John Spratt was a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a Democrat from South Carolina’s Fifth District.
- Died: December 14, 2024 (Who else died on December 14?)
- Details of death: Died of complications from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 82.
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John Spratt’s legacy
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Spratt grew up in York, South Carolina. He graduated from Oxford University and Yale Law School before serving in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. After returning home to practice law in York, he first ran for Congress in 1982 at a time when his district was solidly Democratic. His predecessor was Democrat Kenneth Holland, who had served three terms before stepping down. And in several of his early elections, no Republican stepped up to challenge Spratt.
While in the House, Spratt was a prominent member of the Budget Committee and rose to lead it from 2007 to 2011. Even before he chaired the committee, his influence on the budget was clear. He co-authored the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, a key piece of President Bill Clinton’s legacy that ushered in the first federal budget surplus in decades. Later, Spratt was a champion of the Affordable Care Act.
As Spratt’s political career matured, his district was changing, becoming increasingly Republican. For years, his constituents continued to elect him, even as they voted for Republicans on the rest of the ticket. However, he faced a formidable fight in the 2010 election from new challenger Mick Mulvaney. Mulvaney rode the Tea Party’s wave to election victory, ending Spratt’s time in the House. After his political career, Spratt served as Visiting Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Tributes to John Spratt
Full obituary: The Post and Courier
