Palazzo, S
TP PRIMARIED BY CFG?
Political action
Club for Growth Action states that it is “dedicated to a single mission: beating big government politicians” of both parties. The group targets mostly Republicans in primaries and Democrats in the general election.[2]
In February 2013, Club for Growth Action launched a website called “PrimaryMyCongressman.com." Club for Growth president Chris Chocola said the website would "serve as a tool to hold opponents of economic freedom and limited government accountable for their actions.” According to Club for Growth Action, the website will "rotate liberal Republicans through the website to highlight their failed records on limiting government." The first nine targets were Republicans Mike Simpson, Adam Kinzinger, Rick Crawford, Frank Lucas, Steven Palazzo, Martha Roby, Larry Bucshon, Renee Ellmers, and Aaron Schock.[4][5]
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2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi § District 4
Palazzo entered the Republican primary for Mississippi's 4th congressional district and won the nomination with 57% of the vote. He faced 10-term Democratic incumbent Gene Taylor in the general election. Although the 4th district had turned almost solidly Republican at the federal level, Taylor had held the seat without serious difficulty since 1996. His voting record had been very conservative even by Mississippi Democratic standards, and he had often broken with his party. Palazzo established himself as Taylor's strongest opponent since 1996. In particular, he attacked Taylor for supporting Nancy Pelosi for House Speaker in 2006 and 2008.[9] He was endorsed by Sarah Palin and defeated Taylor, 52%–47%.[10]
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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi § District 4
Palazzo lost renomination to Mike Ezell in the June 28, 2022, Republican primary.
Tenure
Palazzo during the 112th Congress
Palazzo voted with his Republican colleagues to pass a balanced budget amendment and repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
In 2013, Palazzo was recognized when he opened the barricades and escorted 91 veterans to access World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the government shutdown.[19]
In 2015, Palazzo cosponsored a resolution to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[20] He also condemned the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.[21]
In February 2017, Palazzo began to face calls from constituents to attend town halls. One on the Gulf Coast in Long Beach was organized. A similar meeting was organized in Hattiesburg. Palazzo did not attend either.[22][23]
In 2018, Palazzo defended the Trump administration's policy of separating small children from immigrant parents by blaming it on Democratic administrations. "Overall, it’s a terrible, sad situation that unfortunately has been created by years of liberal policies that lead illegal immigrants to believe they can freely stroll through our borders. There is no law requiring separation of families at the border. In April, Attorney General Sessions implemented a zero-tolerance policy that mandates that each person caught illegally crossing the U.S. border be criminally prosecuted. I stand firmly behind that policy." He continued, "this separation of families is the adverse effect created by a past liberal policy", and "I will not allow the Democrats and liberal media to use this issue to push amnesty or other unsafe immigration policies down the throats of the American people."[24]
In December 2020, Palazzo was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[25] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[26][27][28]
On November 30, 2021, Palazzo was the lone Mississippi House Republican to vote for of H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. The bill helps create confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations.[29]
Palazzo sponsored H.R. 6202, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021, introduced by Representative Jim Banks. The legislation would establish a wage floor for the high-skill H-1B visa program, thereby significantly reducing employer dependence on the program. The bill would also eliminate the Optional Practical Training program that allows foreign graduates to stay and work in the United States.[30]
During his 12 years in Congress, Palazzo has served on a number of committees during his tenure, most recently on the House Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittees. He was also is co-chair of the National Guard Caucus.[31]