Article snippet: The congressman who was shot during a baseball practice this morning has had a role in the Republican Party for years. Steve Scalise, R-La., is the majority whip in the House of Representatives. He won a special election in 2008 to serve in the House, announcing his run after then-Rep. Bobby Jindal won Louisiana's gubernatorial race in 2007. Scalise, 51, is married and has two children. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said that he took Scalise's phone on the scene after the shooting and called Scalise's wife. "I just didn't want her to wake up and hear the news and not know what's going on," Flake told a local affiliate from the scene of the shooting this morning. Scalise is undergoing surgery. His injury is not believed to be life-threatening. "Prior to entering surgery, the whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone," his office said. "He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders and colleagues. We ask that you keep the whip and others harmed in this incident in your thoughts and prayers." He was born in New Orleans, and he attended Louisiana State University. He served in the state's legislature before moving into national politics. Scalise's biography on the Republican Party website describes him as "a strong conservative leader who upholds the Constitution, advocating for the principles of fiscal discipline, lower taxes, an all-of-the-above national energy strategy, a robust national defen... Link to the full article to read more