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=== President Trump ===
=== President Trump ===
In October 2016, Roby withdrew her endorsement of Trump: "Donald Trump's behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won't vote for him".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/republican-members-of-congress-withdraw-trump-support-updated/article/2004783|title=Republican Members of Congress Withdraw Trump Support (Updated)|date=2016-10-08|newspaper=Weekly Standard|access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In October 2016, Roby withdrew her endorsement of Trump: "Donald Trump's behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won't vote for him".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/republican-members-of-congress-withdraw-trump-support-updated/article/2004783|title=Republican Members of Congress Withdraw Trump Support (Updated)|date=2016-10-08|newspaper=Weekly Standard|access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In February 2017, she voted against a resolution that would have directed the House to request 10 years of Trump's tax returns, which would then have been reviewed by the [[United States House Committee on Ways and Means|House Ways and Means Committee]] in a closed session.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indy100.com/article/republican-vote-donald-trump-tax-president-united-states-229-185-congress-7603851|title=These are all the Republicans who don’t want you to see Donald Trump’s tax returns|date=2017-02-28|work=indy100|access-date=2017-03-01|language=en-GB}}</ref> 


== Electoral history ==
== Electoral history ==

Revision as of 21:24, 1 March 2017

Martha Roby
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded byBobby Bright
Personal details
Born (1976-07-26) July 26, 1976 (age 47)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRiley Roby
Children2
Alma materNew York University (BM)
Samford University (JD)

Martha Dubina Roby[1] /ˈroʊbi/ (born July 26, 1976) is the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd congressional district. She is a member of the Republican Party. She 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]

Roby describes herself as a staunch conservative. She opposes abortion, favors defunding Planned Parenthood, and has pledged not to raise taxes. She favors abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Education. She has been highly critical of the Environmental Protection Agency's actions under the Obama administration and voted to bar the agency from regulating greenhouse gases. She has pledged to maintain defense spending at a minimum of 4% of GDP. She voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2011 and 2013, and voted against re-opening the Government after the 2013 Government Shutdown. She has voted with her party in 98% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 100% of the votes.[4][5]

Early life, education, and legal career

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 Joel F. Dubina, a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Before entering politics, she worked at the law firm of Copeland, Franco.[6]

Montgomery City Council

Elections

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.[7][8]

Tenure

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,[9] opposed privatizing the disposal of household garbage,[10] supported a 10 cent cigarette tax increase,[11] and argued for a state sales tax holiday.[12] She headed a committee focused on illegal immigration; the committee's goal was to create a law that revoked business licenses for companies that used illegal aliens.[13]

Committee assignments

  • Immigration committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

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

Roby challenged incumbent Democratic 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.[14] In the run-off election, Roby defeated him 60%-40%.[15]

Roby was endorsed by both Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin in the most expensive race in the district's history.[16] 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, a Montgomery real estate developer, who contributed $25,300.00.[17] Roby's top industry contributor was leadership PAC's. They contributed a total of $106,010.[16]

Roby defeated Bright by 51%-to-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 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.[18]

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

In her run for re-election to her seat, she received the endorsements of 36 mayors in Alabama,[19] the Alabama Farmers Federation,[20] and Susan B. Anthony List.[21]

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%.[22][23]

2014
Further information: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2014 § District 2

Roby won the election with 67.34% of the vote, defeating Democrat Erick Wright.[24]

2016
Further information: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2016 § District 2

On March 1, 2016, Roby won the Republican primary with 64% of the vote.[25] Roby narrowly won the general election.[26]

Tenure

Roby has sponsored six bills of her own, including:[27]

112th Congress (2011-2012)

  • H.R. 3454, a bill to place a cap on acreage included in the Conservation Reserve Program, introduced November 17, 2011, reintroduced in the 113th Congress as H.R. 349

113th Congress (2013-2014)

  • H.R. 1406, a bill to require employers to provide their employees with 1.5 hours of paid time off for each hour of overtime put in by the employee, up to a maximum of 160 hours of paid time off per calendar year, and to require employers to provide monetary compensation to employees after each calendar year for any unused paid time off, introduced April 9, 2013. H.R. 1406 has passed the House of Representatives but has yet to become law.
  • H.R. 2089, a bill to prohibit the Department of Education from providing incentives or coercing States to participate in voluntary partnerships with other states to develop and implement shared academic content, standards, and assessments, introduced May 22, 2013

Committee assignments

Political positions

She has voted with his party in 98% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 100% of the votes.[4][5] Roby self-identifies as a staunch conservative,[28] who explained "true conservative values" thusly: "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."[29]

LGBT rights

Roby opposes same-sex marriage.[30]

Regulation reform

In December 2011, Roby voted in support of H.R. 10, the "Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act," which would have required Congressional approval for any "major regulations" issued by the executive branch but, unlike the 1996 Congressional Review Act, would not require the president's signature or override of a probable presidential veto.[31]

Immigration

Roby is an opponent of "amnesty" policy for immigrants, and said in a 2010 debate, "I will never support any legislation with the word 'amnesty' in it."[32]

Abortion rights

Roby opposes abortion.

She supported legislation prohibiting taxpayer money from paying for individual abortions.[33] She has introduced legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, saying "the more taxpayer dollars awarded to Planned Parenthood, the more abortions the group will perform".[34]

Agriculture and environment

Roby is a member of the subcommittee for agriculture, energy, and forestry, and believes that federal agencies need to be "reign[ed] [sic] in". [35] She believes that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) should be limited.[36] Roby believes CRP is causing a loss of farming production. She has also stated that CRP is no longer helping the environment.[37] She also has spoken out against many of the Environmental Protection Agency actions, specifically the MACT ruling.[38]

She has voted in favor of barring the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases.[39] She opposes the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, which sets a national limit on carbon dioxide pollution produced from power plants.[40] She has said that the Clean Power Plan is an attempt by Obama to protect his legacy at a cost to the American public: "It’s disappointing, but not surprising, to see the president is once again more focused on his “legacy” than he is on the priorities and needs of the American people."[40]

The League of Conservation Voters gives her a lifetime score of 5%.[41]

Balanced Budget Amendment

She supports a Balance Budget Amendment.[42]

Debt ceiling and government shutdown

In 2011, Roby voted against raising the debt ceiling.[43]

In 2013, she again voted against raising the debt ceiling, which led to the 2013 Government Shutdown.[44] She voted against the legislation that re-opened the Government sixteen days later.[45]

Disaster relief

In 2013, she voted against disaster relief aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy.[46]

Education

She wants to abolish the Department of Education.[42]

Federal funds for NASCAR sponsorships

In 2011, Roby voted against legislation that would have prohibited federal funds from going towards NASCAR sponsorships.[47]

Health care

Roby has repeatedly voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[48][49] In March 2012, she said, "I have taken 26 votes since I took office to completely repeal President Obama’s health care law, block its provisions, or defund its programs. I remain committed to dismantling this costly expansion of government."[49]

Roby supported Paul Ryan's “Roadmap for America’s Future”, which would privatize portions of Medicare, but she has also stated publicly that she specifically opposes privatization of Medicare.[50][51]

Foreign and Defense Policy

Representative Roby has consistently voted to prevent any defense spending cuts. She has also voted against a reduction in Navy and Aircraft Procurement[52] as well as voting "yea" for various extension of the armed forces budgets. She has only focused on cutting "non-defense" spending.[53] She has pledged to maintain defense spending at a minimum of 4% of GDP.[42]

Roby voted "Nay" to remove American forces from Afghanistan by December 31, 2011.[54]

Food stamps

Roby voted in September 2013 to cut $39 billion from the food stamp program; the Montgomery Advertiser noted that "About 41,000 households in Roby's southeastern congressional district received food stamps in 2011".[55]

National Public Radio

She has voted to cut funding to National Public Radio.[56]

Social Security

Roby supported Paul Ryan's “Roadmap for America’s Future”, which would privatize portions of Social Security, but she has also stated publicly that she specifically opposes privatization of Social Security.[51]

Roby has a score of 0% with the Alliance for Retired Americans, which indicates a pro-privatization stance on Social Security.[57]

Taxes

Roby is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[58] In 2010, Roby signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity to not vote for any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[59] She has pledged to abolish the inheritance tax, which applies to inheritances valued above $5 million.[42]

She pledged in 2010 to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).[42]

President Trump

In October 2016, Roby withdrew her endorsement of Trump: "Donald Trump's behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won't vote for him".[60][26]

In February 2017, she voted against a resolution that would have directed the House to request 10 years of Trump's tax returns, which would then have been reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee in a closed session.[61] 

Electoral history

Alabama 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby 36,295 48.55
Republican Rick Barber 21,313 28.51
Republican Stephanie Bell 13,797 18.46
Republican John Beau McKinney, III 3,349 4.48
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Runoff Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby 39,169 60.02
Republican Rick Barber 26,091 39.98
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby 111,645 50.97
Democratic Bobby Bright 106,865 48.79
Write-ins Write-ins 518 0.24
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby (inc.) 180,591 63.60
Democratic Therese Ford 103,092 36.31
Write-ins Write-ins 270 0.10
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby (inc.) 113,103 67.34
Democratic Erick Wright 54,692 32.56
Write-ins Write-ins 157 0.09
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha Roby (inc.) 78,689 66.37
Republican Becky Gerritson 33,015 27.85
Republican Robert "Bob" Rogers 6,856 5.78

References

  1. ^ "Representative Martha Dubina Roby (Martha) (R-Alabama, 2nd) - Biography from LegiStorm".
  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. ^ a b Bycoffe, Aaron (2017-01-30). "Tracking Martha Roby In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  5. ^ a b Willis, Derek. "Represent". ProPublica. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  6. ^ "Biographical Information for 2nd Congressional District GOP runoff candidates". Associated Press Newswires. 8 July 2010.
  7. ^ Lance Griffin. "Montgomery Republican plans to challenge Bright in 2010". The Dothan Eagle.
  8. ^ "Municipal Election Results-2003".
  9. ^ "Montgomery Alabama Shopping Mall to Go Up Against Protests, Mayor's Advice". The Montgomery Advertiser. February 19, 2004.
  10. ^ Sebastian Kitchen (March 30, 2005). "Trash Service Change Opposed". The Montgomery Advertiser.
  11. ^ William F. West (May 14, 2004). "Montgomery, Ala., Cigarette Tax Jumps 10 Cents". The Montgomery Advertiser.
  12. ^ William F. West (August 10, 2004). "Montgomery, Ala., council's tax idea might go statewide". Montgomery Advertiser.
  13. ^ "the issues".
  14. ^ "Our Campaigns - AL District 02 - R Primary Race - Jun 01, 2010".
  15. ^ "Our Campaigns - AL District 2 - R Runoff Race - Jul 13, 2010".
  16. ^ a b "Alabama 2nd District Profile". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Open Secrets". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  18. ^ "Our Campaigns - AL - District 02 Race - Nov 02, 2010".
  19. ^ "36 mayors endorse Martha Roby re-election". al.com. October 27, 2015.
  20. ^ "Martha Roby endorsed by Alabama Farmers Federation". al.com. October 20, 2014.
  21. ^ "Pro-life Susan B. Anthony List endorses Martha Roby for reelection". January 22, 2016.
  22. ^ "Our Campaigns - AL - District 02 Race - Nov 06, 2012".
  23. ^ Kitchen, Sebastian (January 14, 2012). "Candidates qualify for elections". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  24. ^ "Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  25. ^ "U.S. Rep. Martha Roby wins GOP primary". Montgomery Advertiser. March 1, 2016.
  26. ^ a b "Martha Roby, who condemned Trump, ekes out re-election win to Congress". AL.com. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  27. ^ "Representative Roby's Legislation". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  28. ^ "Martha Roby for Congress".
  29. ^ Blessing, Kelly. "Martha Roby". Washington Post.
  30. ^ Fausset, Richard (2015-02-13). "In Alabama City, Gay Couple Try to Wed, Early and Often". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  31. ^ Sonmez, Felicia (December 7, 2011). "REINS bill to expand congressional power over executive regulations passed by House". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  32. ^ Blessing, Kelly. "The Issues". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  33. ^ "Vote smart".
  34. ^ Roby, Martha; Diane Black (April 12, 2011). "Press release". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. ^ "agriculture bill".
  36. ^ Griffin, Lance. "CRP". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  37. ^ "Roby Brings Alabama Farmers' Concerns to Farm Bill Hearing". Retrieved 4 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "Ag Committee Republicans Stress the Negative Impact of Federal Regs on Production Agriculture & Rural Economies". Retrieved 4 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "Martha Roby on Energy & Oil". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  40. ^ a b "What Obama's 'Clean Power Plan' Really Means | Martha Roby - Representing Alabama's Second District". roby.house.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  41. ^ "Check out Representative Martha Roby's Environmental Voting Record". League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  42. ^ a b c d e Staff, Anniston Star Staff/Dothan Eagle. "Martha Roby: Abolish IRS, no changes to Social Security". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  43. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 379". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  44. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  45. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  46. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  47. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  48. ^ "Votes". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  49. ^ a b "Repeal Obamacare | Martha Roby - Representing Alabama's Second District". roby.house.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  50. ^ "Martha Roby and health care reform". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  51. ^ a b Griffin, Lance. "Fact Check: Does Martha Roby want to privatize Medicare?". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  52. ^ "bill".
  53. ^ "Spending Cuts and Debt". Archived from the original on 2011-01-06. Retrieved 4 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  54. ^ "H Con Res 28 - Removing Troops from Afghanistan - Key Vote". Retrieved 4 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  55. ^ "House cuts $39B in food stamps; Alabama delegation split on vote". Montgomery Advertiser. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  56. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  57. ^ "Martha Roby on Social Security". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  58. ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List" (PDF). Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  59. ^ http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/02/roby2.pdf
  60. ^ "Republican Members of Congress Withdraw Trump Support (Updated)". Weekly Standard. 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  61. ^ "These are all the Republicans who don't want you to see Donald Trump's tax returns". indy100. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-03-01.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd congressional district
2011–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
239th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martha_Roby&oldid=768110105"