Rep. Steve Scalise didn't want Louisiana to apologize for slavery

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) once voted against an effort by the Louisiana legislature to apologize for the state's role in "the establishment and maintenance of the institution of slavery."

As a state lawmaker in 1996, Scalise was one of two representatives to vote against an apology resolution, saying at the time, "I am not going to apologize for what somebody else did." Scalise later voted for a tweaked version of the resolution expressing "regret" for slavery, which passed unanimously.

Scalise came under fire last month when it was revealed he had spoken at a white supremacist gathering in 2002. He has since said the speech was a "mistake I regret."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up