Cindy goes inland; area mostly unscathed
June 22, 2017
Marie Barrilleaux
June 23, 2017
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (RLa) whose district includes portions of the Bayou Region, continues to slowly improve according to updates from his staff, following a shooting last week at a Virginia baseball field where he and other members of a Republican House of Representatives baseball team were practicing for a charity game against Democrats.
The gunman, identified as 66-year-old James Hodgkinson of Illinois, died of wounds suffered during a gunfire exchange with police last Wednesday, June 14. Capitol Police special agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner were also shot, as was former congressional staff member Matt Mika. A current GOP staffer, Zack Barth, was shot as well.
The only fatality reported in connection with the incident was the gunman, who was reported to have harbored hatred toward President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
Scalise has improved to a point where he can communicate with family, who have been providing updates on his condition with regularity with the help of staff at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. His wife, Jennifer, issued a statement of thanks to them and others.
“I want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible amount of prayers and warm wishes we have received since Wednesday’s events,” Mrs. Scalise wrote. “We are especially appreciative of the strong outpouring of love and support from our neighbors, friends, from Louisiana and across the country, as well as from President Trump, Vice President Pence, and all of Steve’s colleagues who have reached out
“HE HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT BY AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT. IF STEVE GAVE YOU HIS WORD YOU COULD TAKE IT TO THE BANK. HE IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY. A CLASS ACT.”
to us during this most challenging time. Most importantly, we are forever grateful for the heroism of Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey, who saved the lives of everyone at the baseball field that morning, including Steve’s. Crystal and David have been family to us for years, and we ask that you continue to pray for their full recovery. I would also like to personally thank all of the first responders who bravely assisted at the scene, as well as the entire staff of MedStar Washington Hospital Center for their continued excellent care.”
The shooting sent shock waves through the Bayou Re gion’s business community, many of whose members have been close to the Metairie congressman. Scalise’s commitment to peeling back government regulations is valued by many, especially those in the highly regulated oil and gas industry. Scalise has been a favored speaker at business luncheons.
A five-term member of Congress, Scalise has served in the past as a Louisiana State Representative.
Houma attorney Hunt Downer, who served as Speaker of the House during his time in the state legislature, is among local political leaders who praised the congressman in interviews last week.
“When I was speaker he was floor leader and I remember his service on the appropriations committee,” Downer said. “He was always a fiscal conservative who would ask interesting and to the point questions. I would describe his questioning as peeling the onion back from the bureaucracies and the special interest groups. He had a way of getting to the heart of the matter, good perception and a good feel for the environment of government. He has always maintained that we ought to have government by the people and for the people as opposed to government by and for the government. If Steve gave you his word you could take it to the bank. He is a man of integrity. A class act.”
Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise is making medical progress after getting shot last week in Virginia.
