Jump to content

Pat Toomey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wayne Slam (talk | contribs) at 19:56, 6 November 2010 (Reverted edits by VJDTropical (talk) to last revision by QuiteUnusual (HG)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Patrick J. Toomey
Patrick Toomey Congressional portrait
United States Senator-elect
from Pennsylvania
Assuming office
January 3, 2011
SucceedingArlen Specter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 15th district
In office
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005
Preceded byPaul McHale
Succeeded byCharlie Dent
Personal details
Born (1961-11-17) November 17, 1961 (age 62)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKris Toomey
ChildrenBridget Toomey
Patrick Toomey, Jr.
Duncan Toomey
Residence(s)Zionsville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materHarvard University (A.B.)
WebsiteToomey for Senate

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Toomey (born November 17, 1961) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, a Republican representing the Lehigh Valley-based 15th congressional district from January 1999 to January 2005, when he retired after three terms per his campaign promise. He then ran for a seat in the United States Senate, narrowly losing the Republican primary to incumbent Arlen Specter. From 2005 to 2009, he served as president of the Club for Growth, a 501(c)(4) organization with an affiliated Political Action Committee and Republican Party ties.[1] He is the United States Senator-elect from Pennsylvania, having defeated Democratic candidate Joe Sestak in the general election on November 2, 2010.[2]

Early life, education and career

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Toomey was raised by Catholic parents, and was one of six children. He attended La Salle Academy on scholarship[3] and graduated Harvard University with a political science degree.

Toomey was hired by Chemical Bank in 1984, where he was involved in currency swap transactions. In 1986, Toomey was hired by Morgan, Grenfell & Co., where he dealt in multiple foreign currencies, interest rates, and currency-related derivatives.[4] In 1991, Toomey resigned from the firm when it was acquired by Deutsche Bank in order to avoid the decreased flexibility and entrepreneurship that the acquisition would have caused.[4] The same year, Toomey and two younger brothers, Steven and Michael, opened Rookie's Restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania.[4]

In 1994, aged 32, Toomey was elected to Allentown's newly established Government Study Commission. During his term, Toomey drafted a new charter for the Commission requiring a super-majority for any tax increase.[5] The charter was approved by Allentown voters on April 23, 1996.[6]

U.S. House of Representatives

Toomey served from 1999 until 2005.

Political positions

U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey addresses the Philadelphia Tea Party on April 18, 2009.

Based on his three terms in Congress, the conservative American Conservative Union (ACU) has assigned Toomey a lifetime congressional rating of 97%,[7] and the liberal Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) a lifetime "Liberal Quotient" of 6%.[8] The ACLU has given Toomey a 13% lifetime rating on civil rights.[9]

When no longer a Congressman, in January 2005 Toomey became president of the Club for Growth, which had greatly supported his 2004 race against Specter. In August 2007, he also joined the board of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives.

Abortion

Toomey identifies as pro-life. Toomey received a 100% by the National Right to Life Committee, indicating what the organization considers to be a pro-life agenda.

Earmark requests

In his first term as a congressman, Toomey won $9 million overall in ear mark funding to his district.[10] In successive terms in Congress, Toomey filed no earmark requests. In fact, he swore off all earmarks, led the fight to eliminate them and signed the "No Pork" pledge as a senate candidate.[citation needed]

Education

Toomey has strongly supported increased school choice and charter schools. [citation needed]

Environment

During Toomey's tenure in Congress, he supported legislation that would speed up approval of forest thinning projects in 2003, supported opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and development, opposed implementing the Kyoto Protocol, and opposed legislation that would mandate increased vehicle fuel efficiency standards and provide incentives for alternative fuels.[11] In 2003, Toomey was given a 0% rating by the League of Conservation Voters, indicating what the organization considers to be an anti-environmental voting record.

Fiscal Issues

Toomey has been a consistent advocate of reducing and eliminating taxes. While in Congress he voted to reduce the capital gains tax, to eliminate the estate tax, to cut small business taxes, to eliminate the "marriage penalty", to first cut federal income taxes and other taxes by $958B over 10 years (the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001) and later to make these cuts permanent, to reduce capital gains and income taxes by nearly $100 billion (the Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2002), and to expand and extend multiple tax credits to individuals and businesses.[11]

Toomey publicly opposed the 2009 federal stimulus package. He opposes government-run or subsidized healthcare. Toomey opposed farm subsidies and called farm subsidies in a 2009 article in U.S.A Today "Moscow on the Mississippi" He has supported a federal balanced budget amendment. [citation needed]

Toomey was rated 80% by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), classifying him as what the NTU considers to be a "Taxpayer's Friend" on tax votes.[11] From 1999-2004, He received a 78% rating by the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) on its 'Liberty Index', indicating what the RLC considers his career to be, on average, one of a libertarian-leaning voting record. However, it should be noted that throughout his career, his Liberty Index rating has always decreased, starting at 89% in for 1999-2000, 84.5% in 2001, 79.5% for 2002-2003, 75% in 2004, and 65% in 2005; suggesting that Toomey is increasingly a centrist.[12] In 2003, Toomey was given a 90% rating by the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Same Sex Marriage

Toomey has voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[11]

Guns

Toomey advocates the reduction of gun regulations. While serving in Congress, Toomey supported bills that would prohibit suing gun makers and sellers for gun misuse and would decrease the waiting period due to background checks from three days to one for purchases made at gun shows.[11] Toomey received an "A" by the National Rifle Association (NRA), indicating what the NRA considers to be a pro-gun rights voting record.

Medicare

Toomey opposed the passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug Act which he argued was fiscally irresponsible.[13]

Political campaigns

1998, 2000, 2002

In 1998, Toomey ran for the 15th District seat being vacated by the Democratic incumbent Paul McHale against state Senator and future Allentown Mayor Roy C. Afflerbach. Toomey won by a ten-point margin. Toomey was reelected two more times by relatively comfortable margins. He did not run for reelection to his House seat in 2004, fulfilling a pledge that he had signed in 1998 to serve only three terms.[14]

2004

Main article: United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2004

In 2004, he challenged incumbent Senator Arlen Specter in the Republican primary election. Aided by $2 million of advertising from the Club for Growth, Toomey's campaign theme was that Specter was not a conservative, especially on fiscal issues. However, most of the state's Republican establishment closed ranks behind Specter. This included endorsements by Pennsylvania's other Senator, Rick Santorum and by President George W. Bush. Toomey lost the election by a 1.7% margin.

2010

Main article: United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2010

On April 15, 2009, Toomey announced his intention to once again challenge Specter in the Republican senatorial primary.[15] On April 28, 2009, Specter announced that he was switching parties and would run as a Democrat in 2010 after polls showed him losing to Toomey in the primary.[16] Specter's withdrawal left Toomey as the front runner for the 2010 Republican nomination.[17] Toomey won the Republican Senate primary on May 18, 2010. Toomey leads his opponent Joe Sestak in aggregate general election polling.[18] As of September 15, 2010, per Rasmussen, Pat Toomey's lead over Sestak had extended to 8 points (49% to 41%) with 8% of the voters undecided.[19]

Electoral history

Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district: Results 1998–2002[20]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1998 Roy C. Afflerbach 66,930 45% Patrick J. Toomey 81,755 55% *
2000 Edward O'Brien 103,864 47% Patrick J. Toomey 118,307 53%
2002 Edward O'Brien 73,212 43% Patrick J. Toomey 98,493 57% *
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1998, write-ins received 21 votes. In 2002, write-ins received 8 votes.
Republican Party primary for Pennsylvania United States Senate election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Arlen Specter 530,839 50.82
Republican Pat Toomey 513,693 49.18
Source: OurCampaigns.com PA US Senate - 2004 R Primary
Republican Party primary for Pennsylvania United States Senate election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pat Toomey 667,614 81.5
Republican Peg Luksik 151,901 18.5
Pennsylvania United States Senate election, 2010[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pat Toomey 1,995,026 51
Democratic Joe Sestak 1,916,703 49

Personal life

In November 1997, Toomey married Kris Ann Duncan. They have three children, Bridget, Patrick and Duncan.

References

  1. ^ "Club for Growth website". Clubforgrowth.org. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  2. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/la-pn-sestak-toomey-final,0,7879406.story
  3. ^ Keith Herbert Only change in 15th District: Stakes higher ** Toomey, O'Brien debating same issues as two years ago. [SECOND Edition] Morning Call - Allentown, Pa Oct 29, 2002 Page: B.1
  4. ^ a b c Hunter, Robert (May 1999). "Patrick Toomey: From Wall Street to Capitol Hill". Derivatives Strategy.
  5. ^ Micek, John L.; Kraus, Scott; Isherwood, Darryl R. (30 April). "Pat Toomey's time has come". The Morning Call. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  6. ^ City of Allentown City Clerk’s Office, ed. (2009). City of Allentown Home Rule Charter. City of Allentown.
  7. ^ Murdock, Deroy (23 March 2009). "Pat Toomey May Take Arlen Specter Out of GOP's Misery". Human Events. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  8. ^ "Voting Records". ADA Today Newsletter. 55–60 (1). Americans for Democratic Action. 2000–2006.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  9. ^ "ACLU rating for Toomey". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  10. ^ "Toomey got millions in earmarks before railing against them", Thomas Fitzgerald. Philadelphia Inquirer. Wednesday, September 8. 2010. Accessed September 8, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Pat Toomey on the Issues". OnTheIssues.org. January 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  12. ^ "Pat Toomey rating". RepublicanLiberty.org. January 2005. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.republicanliberty.org/libdex/li_look.asp" ignored (help)
  13. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 669". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  14. ^ Raju, Manu (10 December 2008). "Specter's future rests with Toomey". Politico.com. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  15. ^ Turner, Trish (April 15, 2009). "Specter Faces Conservative Challenge From Familiar Foe". Fox News.
  16. ^ "Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat". CNN. 28 April 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Dale, Maryclaire (4 August 2009). "Rep. Sestak will try to unseat Sen. Specter of Pa". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/pa/pennsylvania_senate_sestak_vs_toomey-1059.html
  19. ^ "Election 2010: Pennsylvania Senate-Rasmussen Reports". Rasmussenreports.com. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  20. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  21. ^ "Pennsylvania State Election Results". Election 2010. CBS. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  22. ^ "Election 2010 Pennsylvania". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2010.

Media related to Pat Toomey at Wikimedia Commons

U.S. Senate
Preceded by United States Senator-elect (Class 3) from Pennsylvania
January 3, 2011
Served alongside: Bob Casey, Jr. 		Incumbent
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 		Succeeded by
Other offices
Preceded by President of the Club for Growth
2005 – 2009 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for United States Senator (Class 3) from Pennsylvania
2010 		Succeeded by
Most Recent

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pat_Toomey&oldid=395221465"