Bill Posey
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Posey is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party
. He formerly served in the Florida Senate
and the Florida House of Representatives
.
. In 1969, he graduated from Brevard Community College
with an Associate of Arts degree.
He obtained his own work at NASA, but was laid off at the end of the Apollo Space Program. From 1974 to 1976, Bill Posey worked on the Rockledge Planning Commission. In 1976, he was elected as a member of the City Council, and from 1986 to 1992, he was a member of the Brevard County Business and Industrial Development Commission. Posey then founded his own real estate company in the 1970s. He later became director of the state Association of Realtors
. While serving in local politics, he also became a researcher on government accountability
and transparency.
While serving in the state legislature, Posey was a chief sponsor of a bill designed to modernize the Florida election process, in response to the 2000 presidential election controversy
. He also worked to revise insurance policy, so as to aid hurricane victims.
In 2008, Posey ran to replace retiring U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon
, who had occupied the 15th District seat since 1995, when the district first voted Republican. He was opposed by Democrat Stephen Blythe, and the independent, libertarian
leaning Frank Zilaitis. Posey won with 53% of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, Blythe, by 11%.
2010
Posey won re-election against former NASA
executive and public administrator Shannon Roberts.
On March 12, 2009, Posey introduced into the United States House of Representatives
H.R. 1503. Posey claims that the bill, which would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificate
, is a reaction to claims that President Barack Obama
is not a natural born U.S. citizen
. Critics, including the editorial board of The Orlando Sentinel, have claimed that the bill further perpetuates the theories.
When asked whether or not he believed Obama to be a natural born citizen, Posey remarked that his beliefs on the matter were irrelevant. Posey's bill gained the support of 12 Republican co-sponsors.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He formerly served in the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
and the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
.
Early life, education, and business career
Posey moved to Florida in 1956, as his father took a job in engineering with NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. In 1969, he graduated from Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...
with an Associate of Arts degree.
He obtained his own work at NASA, but was laid off at the end of the Apollo Space Program. From 1974 to 1976, Bill Posey worked on the Rockledge Planning Commission. In 1976, he was elected as a member of the City Council, and from 1986 to 1992, he was a member of the Brevard County Business and Industrial Development Commission. Posey then founded his own real estate company in the 1970s. He later became director of the state Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
The National Association of Realtors , whose members are known as Realtors, is North America's largest trade association. representing over 1.2 million members , including NAR's institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries...
. While serving in local politics, he also became a researcher on government accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
and transparency.
Florida legislature
In 2006, Posey authored Activity Based Total Accountability, which outlines his suggestions for improving American politics.While serving in the state legislature, Posey was a chief sponsor of a bill designed to modernize the Florida election process, in response to the 2000 presidential election controversy
United States presidential election in Florida, 2000
The 2000 United States presidential election in Florida took place on November 7, 2000 as it did in the other 49 states and D.C., which was part of the 2000 United States presidential election...
. He also worked to revise insurance policy, so as to aid hurricane victims.
Elections
2008In 2008, Posey ran to replace retiring U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon
Dave Weldon
David Joseph Weldon, is an American politician and physician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .-Early life:...
, who had occupied the 15th District seat since 1995, when the district first voted Republican. He was opposed by Democrat Stephen Blythe, and the independent, libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
leaning Frank Zilaitis. Posey won with 53% of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, Blythe, by 11%.
2010
Posey won re-election against former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
executive and public administrator Shannon Roberts.
Tenure
Bill Posey is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.On March 12, 2009, Posey introduced into the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
H.R. 1503. Posey claims that the bill, which would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
, is a reaction to claims that President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
is not a natural born U.S. citizen
Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama claim that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. Some theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not...
. Critics, including the editorial board of The Orlando Sentinel, have claimed that the bill further perpetuates the theories.
When asked whether or not he believed Obama to be a natural born citizen, Posey remarked that his beliefs on the matter were irrelevant. Posey's bill gained the support of 12 Republican co-sponsors.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Financial ServicesUnited States House Committee on Financial ServicesThe United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee conducts oversight of the agencies, departments, and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction...
- Liberty CaucusLiberty CaucusThe Liberty Caucus is a group of Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. It hosts a luncheon in Washington, D.C., every Thursday....
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
External links
- U.S. Congressman Bill Posey official U.S. House site
- Posey for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...