About Joe

Congressman Joe Scarborough works for MSNBC as cable news host for "Scarborough Country." He also provides on air political commentary for MSNBC, CNBC, and NBC's Today Show.

Congressman Scarborough was elected to the US Congress in 1994, becoming the first Republican elected in Florida's First District since 1872.  Scarborough was re-elected three more times, in landslide victories. While on Capitol Hill, he worked with a small group of freshmen  the National Journal cited for having acquired unusual power and influence given their short time in Washington.

While in Congress, Scarborough served on the Armed Services Committee, the Judiciary Committee, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Education Committee. In 1998, he was named Chairman of the Civil Service Committee. President Bill Clinton called Joe's bill on Long Term Care that he drafted and passed while chairman of that committee "landmark legislation."

Scarborough championed a balanced budget, human rights, religious freedom, and environmental causes while in Congress. In 1996, he led the effort to relocate hundreds of minority families whose homes were located over a superfund site. US News and World Report called Scarborough's action "groundbreaking."

Scarborough, along with Joe Kennedy, Joe Moakley, and Tim Roemer, introduced legislation to rename the Justice Department building after Robert. F. Kennedy to honor the late Kennedy Administration Attorney General.

In 1999, Scarborough founded and published the award-winning newspaper The Florida Sun .

In May, 2001, Joe retired from Congress to spend more time with his children, practice law, and launch a cable news program.

After leaving office, he was named by President Bush as a member of the President's Council on the 21st Century Workforce, where he served with Labor Secretary Chao, national labor officials, and business leaders.

Following guest-hosting spots on all major news networks, Congressman Scarborough was named host of his own MSNBC cable news show in April, 2003.

In 2004, Scarborough published the critically acclaimed Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day , which gives an insider's view what goes on behind closed doors in Washington, and how that contributes to reckless federal spending.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in 1985 and his law degree from the University of Florida in 1990. He is a member of the Florida law firm Beggs and Lane.

Joe Scarborough resides in Florida with his wife and three children.