Rick Saccone

Rick Saccone
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 39th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2011
Preceded by David Levdansky
Constituency Part of Allegheny County
Part of Washington County
Personal details
Born (1958-02-14) February 14, 1958
Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Yong Saccone
Children 2
Residence Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania
Alma mater Weber State University
University of Oklahoma
Naval Postgraduate School
University of Pittsburgh
Occupation Legislator
Professor
Website www.repsaccone.com

Rick Saccone (born February 14, 1958) is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Saccone has represented the 39th District since 2011 and is a member of the Republican Party.[1]

Biography

During the 2011-12 session, Saccone was appointed to serve on the House committees on Children and Youth, Environmental Resources and Energy, Judiciary and Urban Affairs.

He served for twenty years in the United States Air Force. After retiring from the USAF, Saccone remained in South Korea to work as a TV news anchor and later for several corporations in South Korea and Central America.

After earning a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh, Saccone became a full-time professor at Saint Vincent College, teaching Political Science, Government, International Business and other international courses.

Saccone reportedly worked for the United States Army as a civilian senior Counterintelligence Special Agent during the Iraq War.

Religion

Year of the Bible

On January 24, 2012, Saccone introduced to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives House Resolution No. 535, a "noncontroversial resolution .. [d]eclaring 2012 as the 'Year of the Bible' in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, The Bible, the word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people." The resolution refers to the Bible as “holy scriptures” that “led to the early settlement of our country”, credits “Biblical teachings” for inspiring “concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States”, and declares that “[t]he history of our country clearly illustrates the value of voluntarily applying the teachings of the scriptures in the lives of individuals, families and societies.” The resolution passed unanimously.[2]

There was controversy over the bill's approach to the rights of the separation of church and state set forth in the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution. The bill declares that calling the Bible "the word of God" does not conflict with the State Constitution barring "any human authority" from preferring one religious establishment or "mode of worship" over another.

National Motto Display Act

Along with twenty-five co-sponsors on October 1, 2013, Saccone entered House Bill # 1728 with the short title, "National Motto Display Act," and it exerts, "The board of directors of every school district in this Commonwealth shall display the motto 'In God We Trust'."[3] Most questionable within the text of the Bill is the statement "[Former Pennsylvania Governor] Pollock suggested the motto 'In God We Trust' be featured on all United States currency" because 1) other sources suggest that Pollock preferred "Our God and Our Country," "God and Our Country," or "God, Our Trust" (Pollock's personal favorite)[4] and 2) Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase over-ruled Pollock in favor of "In God We Trust."[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Rick Saccone's Biography - The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania State House of Representatives House Resolution No. 535, legis.state.pa.us; accessed November 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Text of House Bill No. 1728 Session of 2013". Legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  4. ↑ Lane, Frederick S (2008). The Court and the Cross: The Religious Right's Crusade to Reshape the Supreme Court. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0807044247.
  5. ↑ Chase, Salmon P (December 9, 1863). Letter to James Pollock. Document # RG 104_UD 87-A_Folder In God We Trust 1861_Part1. National Archives and Records Administration. p. 11.

Sources

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