Justin Amash

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Justin Amash
Justin Amash, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Vern Ehlers
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2011
Preceded by Glenn D. Steil
Succeeded by Ken Yonker
Personal details
Born (1980-04-18) April 18, 1980 (age 33)
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kara Amash
Children 3
Residence Cascade Township
Alma mater University of Michigan
Profession Attorney
Religion Eastern Orthodox Christian
Website amash.house.gov

Justin Amash (pron.: /əˈmɑːʃ/;[1] born April 18, 1980) is an American attorney, politician, and member of Congress. In January 2011 he began serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district, which includes Grand Rapids.

A libertarian Republican, Amash was first elected to the House in the 2010 election. Previously he was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 72nd District, which consisted of the city of Kentwood and the townships of Caledonia, Cascade, and Gaines. At the age of 30, Amash assumed office as the second youngest sitting U.S. Representative, behind 29-year-old Aaron Schock of Illinois. As of 2013, Amash is the 6th youngest U.S. Representative.[2]

He is Chairman of the House Liberty Caucus. [3]

Contents

Early life, education, and pre-political career [edit]

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Kentwood, Michigan, Amash is a second generation Arab-American of Palestinian Christian and Syrian Greek Orthodox descent.[4] His father is a Palestinian business owner, whose family immigrated to the United States in 1956 through the sponsorship of a Christian pastor and his family. Amash attended Kelloggsville Christian School and graduated as class valedictorian from Grand Rapids Christian High School. He graduated from the University of Michigan magna cum laude with an A.B. in Economics and earned his J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School in 2005.[5]

After graduating from college, he became a consultant to his family’s tool business. He also served as a corporate lawyer for a year before being elected to Michigan's state House in 2008.[6]

Michigan House of Representatives [edit]

Election [edit]

Amash ran for state representative in 2008 in Michigan's 72nd House District. During this time, he donated to the campaigns of Congressman Ron Paul and John McCain.[7] In the Republican primary, he won a five candidate election with 42% of the vote, defeating opponent Ken Yonker by 723 votes (a 6.3% margin). The incumbent, Glenn D. Steil, Jr., did not run because of term limits.[8] In the general election, Amash defeated Democrat Albert Abbasse 61%–36%.[9]

Tenure [edit]

During his two-year tenure, Amash sponsored 5 resolutions and 12 bills, but none of them passed[10] in the Democratic-controlled House.[11] He used his Facebook page to report on his floor votes and explain his reasoning.[12]

Amash was one of 17 House members who did not miss a vote in 2011. [13]

Committee assignments [edit]

  • Education
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Joint Economic
  • Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security[citation needed]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2010#District 3

On August 3, 2010, Amash won the five-way Republican primary for the seat vacated by retiring Republican Vern Ehlers with over 40% of the vote. Amash was a favorite of the Tea Party movement, having been endorsed by iCaucus.[14] He was also endorsed by the Club for Growth,[15] Rep. Ron Paul,[16] and FreedomWorks PAC[17] during his primary campaign.

During the general election campaign, Amash ran on a conservative platform.[5] Amash defeated Democrat Patrick Miles, Jr. 60%–37%.[18]

2012
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2012#District 3

Amash won re-election to a second term, defeating Steve Pestka 53%–44%.[19][20]

Tenure [edit]

As of February 4, 2013, Amash had never missed a vote in Congress.[21]

Like his tenure in the state Legislature, Amash has been a leader in the libertarian faction of the Republican Party as a Member of Congress.[citation needed] So far in Congress, he has voted with his party 78% of the time, the third lowest behind Ron Paul (74%) and Walter B. Jones, Jr. (70%).[citation needed] He has endorsed Ron Paul for President in 2012. Paul's brother, David, was an assistant pastor in Amash's district and has endorsed Amash saying, "I like most of his ideas because I’ve heard them before, you know, the same things Ron talks about.”[22] Some Congressional Republicans have accused Amash of grandstanding.[23] Amash joined 104 Democrats and 16 Republicans in voting against the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.[24] Amash called it “one of the most anti-liberty pieces of legislation of our lifetime.”[25] Amash has co-sponsored an amendment to the NDAA that would ban indefinite military detention and military trials so that all terror suspects arrested in the US would be tried in civilian courts. He expressed concern that individuals charged with terrorism could be jailed for prolonged periods of time without ever being formally charged or brought to trial.[26]

Although Amash opposes government funding for abortion, he voted “present,” rather than “yes” or “no” on the 2011 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood. He explained, “Legislation that names a specific private organization to defund (rather than all organizations that engage in a particular activity) is improper and arguably unconstitutional.”[27] When the New York Times asked him to explain his approach to voting on legislation, he replied, “I follow a set of principles, I follow the Constitution. And that’s what I base my votes on. Limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.”[27]

Amash was one of four Republicans who joined 161 Democrats to oppose a Constitutional amendment that would require a yearly balanced budget. [28]

Committee assignments [edit]

On December 3, 2012, Amash was removed from the Budget Committee.[29]

Caucus memberships [edit]

Political positions [edit]

Question book-new.svg
 This biographical article relies on references to primary sources. Please add references to secondary or tertiary sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2012)

Amash opposes central economic planning and believes it contributes to unemployment, inflation, and dangerous business cycles.[30][30][31] He believes health insurance should not be mandatory, and he supports reforms that include allowing insurance companies to sell products across state lines and increasing access to health savings accounts.[30][31] He believes that only Congress has the power to declare war.[30] He supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.[30] He opposes restrictions on gun ownership, believing that they violate the Second Amendment.[30] He believes that schools should be managed locally.[30] He believes that the federal government is improperly expanding its powers using the General Welfare, Commerce, or Necessary and Proper clauses.[30]

Amash believes that life begins at conception and therefore opposes abortion rights and the use of federal funding for abortion.[32] He supports a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act as per his Twitter account, saying that the "real threat" to traditional marriage isn't lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples, but government itself.[33][30][32] He considers Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be an overreach of the federal government’s powers and supports efforts to repeal it. Amash supports decreased U.S. military spending to help balance the federal budget. He believes there is significant waste in the military spending of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Amash wants decreased federal intervention in energy-related issues. He wants to eliminate government-sponsored subsidies for energy production and decrease overall regulation. He believes that no form of energy production should be specially favored or restricted. In addition, Amash supports minimizing federal environmental regulations. He voted in favor of the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 which would have prevented the EPA from putting taxes on greenhouse gases.[34]

Amash believes that a strong economy requires limited government regulation. He advocates for economic freedom and believes that stimulus programs and government bailouts are ineffective ways to energize the economy. He also supports adopting a simple, single low-rate tax system instead of having targeted tax breaks and subsidies.[35]

Amash endorsed Ron Paul for President of the United States in the 2012 election.[36]

Recognition [edit]

In its October 25, 2010, issue, Amash was named one of Time magazine's "40 under 40 – Rising Stars of U.S. Politics."[37] At the age of 30, Amash was the youngest federal candidate in the United States on the list of new civic leaders.[31]

Personal life [edit]

He has said his biggest heroes are economists F. A. Hayek and Frédéric Bastiat.[31] Amash is married and the father of three children. He also belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.[38]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Amash beats Miles in 3rd District Congress race". Connecticut Post. Associated Press. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  2. ^ Current members of the United States House of Representatives by age
  3. ^ http://houselibertycaucus-amash.house.gov/membership
  4. ^ Ron Kampeas (October 13, 2010). "Political Points: Hannity told me not to come". JTA-Jewish & Israel News. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 
  5. ^ a b Jim Harger (October 24, 2010). "Profile: 3rd Congressional district candidate Justin Amash". The Grand Rapids Press (M Live). 
  6. ^ Newlin, Eliza. "Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI, 3rd District)". National Journal. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  7. ^ "The Huffington Post". huffingtonpost.com. 
  8. ^ "MI State House 072 – R Primary Race – Aug 05, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  9. ^ "MI State House 072 Race – Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  10. ^ Justin Amash sponsored legislation 2009–2010
  11. ^ Peter Luke (May 4, 2012). "Michigan Republicans play to win; Democrats play to pout". MLive.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012. 
  12. ^ Daniel Estrada (May 14, 2010). "Influence blog: Stop blaming us for your own inadequacies". MLive.com. Retrieved July 26, 2010. 
  13. ^ Michiganvotes.org Missed Votes
  14. ^ "Justin Amash – Endorsed!". Retrieved March 12, 2012. 
  15. ^ Connolly, Michael. "Club for Growth PAC Endorses Justin Amash in Michigan-03". Retrieved March 12, 2012. 
  16. ^ Ron Paul Endorses Justin Amash for Congress, EON, June 21, 2010
  17. ^ "FreedomWorks PAC Endorses Justin Amash, Candidate in Michigan`s Third Congressional District". Business Wire. July 29, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2012. 
  18. ^ "2010 Official Michigan General Election Results – 3rd District Representative in Congress 2 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  19. ^ "Official Michigan Generaral Candidate Listing". 
  20. ^ http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/House/2012/MI
  21. ^ "No-excuse lawmakers: The members who never miss a vote". thehill.com. March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012. 
  22. ^ Mak, Tim (December 8, 2011). "Justin Amash casts himself in Ron Paul's mold". Politico. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  23. ^ Mak, Tim. "Justin Amash casts himself in Ron Paul's mold". Politico. Retrieved August 17, 2012. 
  24. ^ "HOUSE VOTE #291 IN 2012". govtrack.us. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 
  25. ^ Hunter, Jack (December 2, 2011). "The terrorists have won". The Daily Caller Opinion. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  26. ^ http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/05/11/the-smith-amash-amendment-what-it-says-and-means/
  27. ^ a b http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/us/politics/15freshman.html
  28. ^ http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-11-18/balanced-budget-amendment-house-vote/51297960/1
  29. ^ "Amash booted from U.S. House budget committee". Detroit News. December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012. 
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Issues". Amash For Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2010. 
  31. ^ a b c d "TIME Magazine names Justin Amash one of its 40 Rising Stars". Justin Amash for Congress. October 14, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010. 
  32. ^ a b On the Issues
  33. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/justin-amash-doma-repeal_n_2981622.html
  34. ^ http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Michigan/Justin_Amash/Views/Energy_and_the_Environment/)
  35. ^ http://amash.house.gov/issues
  36. ^ "Justin Amash Endorses Ron Paul". Facebook. Retrieved September 18, 2011. 
  37. ^ TIME Magazine, "40 under 40 – Rising Stars of U.S. Politics – Justin Amash, time.com
  38. ^ Justin Amash. The Facebook.

External links [edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Vern Ehlers		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
2011–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Bill Foster
D-Illinois		 United States Representatives by seniority
276th		 Succeeded by
Lou Barletta
R-Pennsylvania
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)
Other states'
delegations
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