Larry Bucshon
Encyclopedia
Larry Dean Bucshon is a heart surgeon
and the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
.
. His father, Ronald, was a coal miner, Navy serviceman, and lifelong Democrat
while his mother, Barbara was a nurse.
Bucshon graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and got his medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School at Chicago
. Following medical school, Bucshon completed a residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin
, where he served as chief resident in surgery and remained there to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. He also received training at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Hospital. During this time, he enlisted with the United States Navy Reserve
, where he served for almost a decade.
and has performed hundreds of heart surgeries. From 1995 to 1998, he was in private medical practice in Wichita, Kansas
. Bucshon joined Ohio Valley HeartCare in 1998, where he served as the group's president. He was named St. Mary’s Medical Staff Physician of the Year in 2007. He also served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Medical Director of the open heart recovery intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Bucshon faced Democratic nominee State Representative Trent Van Haaften
in the race to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Brad Ellsworth
, who was running for Senate.
Bucshon received support from the National Republican Congressional Committee
and was named a GOP Young Gun. During the campaign, Bucshon was endorsed by several conservative interest groups and elected officials, including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Congressional Action Committee, United State Chamber of Commerce, National Right to Life Committee
, Indiana Right to Life, Indiana Manufacturers Association, Campaign for Working Families, House Minority Leader John Boehner
, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence
, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels
. Bucshon received significant campaign contributions from medical groups
Bucshon defeated van Haaften by a margin of 21 points, winning all 18 counties in the district.
2012
Bucshon will again face Kristi Risk in the 2012 Republican primary. Buschon edged out Risk in the 2010 GOP primary, with 16,262 votes to Risk’s 14,273.
Bucshon supports lower corporate and individual taxes. He has called for freezing spending at 2008 levels, extending the Bush tax cuts
for all income brackets, and reviewing all government programs for places to reduce spending. He has stated that Republicans need to "first admit we were partially to blame for the increased government spending over the past decade." Bucshon supports simplifying the personal and corporate tax codes.
Bucshon voted for the Budget Control Act of 2011
, which created a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Bucshon also supported a balanced budget amendment
that would require the federal government to spend no more than it collects in revenue
each year. During his 2010 campaign, Bucshon said one of his campaign goals was to lower taxes for all Americans.
Health care
Bucshon supports the repeal of the Affordable Health Care for America Act
. Bucshon supports reforms that that expand and reform high-risk pools and federal reinsurance programs and lower costs. Bucshon wants to increase transparency in medical care costs. Bucshon has called for cuts in health care programs.
Gun laws
Bucshon, who describes himself as "an ardent supporter of protecting the Second Amendment
, has supported several bills that loosen restrictions on gun ownership. Bucshon co-sponsored the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, which requires all states to honor concealed carry permits from other states within their borders, irrespective of their own gun laws. The National Rifle Association
and the Gun Owners of America have both given Bucshon an “A” rating.
Abortion
Bucshon is pro-life
. During his time in Congress, he has supported bills that seek to establish a legal framework for challenging the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. He has said he believes that abortion should be legal in cases where the mother's life may be in danger. Bucshon co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which declares that life begins at the moment of conception and is entitled to legal protection from that point forward.
Social Security
Bucshon has supported Social Security
privatization as part of a comprehensive strategy to make the program sustainable.
Energy
Bucshon describes himself as a "long term friend of coal." He supports the Keystone XL pipeline project.
Transportation
On November 2, 2011 the Evansville Courier Press reported that Bucshon plans to introduce an amendment to the transportation funding bill that would allow governors to re-allocate federal transportation funding from designated programs to projects they designate as emergencies.
and a practicing anesthesiologist
, during his medical residency. They now live in Newburgh
, Warrick County, Indiana
with their four children. He is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Evansville
.
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
and the U.S. Representative
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 . 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...
.
Early life, education, and early career
Bucshon was born on May 31, 1962 and raised in Kincaid, IllinoisKincaid, Illinois
Kincaid is a village in Christian County, Illinois. It had a 2010 census population of 1,505.-Geography:Kincaid is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land...
. His father, Ronald, was a coal miner, Navy serviceman, and lifelong Democrat
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...
while his mother, Barbara was a nurse.
Bucshon graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and got his medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Following medical school, Bucshon completed a residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin is a private, freestanding medical school and graduate school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was formerly affiliated with Marquette University....
, where he served as chief resident in surgery and remained there to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. He also received training at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Hospital. During this time, he enlisted with the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, where he served for almost a decade.
Medical career
Bucshon specialized in cardiothoracic surgeryCardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
and has performed hundreds of heart surgeries. From 1995 to 1998, he was in private medical practice in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. Bucshon joined Ohio Valley HeartCare in 1998, where he served as the group's president. He was named St. Mary’s Medical Staff Physician of the Year in 2007. He also served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Medical Director of the open heart recovery intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Elections
2010Bucshon faced Democratic nominee State Representative Trent Van Haaften
Trent Van Haaften
William Trent Van Haaften is a Democratic politician from the state of Indiana. He served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 76th District, from 2004 until 2010. He was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for in the 2010 election.-Early life, education and...
in the race to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Brad Ellsworth
Brad Ellsworth
John Bradley "Brad" Ellsworth is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011, and was the unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat currently held by Dan Coats...
, who was running for Senate.
Bucshon received support from the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
and was named a GOP Young Gun. During the campaign, Bucshon was endorsed by several conservative interest groups and elected officials, including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Congressional Action Committee, United State Chamber of Commerce, National Right to Life Committee
National Right to Life Committee
The National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. The group works through legislation and education to work against abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted...
, Indiana Right to Life, Indiana Manufacturers Association, Campaign for Working Families, House Minority Leader John Boehner
John Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence
Mike Pence
Michael Richard "Mike" Pence is the U.S. Representative for Indiana's , and previously the , serving since 2001. The 6th district covers much of Eastern Indiana. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels
Mitch Daniels
Mitchell Elias "Mitch" Daniels, Jr. is the 49th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. A Republican, he began his first four-year term as governor on January 10, 2005, and was elected to his second term by an 18-point margin on November 4, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of the...
. Bucshon received significant campaign contributions from medical groups
Bucshon defeated van Haaften by a margin of 21 points, winning all 18 counties in the district.
2012
Bucshon will again face Kristi Risk in the 2012 Republican primary. Buschon edged out Risk in the 2010 GOP primary, with 16,262 votes to Risk’s 14,273.
Tenure
Taxes and spendingBucshon supports lower corporate and individual taxes. He has called for freezing spending at 2008 levels, extending the Bush tax cuts
Bush tax cuts
The Bush tax cuts refers to changes to the United States tax code passed during the presidency of George W. Bush and extended during the presidency of Barack Obama that generally lowered tax rates and revised the code specifying taxation in the United States...
for all income brackets, and reviewing all government programs for places to reduce spending. He has stated that Republicans need to "first admit we were partially to blame for the increased government spending over the past decade." Bucshon supports simplifying the personal and corporate tax codes.
Bucshon voted for the Budget Control Act of 2011
Budget Control Act of 2011
The Budget Control Act of 2011 was passed by the 112th United States Congress signed into law by President Barack Obama. It brought conclusion to the 2011 United States debt ceiling crisis, which had threatened to lead the United States into sovereign default on or about August 3, 2011.The law...
, which created a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Bucshon also supported a balanced budget amendment
Balanced Budget Amendment
A balanced-budget amendment is a constitutional rule requiring that the state cannot spend more than its income. It requires a balance between the projected receipts and expenditures of the government....
that would require the federal government to spend no more than it collects in revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
each year. During his 2010 campaign, Bucshon said one of his campaign goals was to lower taxes for all Americans.
Health care
Bucshon supports the repeal of the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Affordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
. Bucshon supports reforms that that expand and reform high-risk pools and federal reinsurance programs and lower costs. Bucshon wants to increase transparency in medical care costs. Bucshon has called for cuts in health care programs.
Gun laws
Bucshon, who describes himself as "an ardent supporter of protecting the Second Amendment
Second Amendment
Second Amendment may refer to:*Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the United States Bill of Rights*Colorado Amendment 2 , which was the subject of the United States Supreme Court case Romer v...
, has supported several bills that loosen restrictions on gun ownership. Bucshon co-sponsored the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, which requires all states to honor concealed carry permits from other states within their borders, irrespective of their own gun laws. The National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and the Gun Owners of America have both given Bucshon an “A” rating.
Abortion
Bucshon is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
. During his time in Congress, he has supported bills that seek to establish a legal framework for challenging the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. He has said he believes that abortion should be legal in cases where the mother's life may be in danger. Bucshon co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which declares that life begins at the moment of conception and is entitled to legal protection from that point forward.
Social Security
Bucshon has supported Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
privatization as part of a comprehensive strategy to make the program sustainable.
Energy
Bucshon describes himself as a "long term friend of coal." He supports the Keystone XL pipeline project.
Transportation
On November 2, 2011 the Evansville Courier Press reported that Bucshon plans to introduce an amendment to the transportation funding bill that would allow governors to re-allocate federal transportation funding from designated programs to projects they designate as emergencies.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsThe House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
- Subcommittee on Investigations and OversightUnited States House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and OversightThe Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight is one of five subcommittees of the United States House Committee on Science and Technology...
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on Highways and TransitUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and TransitThe House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee oversees highway, transit, and highway safety programs in the United States, as well as policy governing how highway and transit projects...
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsThe Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentThe Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, the civil works programs of the U.S. Army...
- Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Personal life
Bucshon met his wife Kathryn, who is also a physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and a practicing anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
, during his medical residency. They now live in Newburgh
Newburgh, Indiana
Newburgh is a town in Ohio Township, Warrick County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,325 at the 2010 census, which also recorded a population of 342,815 for the entire Evansville metropolitan area.-Geography:...
, Warrick County, Indiana
Warrick County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 52,383 people, 19,438 households, and 15,181 families residing in the county. The population density was 136 people per square mile . There were 20,546 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...
with their four children. He is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
.
Electoral history
External links
- Congressman Larry Bucshon official U.S. House site
- Larry Bucshon for Congress official campaign site