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Revision as of 04:47, 7 February 2014 by Jerzeykydd (talk | contribs) (→Role in the 2013 federal government shutdown)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other people named Mark Meadows, see Mark Meadows (disambiguation).| Mark Meadows | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 11th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Heath Shuler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-07-28) July 28, 1959 (age 65) Verdun, France |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Debbie Meadows |
| Residence | Cashiers, North Carolina |
| Alma mater | Florida State University, Tallahassee University of South Florida, Tampa |
| Website | Government website |
Mark Randall Meadows (born July 28, 1959) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district since January 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life, education, and business career
Meadows was born in Verdun, France and grew up in Brandon, Florida. He graduated from the University of South Florida after briefly studying at Florida State University. In 2011 he moved to Cashiers, North Carolina, where he now lives.
In 1987, Meadows started a small restaurant. He later sold it, and used the proceeds to start a development company in Florida.
U.S. House of Representatives
2012 election
In late 2011, Meadows announced he was running for Congress in North Carolina's 11th congressional district, for the seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Heath Shuler. The district had been significantly altered in redistricting. New lines were drawn straight through the middle of Warren Wilson College. Notably, it lost most of Asheville to the 10th district, while picking up some heavily Republican territory in the foothills. The old 11th had a slight Republican lean, but the new 11th was on paper the most Republican district in the state. In 2011, the North Carolina State Legislature in a state that has 13 districts, re-drew the congressional districts in 2011 based on updated population information from the 2010 census. As a result the district which is now "91.2% White, 3.0% Black, 1.4% Native American and 1.0% Asian." District 11 now includes the counties of Buncombe (Asheville), Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson (Waynesville), Macon, McDewell, Madison, Polk, Swain, Transylvanie (Brevard) and Yancey.
He won the Republican primary runoff, in July 2012, and in the general election in November, faced the Democratic candidate, Hayden Rogers, who had been Shuler's chief of staff. During the campaign, on August 28, 2012, Meadows spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Meadows won the general election with approximately 57 percent of the vote and took office, in January 2013.
Tenure
Meadows has signed the Contract from America, a list of ten policies assembled by the Tea Party movement.
Meadows voted against relief for Hurricane Sandy along with a group of other Republicans who cited pork barrel spending in the relief bill that had nothing to do with hurricane relief.
- Budget
Meadows is a fiscal conservative and is part of a group that has advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. In addition he opposed the recent federal stimulus spending and has expressed desire for the federal spending growth rate to be capped at the inflation rate. He supports a moratorium on all earmarks until the budget has been balanced. Meadows opposes any cuts to military spending levels.
- Taxes
Meadows has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, and he opposes a raise in all taxes, including the income tax. Meadows supports a flat-rate income tax for all income-earners, and a repeal of the raise in the capital gains tax. He also supports the elimination of the estate tax.
- Jobs
Meadows supports lowering corporate tax rates as a strategy to promote new employment and thus create more jobs. In addition he has called for free trade.
- Gun control
Meadows opposes any restrictions on gun purchases and opposes a national gun registry that would list detailed information about firearm ownership.
- Energy
Meadows has stated that cap-and-trade emission policies are ineffective and have minimal impact on the global environment. He has proposed that the United States should tap into oil and gas reserves to keep energy prices low, and to develop energy independence. He supports tapping into off-shore oil and gas supplies.
- Healthcare
Meadows opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), and states that it should be replaced by private enterprise.
- Abortion
Meadows is a pro-life supporter and has called abortion a 'tragedy'. He opposes any federal funding for abortion and believes parents should be notified of underage abortion procedures. He also opposes churches and other religious sites providing birth control options.
- Gay marriage
Meadows opposes same-sex marriage. In March 2013 he stated that if the Supreme Court allowed gay marriage, it would cause a constitutional crisis if the Federal government decided to dismiss state decisions and thus infringe on state's rights.
- Role in the 2013 federal government shutdown
Meadows has been described as playing an important part of the United States federal government shutdown of 2013. On August 21, 2013 Meadows wrote an open letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor encouraging them to "affirmatively de-fund the implementation and enforcement of Obamacare in any relevant appropriations bills brought to the House floor in the 113th Congress, including any continuing appropriations bill." The document was signed by 79 of Meadows' colleagues in the House. Heritage Action (which opened operations in North Carolina in January 2011), ran critical Internet advertisements in the districts of 100 Republican lawmakers who failed to sign the letter by Meadows. The letter has been described as being controversial within the Republican Party.
The New York Daily News said Meadows put the federal government on the road to shutdown, saying calls to defund "Obamacare" through spending bills languished until Meadows wrote his letter. Meadows downplayed his influence, saying "I'm one of 435 members and a very small part of this." CNN described Meadows as the "architect of the brink" for his letter suggesting that "Obamacare" be defunded in any continuing appropriations bill. Meadows said that was sensationalizing his role.
John Ostendorff of the Asheville Citizen-Times wrote Meadows "said it's best to close the government in the short term to win a delay on 'Obamacare', despite the potential negative impact on the economy." Ostendorff wrote that Meadows said he was doing what Tea Party members in Western North Carolina wanted him to do. Meadows said his constituents wanted him to fight against "Obamacare" "regardless of consequences." Jane Bilello, head of the Asheville Tea Party and political action committee said Meadows "truly represents us" on the issue of "Obamacare". Meadows reportedly holds conference calls with members of the Asheville Tea Party, telling them what's going on in Congress, and about challenges he faces promoting their agenda.
In public comments, Meadows stated he was working on a compromise that involved passing appropriations bills that would fund only parts of the government, such as a bill to fund the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and a bill to fund the National Institutes of Health. However, partial or "mini" funding bills were rejected by the Democratic majority in the United States Senate.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Notes
- District 10, with three counties, (Burke (Morganton), Mitchell and Rutherford) that border on District 11, also includes the counties of Avery, Caldwell, Catawba (Hickory and Newton), Cleveland (Shelby), Gaston and Lincoln (Mooresville).
References
- ^ North Carolina's 11th congressional district: Race
- NC11 Map
- Parker, Brittney (19 July 2012). "Mark Meadows sweeps 11th congressional GOP run-off". The Macon County News. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- http://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/blog/2012/uncategorized/meadows-back-on-with-tuesday-slot-at-convention/
- NC State Board of Elections
- "Contract from America". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- "Mark Meadows on Government Reform". On the Issues. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- Moss, Bill (7 January 2013). "Meadows votes no on Sandy relief". The Hendersonville Lightning. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- http://hotair.com/archives/2013/01/04/bloomberg-blame-pork-not-boehner-for-sandy-relief-delay/
- ^ "Mark Meadows : (Republican, district 11)". On the Issues.
- "Rep. Mark Meadows Warns Of 'Constitutional Crisis' If SCOTUS Rules For Gay Marriage". On Top. Mar 29, 2013.
- ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann (1 October 2013). "Architect of the brink: Meet the man behind the government shutdown". CNN. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Ostendorff, John (3 October 2013). "Meadows says constituents back his shutdown fight". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Straw, Joseph (September 30, 2013). "Tea Party-backed Rep. Mark Meadows put government on road to shutdown". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- Meadows, Mark (21 August 2013). "Letter to Boehner and Cantor" (PDF). Meadows.house.gov. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows Sends Letter to Boehner, Cantor Encouraging House Leadership to Defund Obamacare". High County Press. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- Rob Christensen (January 11, 2011). "Heritage Foundation sinks its roots in N.C." The News & Observer. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; McIntyre, Mike (October 5, 2013). "A federal budget crisis months in the planning". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- Omarzu, Tim (4 October 2013). "The letter behind the shutdown; GOP missive urges defunding of Obamacare". Times Free Press. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
External links
- Congressman Mark Meadows official U.S. House site
- Mark Meadows for Congress
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byHeath Shuler | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 11th congressional district 2013–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byGloria McLeod | United States Representatives by seniority 404th |
Succeeded byGrace Meng |
| North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
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| Senators |
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| Representatives (ordered by district) |
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