Justin Amash

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Justin Amash
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Vern Ehlers
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2011
Preceded by Glenn D. Steil
Succeeded by Ken Yonker
Personal details
Born (1980-04-18) April 18, 1980 (age 32)
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kara
Children 3
Residence Cascade Township
Alma mater University of Michigan
Profession Attorney
Religion Orthodox Christian
Website amash.house.gov

Justin Amash (play /əˈmɑːʃ/;[1] born April 18, 1980) is an American attorney, politician, and Member of Congress. In January 2011 he began serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district, which includes Grand Rapids.

A conservative Republican, Amash was first elected to the House in the 2010 election with the backing of the Tea Party movement.[2][3] Previously he was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 72nd district, which consisted of the city of Kentwood and the townships of Caledonia, Cascade, and Gaines. At the age of 32, Amash assumed office as the second youngest sitting U.S. Representative, behind 30-year-old Aaron Schock of Illinois. As of March 14, 2012, Amash ranked 12th in the list of youngest-inaugurated sitting U.S. Representatives.[4]

Contents

[edit] Early life, education, and pre-political career

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Kentwood, Michigan, Amash is a second generation Arab-American of Palestinian Christian and Syrian Christian descent.[2] His father is a Palestinian business owner, whose family immigrated to the United States in 1956 through the sponsorship of a Christian pastor and his family. Amash attended Kelloggsville Christian School and graduated as class valedictorian from Grand Rapids Christian High School. He graduated from the University of Michigan magna cum laude with an A.B. in Economics and earned his J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School in 2005.[3]

After graduating from college, he became a consultant to his family’s tool business. He also served as a corporate lawyer for a year before being elected to Michigan's state House in 2008.[5]

[edit] Michigan House of Representatives

[edit] Election

Amash ran for state representative in 2008 in Michigan's 72nd state House district. During this time, he donated to the campaigns of Congressman Ron Paul and John McCain.[6] In the Republican primary, he won a five candidate election with 42% of the vote, defeating opponent Ken Yonker by 723 votes (a 6.3% margin). The incumbent, Glenn D. Steil, Jr., was term-limited.[citation needed][7] In the general election, Amash defeated Democrat Albert Abbasse 61%-36%.[8]

[edit] Tenure

During his two-year tenure, Amash sponsored 5 resolutions and 12 bills.[9] One commentator suggested that Amash was the first legislator to use his Facebook Page to explain all of his votes and to interact directly with constituents.[10] Amash was one of the first state representatives to post all of his office expenses, staff salaries, and legislative benefits online.[citation needed]

During Amash's tenure, he was one of 17 House members (6 Republicans and 11 Democrats) who did not miss a vote in 1315 or more roll calls.[11]

[edit] Committee assignments

  • Education
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security[12]

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

[edit] Election

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2010#District 3

On August 3, 2010, Amash won the five-way Republican primary for the seat vacated by retiring Republican Vern Ehlers with over 40% of the vote. Amash was a favorite of the Tea Party movement, having been endorsed by iCaucus.[13] He was also endorsed by The Club for Growth,[14] Rep. Ron Paul,[15] and FreedomWorks PAC[16] during his primary campaign.

During the general election campaign, Amash ran on a conservative platform.[3] On November 2, 2010, Amash defeated Democrat Patrick Miles, Jr. by a 59.6%-37.4% margin out of the 224,063 votes cast.[17].

From 1873 to 1993 the Congressional District based around Grand Rapids was numbered as Michigan's 5th. In 1993, it was renumbered the 3rd. Since 1873, the district has been held by Republicans for 123 years and by Democrats for 13 years.

[edit] Tenure

Like his tenure in the state Legislature, Amash has been a leader in the libertarian wing of the Republican party as a Member of Congress. So far in Congress, he has voted with his party 78% of the time, the third lowest behind Ron Paul (74%) and Walter B. Jones, Jr. (70%). He has endorsed Ron Paul for President in 2012. Paul's brother, David, was an assistant pastor in Amash's district and has endorsed Amash saying, "I think [Amash] is doing an extremely good job at what he’s doing, and I know he’s going to do very well.”[18] He is one of the few Republicans who voted against the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.[19] Amash called it “one of the most anti-liberty pieces of legislation of our lifetime.” [20]

Amash has never missed a vote in Congress.[21]

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Political positions

Amash opposes central economic planning and believes it contributes to unemployment, inflation, and dangerous business cycles.[22][23][22] He believes health insurance should not be mandatory, and he supports reforms that include allowing insurance companies to sell products across state lines and increasing access to health savings accounts.[22][23] He believes that only Congress has the power to declare war.[22] He supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.[22] He supports the Second Amendment as a safeguard against violations of Americans' liberty.[22] He believes that schools should be managed locally.[22] He believes that the federal government should not improperly expand its powers using the General Welfare, Commerce, or Necessary and Proper clauses.[22]

Amash has endorsed Ron Paul for President of the United States in the 2012 election.[24]

[edit] Recognition

In its October 25, 2010, issue, Amash was named one of Time magazine's "40 under 40 - Rising Stars of U.S. Politics."[25] At the age of 30, Amash was the youngest federal candidate in the United States on the list of new civic leaders.[23]

[edit] Personal life

He has said his biggest heroes are economists F.A. Hayek and Frédéric Bastiat.[23] Amash is married and the father of three children. He also belongs to the Antiochian Orthodox Church.[26]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Amash beats Miles in 3rd District Congress race". Associated Press. Connecticut Post. 2010-11-02. http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Amash-beats-Miles-in-3rd-District-Congress-race-791206.php. Retrieved 2010-11-17. 
  2. ^ a b Ron Kampeas (2010-10-13). "Political Points: Hannity told me not to come". JTA-Jewish & Israel News. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2010/10/13/2741260/political-points-hannity-told-me-not-to-come. 
  3. ^ a b c Jim Harger (2010-10-24). "Profile: 3rd Congressional district candidate Justin Amash". The Grand Rapids Press (M Live). http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/10/profile_3rd_congressional_dist_1.html. 
  4. ^ Current members of the United States House of Representatives by age
  5. ^ Newlin, Eliza. "Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI, 3rd District)". National Journal. http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/justin-amash-mi/. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  6. ^ "The Huffington Post". huffingtonpost.com. http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=AMASH&fname=JUSTIN. 
  7. ^ "MI State House 072 - R Primary Race - Aug 05, 2008". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=681378. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  8. ^ "MI State House 072 Race - Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=497448. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  9. ^ Justin Amash sponsored legislation 2009-2010
  10. ^ Daniel Estrada (2010-05-14). "Influence blog: Stop blaming us for your own inadequacies". MLive.com. http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/05/influence_blog_stop_blaming_us.html. Retrieved 2010-07-26. 
  11. ^ Michiganvotes.org Missed Votes
  12. ^ "Justin Amash". Ballotpedia. http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Justin_Amash. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  13. ^ "Justin Amash - Endorsed!". http://www.icaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314:justin-amash-endorsed&catid=57:endorsed-candidates-michigan&Itemid=&date=2011-07-01. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  14. ^ Connolly, Michael. "Club for Growth PAC Endorses Justin Amash in Michigan-03". http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13599. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  15. ^ Ron Paul Endorses Justin Amash for Congress, EON, June 21, 2010
  16. ^ "FreedomWorks PAC Endorses Justin Amash, Candidate in Michigan`s Third Congressional District". Business Wire. 29 July 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/07/29/idUS269196+29-Jul-2010+BW20100729. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  17. ^ "2010 Official Michigan General Election Results - 3rd District Representative in Congress 2 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State. http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/10GEN/06003000.html. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  18. ^ Mak, Tim (December 8, 2011). "Justin Amash casts himself in Ron Paul's mold". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70145.html#ixzz1gutZ0ngo. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  19. ^ Harger, Jim (December 12, 2011). "U.S. Rep. Justin Amash gathering support in fight against the National Defense Authorization Act". The Grand Rapids Press. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/12/us_rep_justin_amash_gathering.html. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  20. ^ Hunter, Jack (December 2, 2011). "The terrorists have won". The Daily Caller Opinion. http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/02/the-terrorists-have-won/#ixzz1guuJTL4Qh. Retrieved March 2, 2012. 
  21. ^ "No-excuse lawmakers: The members who never miss a vote". thehill.com. 2012-03-05. http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/214265-no-excuse-lawmakers-the-members-who-never-miss-a-vote. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h "Issues". Amash For Congress. http://amashforcongress.com/issues. Retrieved 2010-11-16. 
  23. ^ a b c d "TIME Magazine names Justin Amash one of its 40 Rising Stars". Justin Amash for Congress. 2010-10-14. http://amashforcongress.com/news/time-magazine-names-justin-amash-one-its-40-rising-stars. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
  24. ^ "Justin Amash Endorses Ron Paul". Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/justinamash/posts/194465963958694. Retrieved 18 September 2011. 
  25. ^ TIME Magazine, "40 under 40 - Rising Stars of U.S. Politics - Justin Amash, time.com
  26. ^ Justin Amash. The Facebook.

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Vern Ehlers		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
2011–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Sandy Adams
R-Florida		 United States Representatives by seniority
342nd		 Succeeded by
Lou Barletta
R-Pennsylvania
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