Jim Jordan
Jim Jordan | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 4th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2007 | |
Preceded by | Mike Oxley |
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 12th district | |
In office January 3, 2001-December 31, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Robert R. Cupp |
Succeeded by | Keith Faber |
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 85th district | |
In office January 3, 1995-December 31, 2000 | |
Preceded by | Jim Davis |
Succeeded by | Derrick Seaver |
Personal details | |
Born | Urbana, Ohio | February 17, 1964
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Polly Jordan |
Residence | Urbana, Ohio |
Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison Ohio State University Capital University Law School |
Occupation | Politician |
James Daniel "Jim" Jordan (born February 17, 1964) is the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in the north-central portion of the state and includes Lima, Tiffin, and Elyria.
Early life, education and career
Jordan was born and raised in Champaign County, Ohio and attended Graham High School, graduating in 1982. While at Graham, he was a four-time state wrestling champion with a career record of 150-1. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1986, obtaining his bachelor's degree in economics. Jordan was a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion. In the 1985 NCAA championship match, Jordan defeated future two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion John Smith.[1] He later earned a master's degree in education from the Ohio State University in Columbus, and in 2001 obtained his law degree from Capital University, also in Columbus. Before entering politics, he was an assistant wrestling coach with the Ohio State University wrestling program.
Ohio Legislature
Jordan was first elected to the Ohio General Assembly in November 1994 and went on to serve three terms as State Representative of the 85th Ohio House District. In 1996, he offered an amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill that limited the amount of time that an able-bodied individual could remain on welfare. He also created the Income Tax Reduction Fund, which required that any state revenue surpluses be used to lower the income tax burden on Ohioans rather than be used for further government spending.[citation needed]
In 2000, he won a seat in the Ohio Senate by defeating independent candidate Jack Kaffenberger by a margin of 88 percent to 12 percent. In 2004, Jordan defeated Kaffenberger again, this time by a smaller margin of 79 percent to 21 percent. In May 2006, Jordan won the Republican primary race for the 4th Congressional district of Ohio. He also won a 100% lifetime rating from the Ohio Taxpayers Association, which endorsed Jordan in his bid for Congress.[2]
Jordan was named Watchdog of the Treasury (1996, 2000, 2004), Outstanding Legislator (2004), Outstanding Freshman Legislator (1996), Friend of the Taxpayer (1997), and Pro-Life Legislator of the Year (1998) by the United Conservatives of Ohio, the Defender of Life award from the Ohio Right to Life Society, and the 2001 Leadership in Government Award from the Ohio Roundtable and Freedom Forum.[citation needed] Additionally, Senate President Bill Harris appointed Jordan to be the chairman of the Senate Judiciary on Criminal Justice Committee.
U.S. House of Representatives
Jordan won the Republican primary for the 4th District in 2006 after 26-year incumbent Mike Oxley announced his retirement. Despite the strong anti-Republican mood in Ohio that year, Jordan skated to victory in the general election, defeating Democrat Rick Siferd in the general election, 60% to 40%. The 4th has long been reckoned as one of the most (if not the most) Republican districts in Ohio and the nation; the district and its predecessors have been in Republican hands for all but 16 years since the Civil War.
He was reelected in 2008, defeating Democrat Mike Carroll 65% to 35%.[3]
Jordan chaired the Republican Study Committee during the 112th Congress. He was elected over Representative Louie Gohmert, who was backed by several tea party groups.[4] Jordan reportedly turned down a position on the Appropriations Committee.[5]
Jordan received a vote for Speaker on the first day of the 113th Congress from fellow conservative Tim Huelskamp of Kansas.
Committee assignments
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi
Legislation
On May 2, 2014, Jordan introduced the simple resolution Calling on Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., to appoint a special counsel to investigate the targeting of conservative nonprofit groups by the Internal Revenue Service (H.Res. 565; 113th Congress) into the House, where it passed on May 7, 2014.[6] The resolution asks Holder to appoint a special counsel to investigate the 2013 IRS scandal. Jordan said that "we need this special counsel to help us get to the truth because the so-called investigation by the Justice Department has been a joke. The current investigation has no credibility because it is being headed by a maxed-out donor who is financially invested in the president's success."[7]
Political positions
While serving in the Ohio Senate, he supported the Tax and Expenditure Limitation Amendment, a state constitutional amendment that would require a vote of the people in order to raise taxes or increase spending over certain limits.[8]
In Congress, Jordan is among the most conservative Republicans, earning a perfect score from the American Conservative Union.[9] He has voted consistently for anti-abortion legislation and was endorsed by Ohio Right to Life in 2012.[10] During the 112th Congress, he was one of 40 "staunch" members of the Republican Study Committee who frequently voted against Republican party leadership and vocally expressed displeasure with House bills.[11]
Jordan has been a leading critic of President Barack Obama's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) program, advocating for its shutdown.[12]
Jordan has supported the continued production and upgrades of M1 Abrams tanks in his district. The Pentagon opposed the bipartisan action to maintain funding.[13] The Pentagon wants to put a hold on tank upgrades at a Lima plant until a new version is ready, possibly in 2017, in order to save $3 billion. The plant supports approximately 800 jobs in the district.[14][15]
2013 U.S. government shutdown
Jordan has been a critic of Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the debt ceiling. In 2010, he was chair of the Republican Study Committee, and during the U.S. government shutdown of 2013, he was still considered its most powerful member.[16] That group was the primary proponent and executor of the Republican Congressional strategy to force a government shutdown, in order to force changes in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.[16]
Political campaigns
2008
Jordan won against Democratic nominee Mike Carroll.
2010
Jordan defeated Democrat Doug Litt and Libertarian Donald Kissick in the general election.
2012
Jordan defeated Democrat Jim Slone and Libertarian Chris Kalla in the general election.
Electoral history
Election results[17] | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||||
1998 | Ohio House of Representatives | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 23,763 | 68.36% | Robert Burns | Democratic | 10,999 | 31.64% | ||||||||
2000 | Ohio Senate | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 99,803 | 76.9% | Jack Kaffenberger, Sr. | Independent | 15,545 | 12.0% | Debra Mitchell | Natural Law | 14,373 | 11.1% | ||||
2006 | U.S. House of Representatives | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 129,958 | 59.99% | Richard E. Siferd | Democratic | 86,678 | 40.01% | ||||||||
2008 | U.S. House of Representatives | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 186,154 | 65.17% | Mike Carroll | Democratic | 99,499 | 34.83% | John Green | Write-in | 167 | 0.17% | ||||
2010 | U.S. House of Representatives | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 146,029 | 71.49% | Doug Litt | Democratic | 50,533 | 24.74% | Donald Kissick | Libertarian | 7,708 | 3.77% | ||||
2012 | U.S. House of Representatives | General | Jim Jordan | Republican | 182,643 | 58.35% | Jim Slone | Democratic | 114,214 | 36.49% | Chris Kalla | Libertarian | 16,141 | 5.16% |
Personal life
Jordan and his wife Polly live with their four children near Urbana in central Champaign County.
References
- ^ "55th NCAA Wrestling Tournament: 1985" (PDF). Wrestlingstats.com. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- ^ "ohiotaxpayers.com". ohiotaxpayers.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "U.S. Congress: November 4, 2008". Sos.state.oh.us. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ Sabrina Eaton/The Plain Dealer (2010-12-08). "Rep. Jim Jordan selected to chair Republican Study Committee". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- ^ "Appropriations panel loses its luster - Simmi Aujla and Richard E. Cohen". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- ^ "H.Res. 565 - All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- ^ Bedard, Paul (2 May 2014). "Next: Demand for special counsel to probe IRS scandal, Lois Lerner". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Drewblade, James. "The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio". toledoblade.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ [1]Template:2009 Archive.org of Votes by State Delegation
- ^ "Ohio Right to Life". Ohiovotesforlife.org. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (2012-03-16). "G.O.P. Freshmen Not as Defiant as Reputation Suggests". New York Times.
- ^ "Cleaning Up the Mortgage Mess". The Wall Street Journal. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ^ Lardner, Richard (April 28, 2013). "Army says no to more tanks, but Congress insists". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ Sweigart, Josh (August 18, 2012). "Congress pushes for weapons Pentagon didn't want". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ "Downsizing the military". The Week. September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/inside-the-republican-suicide-machine-20131009
- ^ "Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
External links
- Congressman Jim Jordan official U.S. House site
- Profile from the U.S. Department of State
- Jim Jordan for Congress
- Jim Jordan at Curlie
- 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
Offices and distinctions |
---|
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Members of the Ohio House of Representatives
- Ohio State Senators
- People from Urbana, Ohio
- University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
- Ohio State University alumni
- Capital University Law School alumni
- American sport wrestlers
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio
- Ohio Republicans
- American evangelicals
- Wisconsin Badgers athletes
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives