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John Walsh
United States Senator from Montana
Incumbent
Assumed office February 9, 2014Serving with Jon Tester
Appointed by	Steve Bullock
Preceded by	Max Baucus
30th Lieutenant Governor of Montana
In office January 7, 2013 – February 9, 2014
Governor	Steve Bullock
Preceded by	John Bohlinger
Succeeded by	Angela McLean
Adjutant General of Montana
In office September 1, 2008 – March 2012
Governor	Brian Schweitzer
Preceded by	Randall Mosley
Succeeded by	Joel Cusker (Acting)
Personal details
Born	(1960-11-03) November 3, 1960 (age 64) Butte, Montana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Janet Walsh
Children	2
Alma mater	Carroll College Excelsior College United States Army Command and General Staff College United States Army War College
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Combat Infantryman Badge
Website	Congressional website Campaign website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1979–2012
Rank	Brigadier General (Montana) Colonel (U.S. Army)
Unit	Montana National Guard
Battles/wars	Iraq War

John E. Walsh (born November 3, 1960) is the junior United States Senator from Montana, serving since February 9, 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Army colonel, the adjutant general of the Montana National Guard with a state commission as a brigadier general from 2008 to 2012, and Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 2013 to 2014.

In October 2013, Walsh announced that he was running for the U.S. Senate in 2014 to succeed retiring Democratic incumbent Max Baucus. In February 2014, Governor Steve Bullock appointed Walsh to the seat to replace Baucus, who resigned to become United States Ambassador to China.

Early life and education

Walsh was born on November 3, 1960 in Butte, Montana, and graduated from Butte High School in 1979. He enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard after graduating from high school in 1979, and received his commission as an officer in 1987.

Walsh is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

He attended Carroll College, received a Bachelor's degree from Regents College, the University of the State of New York (now Excelsior College) in 1990 and a Master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2007.

On July 23, 2014, the New York Times alleged that in 2007, Walsh appeared to have plagiarized roughly two-thirds of his 14-page Strategy Research Paper, a requirement for his Master's degree, including some material taken nearly word-for-word without attribution. Walsh initially told the Times, "I didn't do anything intentional here". CBS News later reported Walsh stating, "I admit that I made a mistake", but that he believed his record was defined by his service in the National Guard, "not by few citations that were unintentionally left out of a term paper". Walsh said that he was being treated for PTSD at the time. but stated, "I don't want to blame my mistake on PTSD, but I do want to say it may have been a factor". He added, "In no way did any of that have anything to do with what I did at the Army War College." On July 25, the Army War College announced that it had found reasonable cause to to refer the case to its Academic Review Board. However, in an "unusual" move, the Department of Defense took jurisdiction over investigation because Walsh is a member of Congress. The review board will send its findings to the Army’s inspector general’s office. As of July 29, 2014, it is unclear which entity will determine sanctions. The normal sanction for plagiarism is rescinding the former student's degree, although lesser disciplinary actions are an option.

Montana Army National Guard

He served in the Montana Army National Guard for thirty years. In this capacity he led 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment in combat in Iraq. He earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He also led operations of over 2,000 Guard members during Montana's 2000 wildfires.

In 2008 Walsh was appointed Adjutant General and received a state promotion to brigadier general. After resigning in 2012 to run for Lieutenant Governor he continued to serve as a traditional Army Guardsman (one weekend drill per month, two weeks of annual training each year), and was appointed by his successor to serve as the Montana Army National Guard commander. Walsh retired from the National Guard in December 2012.

In December 2013 the Montana Television Network reported that a 2010 Army Inspector General report concluded that Walsh had used the Adjutant General's post for "private gain." According to the report, Walsh used his position to "pressure" subordinates into joining the National Guard Association of the United States in an effort bolster Montana's membership numbers as a way to enhance Walsh's credentials during his candidacy for Vice President of NGAUS.

In response, Walsh stated that he disagreed with the IG, pointing out that he was not disciplined. Walsh went on to say that the IG report stemmed from a disagreement in interpreting the rules which govern when and how Department of Defense employees can take part in activities such as running for a NGAUS leadership position.

Walsh further pointed out that the NGAUS position is an uncompensated one which required him to travel to meetings at his own expense. In Walsh's defense, former Governor Brian Schweitzer said that when he received the report in 2010, he considered it "much ado about nothing."

In January 2014, Walsh confirmed that the 2010 Army Inspector General's report on his National Guard Association of the United States activities prevented him from receiving federal recognition as a general officer during his tenure as Adjutant General. (Adjutants General are normally federally recognized as major generals in the reserve component of the Army or Air Force, provided they meet all eligibility criteria.) News accounts on the IG report also indicated that Walsh received a formal letter from General Peter W. Chiarelli, then the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, in which Chiarelli reminded Walsh of his obligation to remain impartial in his dealings with non-federal entities, such as NGAUS. Contemporary news accounts also indicated that then-Governor Schweitzer wrote to Chiarelli to state his confidence in Walsh's integrity and abilities, and to urge his promotion to the federally recognized general officer ranks.

Lieutenant Governor of Montana

In March 2012, Attorney General and presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Bullock selected Walsh to be his running mate. The pair won the Democratic primary with 87% of the vote. In the general election, Bullock and Walsh defeated their Republican opponents, former Congressman Rick Hill and his running mate, State Senator Jon Sonju, by 49% to 47%. They assumed office in January 2013 upon the expiration of the term of Governor Schweitzer and Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger.

U.S. Senate

Appointment

In December 2013, President Barack Obama nominated retiring United States Senator Max Baucus to be the next United States Ambassador to China. On February 6, 2014, Baucus was confirmed and resigned his Senate seat. On February 9, Governor Steve Bullock then appointed Walsh to serve the remainder of Baucus's Senate term, and Walsh resigned as Lieutenant Governor. He was sworn in on February 11, taking the oath from Vice President Joe Biden.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Marketing and Agriculture Security
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Committee on Rules and Administration
• Special Committee on Aging

Legislative work

Walsh has supported passage of the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act and reauthorization of the Native American Languages Act of 1990. He said of his decision, "Preserving Native languages is essential to improving education for tribal nations.” Along with six other Democrats in the Senate, Walsh co-sponsored the Small Business Tax Credits Accessibility Act, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 28. He and Daines both supported the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 2259; 113th Congress), which proposed to "protect both sides of the Flathead River drainage from energy and mineral development." The bill passed in the House, but Senate Republicans prevented it from being voted on, killing it in the Senate. He has asked Congress to support the Keystone Pipeline and proposed to leave infrastructure decisions to the State Department, instead of the President. He has supported extending the tax credit for wind energy, and passing the Medicare Protection Act. Along with many Democrats and one Independent, he supported the Paycheck Fairness Act.

On June 18, 2014, in a speech before the Senate, he urged "'extreme caution' in the U.S. response to violence in Iraq." He also spoke briefly about his experiences in Iraq as an infantry officer, and urged other Congressmen to consider the ongoing impacts of war in their decision. On July 8, 2014, Walsh introduced the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2569; 113th Congress), a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to grant business taxpayers a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and relocating it within the United States, and deny a tax deduction for outsourcing expenses incurred in relocating a U.S. business outside the United States.

2014 election

On October 3, 2013, Walsh announced his intention to run for the seat of retiring Senator Max Baucus. On February 9, 2014, Walsh was appointed to replace Baucus in the Senate after Baucus stepped down early, making Walsh the incumbent in the race. Rancher Dirk Adams and former Montana Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger also ran for the Democratic nomination. Walsh has been endorsed by Governor Bullock, Senator Jon Tester, and former Senator Max Baucus, an arrangement which was criticized by his opponent as being "politically motivated," designed to give Walsh an advantage in the election by making him an incumbent, which would aid fundraising efforts. Walsh defeated Adams and Bohlinger in the June 3, 2014 primary election. Republican Congressman Steve Daines defeated two other candidates in the Republican primary and is Walsh's opponent in the general election. Walsh has been endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Walsh's campaign responded to allegations of plagiarism by releasing a fact sheet acknowledging an "unintentional mistake" but stressing Walsh's military career. However, the release initially claimed he had "survived hundreds of IED explosions, later clarifiying that he had survived a single attack.

Personal

Walsh met his wife, Janet, in college. The couple has two grown sons. Michael is a member of the Army National Guard and Taylor is pursuing an acting career.

References

1. "States in the Senate - Montana's United States Senators". Senate.gov. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
2. By MARTIN J. KIDSTON - Independent Record - 09/05/08 (2008-09-05). "New adjutant general set to take command of Guard". Helenair.com. Retrieved 2014-07-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
3. "Helena News | Great Falls News - New Adjutant General". Beartooth NBC. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
4. "Roll Call New Member Profiles: 113th Congress John Walsh, D-M.T. (Senate)". rollcall.com. February 24, 2013.
5. ^ Sullivan, Sean. "Montana governor appoints Lt. Gov. John Walsh to Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
6. Cassata, Donna. "John Walsh Sworn In As Montana Senator, Replacing Max Baucus". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
7. Dennison, Mike (January 19, 2014). "Critical review blocked Walsh from promotion to Army general". Missoulian. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
9. Johnson, Charles S. (2012-03-07). "Bullock to name Gen. Walsh as running mate". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
10. "Brigadier General John E. Walsh" (PDF). Montana National Guard. 2008. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
11. "Steve Bullock & John Walsh". Montana Democratic Party. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
12. "John Walsh biography". Missoulian. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
13. ^ Martin, Jonathan (July 23, 2014), "Senator's Thesis Turns Out to Be Remix of Others' Works, Uncited", The New York Times, retrieved July 29, 2014
14. Martin, Jonathan (July 23, 2014), "How Senator John Walsh Plagiarized a Final Paper", The New York Times, retrieved July 29, 2014
15. Democrats stand by Sen. John Walsh after plagiarism accusations, CBSNews.com, July 24, 2014, retrieved July 29, 2014
16. "Veterans' response to senator's PTSD remarks mixed", Yahoo! News, Associated Press, July 26, 2014, retrieved July 29, 2014
17. Arm War College Community Banner, The United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, July 25, 2014, retrieved July 29, 2014
18. ^ Volz, Matt (July 29, 2014), "Defense Department to Oversee Walsh Plagiarism Probe", Flathead Beacon, Associated Press, retrieved July 29, 2014
19. Levine, Marianne (July 29, 2014), "Defense Department to review plagiarism inquiry of Sen. John Walsh", Los Angeles Times, retrieved July 29, 2014
20. http://montana.kiwanisone.org/Files/Districts/3756/Documents/2013%20Speakers.pdf. Retrieved 2014-07-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
21. http://governor.mt.gov/ltgovernor/
22. Talwani, Sanjay (2013-12-28). "Army report cites Walsh for improper private gain during MT National Guard service". KRTV. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
23. http://www.flatheadmemo.com/archives_2013/oct_dec_2013/_documents_oct_dec_2013/ig_report.pdf. Retrieved 2014-07-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
24. Johnson, Charles S. (2013-12-28). "Walsh disputes Army report he used National Guard general's post for private gain". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
25. The Associated Press (2014-07-21). "Army IG: Mont. politician misused adjutant general position". Army Times. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
26. Mike Dennison, Montana Standard, Adverse Report Prevented Walsh From Promotion to Army General, January 18, 2014
27. The Montana Standard State Bureau (2014-01-18). "Schweitzer wrote Army defending Walsh after IG report". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
28. Johnson, Charles S. (March 9, 2012). "Bullock makes pick of Walsh as running mate official". Independent Record. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
29. Johnson, Charles S. (2012-11-07). "Bullock defeats Hill in Montana governor race". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
30. Johnson, Charles S. (2013-01-07). "Bullock sworn in as Montana's 24th governor". Missoulian. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
31. "Obama Announces Nomination Of Max Baucus As China Ambassador". Talking Points Memo. 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
32. "Politics News and U.S. Elections Coverage". ABC News. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
33. Bruno, James (2014-02-09). "John Walsh appointed to Montana Senate seat - Jose DelReal". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
34. "John Walsh sworn in as Montana's junior senator". Onpolitics.usatoday.com. 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
35. "Walsh nominated to serve on 4 U.S. Senate committees". Kpax.com. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
36. Office of Senator John Walsh (2014-05-16). "Walsh Fights to Protect and Maintain Tribal Languages". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
37. "Sens. Franken, Begich, Hirono, Shaheen, Landrieu, Warner, Walsh Co-Sponsor Legislation to Expand Tax Credits to Small Businesses". votesmart.org. February 28, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
38. "Summary: H.R.4128 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)". congress.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
39. Scott, Tristan (March 4, 2014). "North Fork Watershed Protection Act Passes U.S. House". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
40. Walsh, John (April 3, 2014). "Walsh Disappointed that Senate Fails to Pass Landmark Conservation Bill to Protect North Fork". votesmart.org. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
41. Lutey, Tom (May 8, 2014). "Walsh: pass Keystone, remove Obama from cross-border infrastructure decisions". Billings Gazette. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
42. "Letter to Ron Wyden, Chairman Committee on Finance and Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member Committee on Finance - Include Extensions of Investment Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy in Upcoming Tax-Extenders Package". votesmart.org. March 21, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
43. Walsh, John (April 7, 2014). "Walsh Sponsors Medicare Protection Act to Secure Health Services for Montanans". votesmart.org. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
44. "S 2199 - Paycheck Fairness Act - Key Vote". votesmart.org. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
45. "Senator Walsh on Violence in Iraq". C-SPAN.org. 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
46. Everett, Burgess (23 July 2014). "Borrowed time: Tale of a Walsh bill". Politico. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
47. "S. 2569 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
48. Johnson, Charles (7 February 2014). "Bullock taps Walsh for Senate seat". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
49. "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bohlinger runs 'bold' shoestring campaign". Missoulian.com. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
50. "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adams touts environment, business background". Missoulian.com. 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
51. "Bohlinger announces candidacy for U.S. Senate". KXLH.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
52. ^ Delreal, Jose (7 February 2014). "John Walsh appointed to Montana Senate seat". Politico. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
53. "Daines campaign ad attacks Walsh appointment to U.S. Senate a 'buy-off'". Missoulian.com. 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
54. AP/The Huffington Post. "John Walsh Wins Primary In Montana Senate Race". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
55. "Planned Parenthood Locan and National Political Advocacy Groups endorse Montana lt. Gov. John Walsh for Senate". Planned Parenthood. January 14, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
56. Johnson, Charles S. (March 8, 2014). "Planned Parenthood head: Montana race critical for Democratic Senate control". Billings Gazette. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
57. Passalacqua, Lauren (July 24, 2014), Fact Sheet regarding Senator John Walsh, Walsh for Montana, retrieved July 29, 2014
58. Blake, Aaron (July 24, 2014), "Sen. John Walsh, and how not to respond to a political scandal", The Washington Post, retrieved July 29, 2014
59. Rosenthal, Andrew (July 24, 2014), John Walsh’s Campaign Sinking Under Plagiarism, retrieved July 29, 2014
60. Dan Bushnell, Montana National Guard, Big Sky Guardian, A New Era Begins for the Montana National Guard, Fall 2008, page 11
61. Johnson, Charles S (2012-03-08). "Democrat Bullock taps former Montana adjutant general for lieutenant governor". Missoulian. Retrieved 2014-07-26.

External links

• Template:Dmoz
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart

v t e United States senators from Montana
Class 1	Sanders Mantle Clark Gibson Carter Myers Wheeler Ecton Mansfield Melcher Burns Tester Sheehy
Class 2	Power Carter Clark Dixon T. Walsh Erickson Murray Metcalf Hatfield Baucus J. Walsh Daines

v t e Current United States senators
President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Chuck Grassley (R)
AL: ▌ Tuberville (R)⎣ ▌ Britt (R) AK: ▌ Murkowski (R)⎣ ▌ Sullivan (R) AZ: ▌ Kelly (D)⎣ ▌ Gallego (D) AR: ▌ Boozman (R)⎣ ▌ Cotton (R) CA: ▌ Padilla (D)⎣ ▌ Schiff (D) CO: ▌ Bennet (D)⎣ ▌ Hickenlooper (D) CT: ▌ Blumenthal (D)⎣ ▌ Murphy (D) DE: ▌ Coons (D)⎣ ▌ Blunt Rochester (D) FL: ▌ Rubio (R)⎣ ▌ R. Scott (R) GA: ▌ Ossoff (D)⎣ ▌ Warnock (D) HI: ▌ Schatz (D)⎣ ▌ Hirono (D) ID: ▌ Crapo (R)⎣ ▌ Risch (R) IL: ▌ Durbin (D)⎣ ▌ Duckworth (D) IN: ▌ Young (R)⎣ ▌ Banks (R) IA: ▌ Grassley (R)⎣ ▌ Ernst (R) KS: ▌ Moran (R)⎣ ▌ Marshall (R) KY: ▌ McConnell (R)⎣ ▌ Paul (R) LA: ▌ Cassidy (R)⎣ ▌ Kennedy (R) ME: ▌ Collins (R)⎣ ▌ King (I) MD: ▌ Van Hollen (D)⎣ ▌ Alsobrooks (D) MA: ▌ Warren (D)⎣ ▌ Markey (D) MI: ▌ Peters (D)⎣ ▌ Slotkin (D) MN: ▌ Klobuchar (D)⎣ ▌ Smith (D) MS: ▌ Wicker (R)⎣ ▌ Hyde-Smith (R) MO: ▌ Hawley (R)⎣ ▌ Schmitt (R) MT: ▌ Daines (R)⎣ ▌ Sheehy (R) NE: ▌ Fischer (R)⎣ ▌ Ricketts (R) NV: ▌ Cortez Masto (D)⎣ ▌ Rosen (D) NH: ▌ Shaheen (D)⎣ ▌ Hassan (D) NJ: ▌ Booker (D)⎣ ▌ Kim (D) NM: ▌ Heinrich (D)⎣ ▌ Luján (D) NY: ▌ Schumer (D)⎣ ▌ Gillibrand (D) NC: ▌ Tillis (R)⎣ ▌ Budd (R) ND: ▌ Hoeven (R)⎣ ▌ Cramer (R) OH: ▌ Moreno (R)⎣    Vacant OK: ▌ Lankford (R)⎣ ▌ Mullin (R) OR: ▌ Wyden (D)⎣ ▌ Merkley (D) PA: ▌ Fetterman (D)⎣ ▌ McCormick (R) RI: ▌ Reed (D)⎣ ▌ Whitehouse (D) SC: ▌ Graham (R)⎣ ▌ T. Scott (R) SD: ▌ Thune (R)⎣ ▌ Rounds (R) TN: ▌ Blackburn (R)⎣ ▌ Hagerty (R) TX: ▌ Cornyn (R)⎣ ▌ Cruz (R) UT: ▌ Lee (R)⎣ ▌ Curtis (R) VT: ▌ Sanders (I)⎣ ▌ Welch (D) VA: ▌ Warner (D)⎣ ▌ Kaine (D) WA: ▌ Murray (D)⎣ ▌ Cantwell (D) WV: ▌ Capito (R)⎣ ▌ Justice (R) WI: ▌ Johnson (R)⎣ ▌ Baldwin (D) WY: ▌ Barrasso (R)⎣ ▌ Lummis (R)
▌ Republican: 52 ▌ Democratic: 45 ▌ Independent: 2

Template:Persondata

• Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 29, 2014
• 1960 births
• American military personnel of the Iraq War
• Democratic Party United States Senators
• Excelsior College alumni
• Lieutenant Governors of Montana
• Living people
• Montana Democrats
• National Guard of the United States officers
• People from Butte, Montana
• Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
• United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
• United States Army generals
• United States Army War College alumni
• United States Senators from Montana