Jon Porter
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Jon Porter | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 6, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | None (District Created After 2000 Census) |
| Succeeded by | Dina Titus |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Residence | Boulder City, Nevada |
| Alma mater | HS diploma |
| Occupation | insurance executive |
Jonathan Christopher "Jon" Porter (born May 16, 1955), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, the first representative elected from the new 3rd Congressional District of Nevada, which includes much of outer Las Vegas.[1] He won re-election in the 2006 midterm election against Tessa Hafen by a 48%-47% margin. On November 4, 2008, after three consecutive terms, he was defeated by Nevada State Senator Dina Titus, a Democrat and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Life and career
Porter was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and graduated from Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Iowa. He attended Briar Cliff College and worked in his family business before being elected to the Boulder City, Nevada, City Council in 1983. That year he also became an agent for Farmers Insurance.
Porter was elected mayor of Boulder City in 1987 and served in that capacity until 1991. He served in the Nevada Senate from 1994 until 2002. In 2000, Porter lost the race for U.S. Congress in Nevada's 1st congressional district against Democratic incumbent Shelley Berkley. He was then was elected in November 2002 to the House, defeating Democratic Clark County commissioner Dario Herrera, to represent Nevada's newly-created Third District, which encompasses roughly the suburbs of Las Vegas. The creation of the district was the result of rapid growth in southern Nevada. Porter is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee. In December, 2005, he joined with several other congressmen to form the Second Amendments, a bipartisan rock and country band set to play for United States troops stationed overseas over the holiday season. In 2006, Porter won re-election over his opponent Tessa Hafen by a 48%-47% margin.
Stance on issues and voting record
War in Iraq
Porter supported the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and has recently called for a quick end to the invasion. He supported the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.[2] On July 12, 2007, Porter said he will not reconsider his stance on the Iraq war until September 2007 when General Petraeus presented a report on the efficacy of the Iraq troop surge.[3] On August 29, 2007, Porter claimed that U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to $9 per gallon gasoline.[4]
Energy and oil
Jon Porter voted against tax incentives for renewable energy, tax incentives for bio fuels, and removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. He has a 0% rating on energy independence from the Campaign for America's Future, a progressive political organization, and voted twice to implement George W. Bush's national energy policy.[5]
Social Security
Porter supports privatization of Social Security.[6][7]
Equal pay
Porter voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This legislation would have overturned the Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. by changing the computation of the statute of limitations to make it easier to file a lawsuit for violating equal pay laws.[8]
Family planning
On July 19, 2007, Porter voted for an amendment that would have cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and other groups which provide family planning services.[9]
Labor
In January 2007, Jon Porter voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25. [10] In March 2007, Porter voted against restricting employer influences in union organizing. The AFL-CIO considers Porter to have an anti-union voting record.[11]
Civil rights
The NAACP has agreed with 39% of his votes on their key issues, and describe his record as 'mixed'. In December 2005, Jon Porter voted to make the PATRIOT Act permanent.[citation needed] In September 2004, Porter voted to amend the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[12][13][14]
Undocumented workers
Porter opposed requiring hospitals to notify immigration authorities of illegal immigrants seeking treatment.[15]
2006 campaign contributors
Top Contributors to Jon Porter (R) During the 2006 Election Cycle | ||
Rank | Donor | Amount (US Dollars) |
1 | MGM Mirage | $ 51,200 |
2 | Station Casinos | $ 40,900 |
3 | JA Tiberti Construction | $ 36,000 |
4 | Harrah's Entertainment | $ 35,225 |
5 | Focus Property Group | $ 17,800 |
Source: The Center for Responsive Politics' [16] Note: Contributions are not from the organizations themselves, but are rather from the organization's PAC, employees or owners. Totals include subsidiaries and affiliates. | ||
2006 campaign expenditures
| Recipient | Total | No. of Payments |
| Autumn Productions, Las Vegas, NV | $1,455,053 | 12 |
| November Inc, Las Vegas, NV | $207,835 | 54 |
| Townsend Group Alexandria, VA | $100,095 | 25 |
| Weeks & Co LLP, Austin, TX | $86,724 | 6 |
| American Express, Los Angeles, CA | $74,065 | 26 |
| Public Opinion Strategies, Alexandria, VA | $72,620 | 8 |
| Foundations Inc, Las Vegas, NV | $66,632 | 37 |
| Majority Strategies, Columbus, OH | $39,798 | 15 |
| Peckman Maureen, Las Vegas, NV | $38,950 | 7 |
| Slanker Mike, Las Vegas, NV | $36,148 | 10 |
| Slanker, Mike, Las Vegas, NV | $35,493 | 35 |
See also
References
- ^ map
- ^ Mercury News, [http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10801621 Porter, Titus trade barbs in debate
- ^ Las Vegas Sun: July 12, 2007
- ^ Las Vegas Review Journal: August 29, 2007
- ^ On the Issues - Energy and Oil
- ^ On the Issues: Jon Porter - Social Security
- ^ The Las Vegas Sun
- ^ Congress.org
- ^ United States House of Representatives Roll Call
- ^ On the Issues: Jon Porter - Jobs
- ^ On the Issues: Jon Porter - Jobs
- ^ OntheIssues.org
- ^ L.A. Times "Nevada GOP’s goal: to get its house in order"
- ^ The Las Vegas Review Journal "A vote on nothing"
- ^ OntheIssues.org
- ^ OpenSecrets.org
- ^ OpenSecrets.org
External links
- U.S. Congressman Jon Porter official site
- Porter for Congress campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
| Territorial (1861–1864) |
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| One at-large seat (1864–1983) |
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| Districts (1983–present) (3rd district established in 2003) (4th district established in 2013) |
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