Early life and education
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Scarborough graduated from Pensacola Catholic High
School in Pensacola, Florida. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama in
1985 and a J.D. from the University of Florida law school in 1990 with an emphasis in
Constitutional Law [1]. He was admitted to the Florida State bar in 1991 [1].
Scarborough taught high school and practiced law in Pensacola. [2] His most
high-profile case was that of Michael F. Griffin, later convicted of killing abortion
doctor David Gunn. At the request of Griffin's family, Scarborough (who is against
abortion) initially represented Griffin, though the judge refused his request to defend
Griffin during the criminal trial, citing the inexperience of Scarborough, a civil lawyer,
regarding criminal law. Scarborough assisted Griffin in obtaining a trial attorney. [3]
Scarborough's first major foray into politics was assisting with a petition drive in late
1993 opposing a 65% increase in city property taxes. During the drive he made
numerous contacts that would prove valuable in his upcoming Congressional race. [2]
Congressional career
In 1994 Scarborough won the Republican nomination for Florida's 1st congressional
district, which came open after 16-year incumbent Democrat Earl Hutto did not run for
reelection. He was elected with 61% of the vote, becoming the first Republican to
represent the 1st District since its formation after the 1900 Census (it was the 3rd
District from 1903-63). He was reelected three times with no serious opposition, even
running unopposed in 1998 and 2000. The 1st, located in the Panhandle, had turned
into one of the most conservative regions of the state - in fact, it has not supported a
Democrat for president since 1960.
Scarborough, who signed the Contract with America, was part of the 1994 Republican
takeover of the House, led by Newt Gingrich. Scarborough served on the Armed
Services, Judiciary, Government Reform, and Education committees. In 1998, he was
named Chairman of the Civil Service Committee.
Scarborough was one of a group of about 40 GOP freshmen legislators who dubbed
themselves the "New Federalists" after the Federalist Papers. Scarborough was
elected Political Director of the incoming legislators. The New Federalists called for
sweeping cuts in the US government, including plans to "privatize, localize,
consolidate, [or] eliminate"[4] the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy and
Housing and Urban Development, but were largely unsuccessful in their goals.
Scarborough was a fiscal conservative who continually pushed his party to force more
reductions in the size and scope of the federal government.[citation needed] Gingrich
tapped Scarborough to head a Republican task force on education, and Scarborough
declared "Our goal is to get as much money, power and authority out of Washington
and get as much money, power and authority into the classroom as possible." [2]
Scarborough sponsored a bill to force the US to withdraw from the United Nations
after a four year transition[4] and voted to make the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting "self-sufficient" [5] by eliminating federal funding for the CPB. He also
voted for the "Medicare Preservation act of 1995"[6], which cut the projected growth
Medicare by $270 billion over ten years, against the "Small Business Job Protection
Act of 1996"[7] which raised the minimum wage to $5.15. Scarborough had a
conservative voting record on economic, social, and foreign policy issues but was
seen as moderate on environmental issues and human rights causes. [2]
While in Congress, Scarborough received numerous awards, including: the "Friend of
the Taxpayer Award" from Americans for Tax Reform; the "Guardian of Small
Business Award" from the National Federation of Independent Business; the "Spirit of
Enterprise Award" from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the "Taxpayer's Hero Award"
from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste and the "Guardian of
Seniors' Rights Award" from the 60 Plus Association.[8]
On July 20, 2001, Lori Klausutis, one of Scarborough's aides, died after hitting her
head on a desk when she fainted in Scarborough's Fort Walton Beach, Florida office.
Joe Scarborough was in his Washington, D.C. office at the time of her death. The
Northwest Florida Daily News reported the findings of Okaloosa County Associate
Medical Examiner Michael Berkland who said the death was accidental. [2]. According
to Scarborough, soon after her death allegations "spread all over the Internet" that he
had been involved [9], although there was no evidence of foul play. In 2003, he joked
about the incident with Don Imus on Imus' radio program [10] and in 2004 it was the
subject of a public spat between Scarborough and filmmaker
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Scarborough graduated from Pensacola Catholic High
School in Pensacola, Florida. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama in
1985 and a J.D. from the University of Florida law school in 1990 with an emphasis in
Constitutional Law [1]. He was admitted to the Florida State bar in 1991 [1].
Scarborough taught high school and practiced law in Pensacola. [2] His most
high-profile case was that of Michael F. Griffin, later convicted of killing abortion
doctor David Gunn. At the request of Griffin's family, Scarborough (who is against
abortion) initially represented Griffin, though the judge refused his request to defend
Griffin during the criminal trial, citing the inexperience of Scarborough, a civil lawyer,
regarding criminal law. Scarborough assisted Griffin in obtaining a trial attorney. [3]
Scarborough's first major foray into politics was assisting with a petition drive in late
1993 opposing a 65% increase in city property taxes. During the drive he made
numerous contacts that would prove valuable in his upcoming Congressional race. [2]
Congressional career
In 1994 Scarborough won the Republican nomination for Florida's 1st congressional
district, which came open after 16-year incumbent Democrat Earl Hutto did not run for
reelection. He was elected with 61% of the vote, becoming the first Republican to
represent the 1st District since its formation after the 1900 Census (it was the 3rd
District from 1903-63). He was reelected three times with no serious opposition, even
running unopposed in 1998 and 2000. The 1st, located in the Panhandle, had turned
into one of the most conservative regions of the state - in fact, it has not supported a
Democrat for president since 1960.
Scarborough, who signed the Contract with America, was part of the 1994 Republican
takeover of the House, led by Newt Gingrich. Scarborough served on the Armed
Services, Judiciary, Government Reform, and Education committees. In 1998, he was
named Chairman of the Civil Service Committee.
Scarborough was one of a group of about 40 GOP freshmen legislators who dubbed
themselves the "New Federalists" after the Federalist Papers. Scarborough was
elected Political Director of the incoming legislators. The New Federalists called for
sweeping cuts in the US government, including plans to "privatize, localize,
consolidate, [or] eliminate"[4] the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy and
Housing and Urban Development, but were largely unsuccessful in their goals.
Scarborough was a fiscal conservative who continually pushed his party to force more
reductions in the size and scope of the federal government.[citation needed] Gingrich
tapped Scarborough to head a Republican task force on education, and Scarborough
declared "Our goal is to get as much money, power and authority out of Washington
and get as much money, power and authority into the classroom as possible." [2]
Scarborough sponsored a bill to force the US to withdraw from the United Nations
after a four year transition[4] and voted to make the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting "self-sufficient" [5] by eliminating federal funding for the CPB. He also
voted for the "Medicare Preservation act of 1995"[6], which cut the projected growth
Medicare by $270 billion over ten years, against the "Small Business Job Protection
Act of 1996"[7] which raised the minimum wage to $5.15. Scarborough had a
conservative voting record on economic, social, and foreign policy issues but was
seen as moderate on environmental issues and human rights causes. [2]
While in Congress, Scarborough received numerous awards, including: the "Friend of
the Taxpayer Award" from Americans for Tax Reform; the "Guardian of Small
Business Award" from the National Federation of Independent Business; the "Spirit of
Enterprise Award" from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the "Taxpayer's Hero Award"
from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste and the "Guardian of
Seniors' Rights Award" from the 60 Plus Association.[8]
On July 20, 2001, Lori Klausutis, one of Scarborough's aides, died after hitting her
head on a desk when she fainted in Scarborough's Fort Walton Beach, Florida office.
Joe Scarborough was in his Washington, D.C. office at the time of her death. The
Northwest Florida Daily News reported the findings of Okaloosa County Associate
Medical Examiner Michael Berkland who said the death was accidental. [2]. According
to Scarborough, soon after her death allegations "spread all over the Internet" that he
had been involved [9], although there was no evidence of foul play. In 2003, he joked
about the incident with Don Imus on Imus' radio program [10] and in 2004 it was the
subject of a public spat between Scarborough and filmmaker
Joe Scarborough
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