Joe Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Joseph Simon "Joe" Donnelly, Sr. (born September 29, 1955) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. Donnelly announced Monday May 9 that he would run for the United States Senate seat that is held by Republican Richard Lugar.
in 1977 and earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School
in 1981. He practiced law until 1996, when he opened Marking Solutions, a printing and rubber stamp company.
He ran a campaign for Indiana attorney general in 1988, but lost at the Democratic state convention. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Indiana State Senate in 1990.
In July 2007, Donnelly joined 221 other House members in voting for HR 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. This legislation contained a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
Serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
, supported legislation that was the largest increase in funding for veterans in history (Fiscal Year 2008 Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations). Since taking office, he has worked to improve the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital by supporting H.R.1538, The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. He has worked across the aisle with Republican Congressman Fred Upton
to introduce H.R. 1490, The Fairness in Veterans Disability Benefits Act, which reduces waiting time for veterans deserving disability benefits. Donnelly has introduced legislation to create a rural advisory board for veterans and fought to improve private-care options for veterans struck with traumatic brain injury
. He has also worked to open an outpatient clinic in Elkhart, IN and an inpatient hospital in South Bend, IN.
Donnelly is a member of Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats in Congress
. In March 2007, he was recognized as "Blue Dog of the Week" for his work on helping small businesses. He has also broken with the Democratic leadership on several budgetary issues, including the 2008 fiscal budget proposal. In June 2007, he was ranked as one of the ten most independent Democrats by a nonpartisan Congressional Quarterly report.
Joe Donnelly strongly supports expanding health care so it covers a greater number of people. Because many are losing their insurance as a result of losing their jobs, or because their small business cannot afford to provide workers with health care, Donnelly suggests revising the health care plan so that all Americans are covered, as opposed to the 46 million that are currently uninsured. On March 21, 2010, Joe Donnelly voted in favor of approving the Senate version of the Democrats' health care reform bill.
To fix what Donnelly calls the “country’s immigration crisis” he wants to start by securing the borders and have more agents patrolling the perimeter. He suggests using E-Verify
, a program he supports that allows employers to verify if their workers are legal by checking with databases from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The interest groups English First, Federation for American Immigration Reform, and Americans for a Better Immigration have all been supporters of Donnelly’s work, while the National Latino Congreso has adamantly criticized his efforts.
The National Rifle Association has consistently supported Joe Donnelly on his views on gun control. He helped promote a project that would get rid of gun registration and the trigger lock law in Washington D.C. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has disapproved of Donnelly’s views and actions since 1998, based on his gun control voting records. He values family traditions and human life; therefore, he is working on making inappropriate content on the web, television, and radio unavailable to children. Donnelly is morally opposed to abortion, and is trying to make adoption more accessible to families.
In 2011, he co-sponsored HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. The bill contained an exception for "forcible rape," which opponents criticized as potentially excluding drug-facilitated rape, date rape, and other forms of rape. The bill also allowed an exception for minors who are victims of incest.
. Chocola was helped by several fundraising visits from President George W. Bush
, and was able to outspend Donnelly by a two to one margin, $1.4 million to $700,000. Donnelly lost the election, 54%-45%. Due to his relatively late entrance into the contest, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
(DCCC) did not offer much support to Donnelly's 2004 campaign. This would change in 2006, when the race was identified by the DCCC as a "Red-to-Blue" contest and extra funds were sent from out of the district in an effort to win back control of the House of Representatives.
Because Chocola was a strong supporter of George W. Bush
, the race was expected to be more competitive than in 2004 in light of Bush's waning popularity. The website Moveon.org identified Donnelly as a top contender to defeat a Republican incumbent in the house, and began running its "Red-Handed" ads against Chocola early in the campaign. Chocola still maintained a significant money advantage over Donnelly, but in 2006, Donnelly had enough to maintain a competitive advertising presence throughout the campaign.
The campaign was heated, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sponsoring ads attacking Chocola as being beholden to monied interests in the insurance, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. Chocola returned fire by attacking Donnelly over a late tax filing and by attempting to link him to liberal House leader Nancy Pelosi
.
On November 7, 2006, Donnelly defeated Chris Chocola by 15,145 votes, or 8% of a substantially larger total of votes relative to 2004. The key difference between the 2006 and 2004 elections for Donnelly lay in the results within St. Joseph County
, the location of South Bend
and by far the largest county in the district. Traditionally reliably Democratic, voters in the county chose Donnelly over Chocola by only a few hundred votes in the 2004 election. In 2006, however, Donnelly amassed 58% of the county's votes, generating a 14,000-vote margin.
Donnelly was named to the House Financial Services Committee for the 110th Congress.
Jackie Walorski
. Despite huge GOP gains Donnelly was re-elected with 48% of the vote to Walorski's 47%.
.
.
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 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Donnelly announced Monday May 9 that he would run for the United States Senate seat that is held by Republican Richard Lugar.
Early life, education and career
Joe Donnelly was born in Flushing, New York. He graduated from Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1977 and earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
in 1981. He practiced law until 1996, when he opened Marking Solutions, a printing and rubber stamp company.
Early political career
Donnelly held two public positions before deciding to run for Congress. From 1988 to 1989 he served on the Indiana State Election Board, which was charged with ensuring accurate election results. He served on a local school board from 1997 to 2001, serving as president of the board from 2000 to 2001.He ran a campaign for Indiana attorney general in 1988, but lost at the Democratic state convention. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Indiana State Senate in 1990.
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 International Monetary Policy and TradeUnited States House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and TradeThe United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services...
- Committee on Veterans' AffairsUnited States House Committee on Veterans' AffairsThe standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
- Subcommittee on HealthUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on HealthThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.The Subcommittee on Health has legislative and oversight jurisdiction for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system, programs and research...
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
(Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Health
Political positions
Donnelly has supported attempts to patch the Alternative Minimum Tax. Additionally, he has co-sponsored HR 976, The Small Business Tax Relief, ActIn July 2007, Donnelly joined 221 other House members in voting for HR 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. This legislation contained a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
Serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
The standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
, supported legislation that was the largest increase in funding for veterans in history (Fiscal Year 2008 Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations). Since taking office, he has worked to improve the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital by supporting H.R.1538, The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. He has worked across the aisle with Republican Congressman Fred Upton
Fred Upton
Frederick Stephen Upton is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Republican Party and Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The district, based in Kalamazoo, stretches along the Michigan-Indiana border in the southwestern part of the state.-Early life,...
to introduce H.R. 1490, The Fairness in Veterans Disability Benefits Act, which reduces waiting time for veterans deserving disability benefits. Donnelly has introduced legislation to create a rural advisory board for veterans and fought to improve private-care options for veterans struck with traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
. He has also worked to open an outpatient clinic in Elkhart, IN and an inpatient hospital in South Bend, IN.
Donnelly is a member of Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. In March 2007, he was recognized as "Blue Dog of the Week" for his work on helping small businesses. He has also broken with the Democratic leadership on several budgetary issues, including the 2008 fiscal budget proposal. In June 2007, he was ranked as one of the ten most independent Democrats by a nonpartisan Congressional Quarterly report.
Joe Donnelly strongly supports expanding health care so it covers a greater number of people. Because many are losing their insurance as a result of losing their jobs, or because their small business cannot afford to provide workers with health care, Donnelly suggests revising the health care plan so that all Americans are covered, as opposed to the 46 million that are currently uninsured. On March 21, 2010, Joe Donnelly voted in favor of approving the Senate version of the Democrats' health care reform bill.
To fix what Donnelly calls the “country’s immigration crisis” he wants to start by securing the borders and have more agents patrolling the perimeter. He suggests using E-Verify
E-Verify
E-Verify is an Internet-based, free program run by the United States government that compares information from an employee's Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 to data from U.S. government records. If the information matches, that employee is eligible to work in the United States...
, a program he supports that allows employers to verify if their workers are legal by checking with databases from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The interest groups English First, Federation for American Immigration Reform, and Americans for a Better Immigration have all been supporters of Donnelly’s work, while the National Latino Congreso has adamantly criticized his efforts.
The National Rifle Association has consistently supported Joe Donnelly on his views on gun control. He helped promote a project that would get rid of gun registration and the trigger lock law in Washington D.C. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has disapproved of Donnelly’s views and actions since 1998, based on his gun control voting records. He values family traditions and human life; therefore, he is working on making inappropriate content on the web, television, and radio unavailable to children. Donnelly is morally opposed to abortion, and is trying to make adoption more accessible to families.
In 2011, he co-sponsored HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. The bill contained an exception for "forcible rape," which opponents criticized as potentially excluding drug-facilitated rape, date rape, and other forms of rape. The bill also allowed an exception for minors who are victims of incest.
2004
Donnelly ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the second district, where he faced off against incumbent Chris ChocolaChris Chocola
Joseph Christopher "Chris" Chocola is the president of the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative political organization that supports a low-tax and limited-government agenda....
. Chocola was helped by several fundraising visits from President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, and was able to outspend Donnelly by a two to one margin, $1.4 million to $700,000. Donnelly lost the election, 54%-45%. Due to his relatively late entrance into the contest, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
(DCCC) did not offer much support to Donnelly's 2004 campaign. This would change in 2006, when the race was identified by the DCCC as a "Red-to-Blue" contest and extra funds were sent from out of the district in an effort to win back control of the House of Representatives.
2006
On May 2, 2006, Donnelly defeated Steve Francis for the Democratic nomination, setting up a rematch against Chris Chocola.Because Chocola was a strong supporter of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, the race was expected to be more competitive than in 2004 in light of Bush's waning popularity. The website Moveon.org identified Donnelly as a top contender to defeat a Republican incumbent in the house, and began running its "Red-Handed" ads against Chocola early in the campaign. Chocola still maintained a significant money advantage over Donnelly, but in 2006, Donnelly had enough to maintain a competitive advertising presence throughout the campaign.
The campaign was heated, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sponsoring ads attacking Chocola as being beholden to monied interests in the insurance, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. Chocola returned fire by attacking Donnelly over a late tax filing and by attempting to link him to liberal House leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
.
On November 7, 2006, Donnelly defeated Chris Chocola by 15,145 votes, or 8% of a substantially larger total of votes relative to 2004. The key difference between the 2006 and 2004 elections for Donnelly lay in the results within St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 265,559 people, 100,743 households, and 66,792 families residing in the county. The population density was 581 people per square mile . There were 107,013 housing units at an average density of 234 per square mile...
, the location of South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
and by far the largest county in the district. Traditionally reliably Democratic, voters in the county chose Donnelly over Chocola by only a few hundred votes in the 2004 election. In 2006, however, Donnelly amassed 58% of the county's votes, generating a 14,000-vote margin.
Donnelly was named to the House Financial Services Committee for the 110th Congress.
2008
Donnelly ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. In the general election, he received 67.1% of the vote, winning against Republican nominee Luke Puckett and Libertarian nominee Mark Vogel.2010
Donnelly ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. In the general election, he was challenged by Republican nominee State RepresentativeIndiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
Jackie Walorski
Jackie Walorski
Jackie Walorski was a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives representing the 21st district from 2005-2011. She won the Republican nomination, but lost the 2010 race for...
. Despite huge GOP gains Donnelly was re-elected with 48% of the vote to Walorski's 47%.
2012 U.S Senate election
Donnelly has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican U.S Senator Richard Lugar in the 2012 U.S Senate electionUnited States Senate election in Indiana, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in Indiana will take place on November 6, 2012 concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S...
.
Personal life
Donnelly and his wife, Jill, have two children. They reside in Granger, IndianaGranger, Indiana
Granger is a census-designated place in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, located in Clay and Harris Townships. The population was 30,465 at the 2010 census. Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the South Bend Community School Corporation maintain the public schools in the area...
.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly official U.S. House site
- Joe Donnelly for Congress official campaign site
- Profile from SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...