Martha Roby

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Martha Roby
Martha Roby Official.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Bobby Bright
Personal details
Born (1976-07-26) July 26, 1976 (age 36)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Riley Roby
Children Margaret Roby
George Roby
Residence Montgomery, Alabama
Alma mater New York University
Samford University (Cumberland School of Law)
Occupation attorney, politician
Religion Presbyterian

Martha Dubina Roby[1] (born July 26, 1976) is the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd congressional district. She is a member of the Republican Party. She narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Bobby Bright on November 2 during the United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010[2] and assumed office in January 2011. Roby and Terri Sewell are the first women elected to Congress from Alabama in regular elections[3]

Contents

Early life, education, and legal career[edit]

Roby was born in Montgomery, Alabama and attended New York University, where she received a bachelor of music degree. She then entered the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, receiving her J.D. in 2001. She is the daughter of Judge Joel F. Dubina, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Before entering politics, she worked at the law firm of Copeland, Franco and served on the board of directors of Sav-A-Life Montgomery, a Christian organization.[4]

Montgomery City Council[edit]

Elections[edit]

Roby was elected to the Montgomery City Council in 2003, defeating a total of five opponents, and winning 54.88% of the votes cast in her district.[5][6]

Tenure[edit]

In her first term on the Council, Roby joined 3 other council members and then mayor Bobby Bright in opposing the building of a shopping mall in East Montgomery,[7] opposed privatizing the disposal of household garbage,[8] supported a 10 cent cigarette tax increase,[9] but also argued for a state sales tax holiday.[10] She also took a hard line on illegal immigration, spear heading a committee focused on the issue. The committees goal was to create a law that revoked business licenses for companies that used illegal aliens.[11]

Committee assignments[edit]

  • Immigration committee

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

2010
Further information: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010#District 2

Roby decided to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman and former Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright in Alabama's 2nd congressional district. In the four candidate Republican primary, Roby ranked first with 49% of the vote, barely missing the 50% threshold needed to win the nomination and avoid a run-off. Rick Barber ranked second with 29% of the vote.[12] In the run-off election, Roby defeated him 60%-40%.[13]

Roby was endorsed by both Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin. It was the most expensive race in the district's history.[14] Martha Roby spent a total of $1,240,275.64 on her 2010 election. Most of her funds came from large individual contributions. Her top contributor was Jim Wilson and Associates. They contributed $25,300.00.[15] Roby's top industry contributor was leadership PAC's. They contributed a total of $106,010.[14]

Roby defeated Bright 51%-49%, a difference of 4,780 votes. Roby won just 7 of the district's 16 counties: Autauga, Elmore, Covington, Coffee, Geneva, Dale, and Houston counties. Bright actually won Montgomery County with 59% of the vote. Ultimately, Roby's margin in heavily Republican Autauga and Elmore counties proved too much for Bright to overcome.[16]

2012
Further information: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2012#District 2

The 2nd had long been a conservative district, and reverted to form as Roby won a second term, defeating Democrat Therese Ford 64%-36%. She won 11 of the district's 15 counties. However, she lost her home county of Montgomery again, 53%-47%.[17][18]

Tenure[edit]

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Roby identifies herself as a staunch conservative.[19] When asked what the true conservative values are she replied with "I believe in the sanctity of life. I believe in the protection of the second amendment. I believe in small, limited government and lower taxes. I believe that we should live within our means and I believe in the central role of faith and family in our lives."[20] Roby is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[21]

Immigration

Martha Roby believes in cracking down hard on illegal immigrants. She has taken this approach from the very beginning of her political career when she served on the Montgomery, Alabama city council. In a 2010 debate she was quoted as saying "I will never support any legislation with the word 'amnesty' in it."[22] In 2011, Martha was listed as a cosponsor on a bill that blocked wage increases for seasonal employers, who are often immigrants.[citation needed] She claimed that seasonal jobs could not be filled by the local workforce and would make a legal work force too expensive.

Abortion

Martha Roby has prevented the use of federal funds for abortions by voting "yea" for bill HR 358 and HR 3. Both bills prohibited any taxpayer money from going towards abortions.[23] Representative Roby even introduced HConRes36, which had the main goal to defund Planned Parenthood in order to prevent abortions. Roby believes "The more taxpayer dollars awarded to Planned Parenthood, the more abortions the group will perform,"[24]

Agriculture

As a member of the subcommittee for agriculture, energy, and forestry Martha is quite active in this area. Representative Roby believes that federal agencies need to be "reigned in".[25] She has introduced legislation accordingly. She believes that Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) should be limited.[26] Roby believes CRP is causing a loss of farming production. She has also stated that CRP is no longer helping the environment.[27] She also has spoken out against many of the Environmental Protection Agency actions, specifically the MACT ruling.[28]

Health Care Reform

Roby is against government paid-for or sponsored healthcare. She has repeatedly voted to repeal the health care bill also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act[29] She also voted for the Ryan Budget Bill, which would change medicare into a voucher system.[30]

Defense

Representative Roby has continuously voted and promised to prevent any defense spending cuts. She has also voted against a reduction in Navy and Aircraft Procurement[31] as well as voting "yea" for various extension of the armed forces budgets. She has only focused on cutting "non-defense" spending.[32]

War in Afghanistan

Martha voted "Nay" to remove American forces from Afghanistan by December 31, 2011.[33]

Committee assignments[edit]

Organizations[edit]

Martha Roby is a member of:

  • Alabama Bar Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church
  • Young Men's Christian Association, Britton and Cleveland avenue
  • Sav-a-life Montgomery

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://www.legistorm.com/memberbio/2723/Rep_Martha_Roby_AL.html
  2. ^ GOP's Roby defeats Bright in Alabama's 2nd District Montgomery Advertiser November 2, 1010
  3. ^ Elizabeth B. Andrews was elected to fill an unexpired term in the House, while Senators Dixie Bibb Graves and Maryon Pittman Allen were appointed and never elected.
  4. ^ "Biographical Information for 2nd Congressional District GOP runoff candidates". Associated Press Newswires. 8 July 2010. 
  5. ^ Lance Griffin. "Montgomery Republican plans to challenge Bright in 2010". The Dothan Eagle. 
  6. ^ "Municipal Election Results-2003". 
  7. ^ "Montgomery Alabama Shopping Mall to Go Up Against Protests, Mayor's Advice". The Montgomery Advertiser. February 19, 2004. 
  8. ^ Sebastian Kitchen (March 30, 2005). "Trash Service Change Opposed". The Montgomery Advertiser. 
  9. ^ William F. West (May 14, 2004). "Montgomery, Ala., Cigarette Tax Jumps 10 Cents". The Montgomery Advertiser. 
  10. ^ William F. West (August 10, 2004). "Montgomery, Ala., council's tax idea might go statewide". Montgomery Advertiser. 
  11. ^ "the issues". 
  12. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=508440
  13. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=653745
  14. ^ a b "Alabama 2nd District Profile". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2012. 
  15. ^ "Open Secerets". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  16. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=487756
  17. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=705230
  18. ^ Kitchen, Sebastian (January 14, 2012). "Candidates qualify for elections". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 29, 2012. 
  19. ^ "Martha Roby for Congress". 
  20. ^ Blessing, Kelly. "Martha Roby". Washington Post. 
  21. ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List". Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved November 30, 2011. 
  22. ^ Blessing, Kelly. "The Issues". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  23. ^ "Vote smart". 
  24. ^ Roby, Martha; Diane Black (April 12, 2011). Press release. 
  25. ^ "agriculture bill". 
  26. ^ Griffin, Lance. "CRP". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  27. ^ "Roby Brings Alabama Farmers' Concerns to Farm Bill Hearing". Retrieved 4 July 2012. 
  28. ^ "Ag Committee Republicans Stress the Negative Impact of Federal Regs on Production Agriculture & Rural Economies". Retrieved 4 July 2012. 
  29. ^ "Votes". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  30. ^ "Martha Roby and health care reform". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  31. ^ "bill". 
  32. ^ "Spending Cuts and Debt". Archived from the original on 2011-01-06. Retrieved 4 July 2012. 
  33. ^ "H Con Res 28 - Removing Troops from Afghanistan - Key Vote". Retrieved 4 July 2012. 

External links[edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bobby Bright		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd congressional district
January 3, 2011 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Scott Rigell
R-Virginia		 United States Representatives by seniority
333rd		 Succeeded by
Todd Rokita
R-Indiana
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)
Other states'
delegations
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