Patrick McHenry
Patrick McHenry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Cass Ballenger |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Single |
Patrick Timothy McHenry (born October 22, 1975) is a United States Representative from North Carolina, representing the state's 10th Congressional district (see map), and currently the so-called "Baby of the House" in the United States House of Representatives. He previously was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for a single term.
Early years
McHenry was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina and attended Ashbrook High School. A Catholic, McHenry was the youngest of five children. His parents are now deceased.
While a student at North Carolina State University and Belmont Abbey College, McHenry chaired the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans and served as treasurer for the College Republican National Committee. His first run for public office was for the N.C. House of Representatives in 1998, while still a college student; his Democratic opponent was the father of a high school classmate.
After earning a B.A. in history in 1999, McHenry worked for a media consulting firm DCI/New Media, overseeing Rick Lazio's campaign against Hillary Clinton during her 2000 Senate bid. His main project there was running a Web site, NotHillary.com.
In the summer and fall of 2000, McHenry worked on George W. Bush's successful 2000 presidential campaign; he was named volunteer coordinator for Bush's inaugural committee. After six months working as a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Labor in Washington, D.C., McHenry returned to North Carolina and ran again for the state legislature, this time successfully.
Political career
A resident of Cherryville, North Carolina, McHenry represented the state's 109th House district, including constituents in Gaston County, for the 2003-2004 session. While in the legislature, he sat on the House Appropriations Committee.
After one term in the North Carolina General Assembly, McHenry successfully ran for Congress in the 10th Congressional District, which had come open when nine-term incumbent Cass Ballenger retired. McHenry faced a heavily contested primary in the 10th and bested his closest opponent, Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman, in a primary runoff by only 85 votes. In the general election, McHenry earned 64% of the popular vote, defeating Democrat Anne Fischer. However, it was generally thought McHenry's victory in the primary runoff was tantamount to election in November. His district is considered North Carolina's most Republican district, having sent Republicans to represent it since 1963.
In the 2006 election, McHenry defeated Democrat Richard Carsner, gaining almost 62% of the vote on the way to a second term representing the 10th District.
In 2008, McHenry is expected to face Democrat Daniel Johnson, if both win their respective primaries.
Political positions
Aged 31 as of January 2007, McHenry is the youngest member of the 110th United States Congress; he was also the youngest member of the North Carolina General Assembly during his term in the state House. His voting record is among the most conservative in the United States Congress.
He currently serves on three House Committees: Budget, Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform. In the Committee on Financial Services, McHenry is working with Rep. Al Green (D-TX) on legislation requiring mortgage lenders to simplify their mortgage disclosure forms for home buyers. [1]
McHenry occupies two House Republican leadership positions, serving as a Deputy Whip and as Vice Chairman of Finance for the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Executive Committee.
In the 110th Congress, McHenry gained notoriety for his strong opposition to the new Democratic Majority and its leadership by proposing a "minority bill of rights," similar to a blocked 2004 plan by the then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to protect her own party [2].
In July 2007, an earmark proposed by McHenry paying $129,000 for the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project, was stripped out by an amendment offered by fellow Republican Jeff Flake. Weeks earlier, McHenry had criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for wasteful spending. [3]
In August of 2007, McHenry raised a minor amount of attention when he mocked a $20 per month tax credit proposed in a Democratic energy bill [H.R. 2776] for persons who commute via bicycle:
"A major component of the Democrats' energy legislation and the Democrats' answer to our energy crisis is, hold on, wait one minute, wait one minute, it is promoting the use of the bicycle.
Oh, I cannot make this stuff up. Yes, the American people have heard this. Their answer to our fuel crisis, the crisis at the pumps, is: Ride a bike.
Democrats believe that using taxpayer funds in this bill to the tune of $1 million a year should be devoted to the principle of: "Save energy, ride a bike." Some might argue that depending on bicycles to solve our energy crisis is naive, perhaps ridiculous. Some might even say Congress should use this energy legislation to create new energy, bring new nuclear power plants on line, use clean coal technology, energy exploration, but no, no. They want to tell the American people, stop driving, ride a bike. This is absolutely amazing." [4]
References
- ^ http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2007062103?OpenDocument
- ^ http://thehill.com/old-capital-living/the-anti-pelosi-2007-01-09.html
- ^ http://townhall.com/columnists/RobertDNovak/2007/07/16/sham_earmark_reform
- ^ http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_hflr080407_009.wmv&sTime=00:02:09.4&eTime=00:04:13&duration=00:02:05.0&UserName=repmc&sExpire=1
External links
- U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry official House site
- United States Congress. "Patrick McHenry (id: m001156)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Federal Election Commission — Patrick Timothy McHenry campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Patrick McHenry issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Patrick McHenry campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Patrick T. McHenry (NC) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Patrick McHenry profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Patrick McHenry voting record
- OurCampaigns.com
- Patrick McHenry for Congress official campaign site