], the former governor of Missouri, Amy Blunt Mosby and [[Andrew Blunt]].<ref>{{cite news|title=For Roy Blunt, politics is a family matter |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/for-roy-blunt-politics-is-a-family-matter/article_5a73feb1-d7e7-567a-b5fb-619c16d6fa16.html|access-date=September 19, 2016|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> All three children are corporate lobbyists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstribune.com/news/news/story/2012/jan/16/former-missouri-governor-takes-new-roles/546738|title=Former Missouri governor takes on new roles|work=News Tribune|author=Lambrecht, Bill|date=2012-01-16|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref><ref name="cbsnews1">{{cite web|last=Attkisson|first=Sharyl|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-ties-bind-federal-lawmakers-to-lobbyists|title=Family Ties Bind Federal Lawmakers to Lobbyists|publisher=CBS News|date=2010-06-25|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref> Some critics have criticized Andrew's dual professional roles as both a lobbyist for firms that might benefit from Senatorhis Bluntfather's influence and his father's campaign manager.<ref>{{cite web |last=Raasch |first=Chuck |date=November 13, 2015 |title=Mizzou to pay $10,000 a month to Andy Blunt to lobby in Jefferson City |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gateway-to-dc/mizzou-to-pay-a-month-to-andy-blunt-to-lobby/article_70ed603a-8c5f-58d2-854e-4dcc2b994f05.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shesgreen |first=Deirdre |date=December 20, 2015 |title=Andrew Blunt's lobbying work faces scrutiny as he manages father's re-election bid |url=http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/20/andrew-blunts-lobbying-work-faces-scrutiny-he-manages-fathers-re-election-bid/77573306/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=[[Springfield News-Leader]]}}</ref> Matt Blunt is also a lobbyist, as is his wife. The Blunts say they are careful not to seek influence for their clients with Senator Blunt.<ref>{{cite web |last=Raasch |first=Chuck |date=June 3, 2015 |title=Matt Blunt reiterates Senator Blunt's claim — they don't talk about business |url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/matt-blunt-reiterates-senator-blunt-s-claim-they-don-t/article_6e1cda03-3aca-510f-9bda-1c02ad80cad2.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref>

Blunt married Abigail Perlman, a lobbyist for [[Kraft Foods]]<ref name="cbsnews1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/35562994-top-corporate-lobbyists-in-dcd-c/|title=Top corporate lobbyists in D.C.|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=April 24, 2008|work=The Hill|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> and Philip Morris,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farley |first=Robert |date=October 5, 2010 |title=Is ad blowing smoke about Blunt's help for Phillip Morris? |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2010/oct/05/roy-blunt-secretly-amendment-tobacco/ |access-date=2020-09-23 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US}}</ref> in 2003.<ref name="fueled">{{cite news |last=Lambrecht |first=Bill |date=September 12, 2010 |title=In Congress, Roy Blunt's fast ascension fueled by fundraising |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/in-congress-roy-blunt-s-fast-ascension-fueled-by-fundraising/article_38761c4d-9816-5c8c-b2b4-de06ecf234aa.html |access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> In April 2006, he and Perlman [[adoption|adopted]] Charlie Blunt, an 18-month-old boy from [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/01/russian-adoption-ban-is-personal-for-some-us-lawmakers/437043/|title=Russian Adoption Ban Is Personal for Some U.S. Lawmakers|first=Olga|last=Belogolova|work=The Atlantic|date=January 29, 2013|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=April 22, 2006|title=Rep. Blunt, wife adopt baby boy from Russia|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|edition=Third|page=A26|id=1000547887|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=Alexander%20Charles%20Blunt&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2006&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Alexander%20Charles%20Blunt%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> The family lives in [[Washington, D.C.]], and also own a condo in Springfield, Missouri.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Deirdre|last1=Shesgreen|first2=Paul|last2=Singer|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/13/missouri-senator-roy-blunt-state-residence-issue-his-election-bid/91955536|title=Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt's D.C. address an issue in his re-election bid|work=USA Today|date=2016-10-13|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref> Roy Blunt has six grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royblunt.com/about-roy|title=Friends of Roy Blunt – Meet Roy|work=royblunt.com|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> He is a practicing [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]].<ref name=Baptist>{{cite news|title=Ten Southern Baptists sworn in as new reps|url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34378|access-date=December 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226010629/http://www.bpnews.net/34378|archive-date=December 26, 2014|newspaper=Baptist Press|date=January 5, 2011}}</ref>

On February 14, 2023, Blunt was elected as president of The State Historical Society of Missouri where he has been a trustee of since 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruch |first=Amber |title=Blunt to lead State Historical Society of Missouri |url=https://www.ky3.com/2023/02/14/blunt-lead-state-historical-society-missouri/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.ky3.com |date=February 14, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

{{s-bef|before=Wayne Gott<br />Acting}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Missouri|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Missouri's 7th congressional district]]|years=1997–2011}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Leader]]<br />Acting|years=2005–2006}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Republican Deputy Leader]]<br />Acting|years=2005–2006}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from Missouri|U.S. Senator]] from [[Missouri]]<br />([[Classes of United States senators|Class 3]])|years=[[2010 United States Senate election in Missouri|2010]], [[2016 United States Senate election in Missouri|2016]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br />''{{small|as Former US Senator}}''|years=}}

[[Category:20th-century AmericanMissouri politicians]]

[[Category:21st-century AmericanMissouri politicians]]

[[Category:Honorary Officersofficers of the Order of Australia]]

[[Category:Secretaries of Statestate of Missouri]]