Pete Visclosky
Encyclopedia
Peter John "Pete" Visclosky (born August 13, 1949) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1985. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district lies in Northwest Indiana
and includes all of Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties as well as a major portion of Porter County. Much of the population is based in the Chicago metropolitan area.
descent, Visclosky was educated at Andrean High School
in Merrillville, Indiana
. He earned a bachelor's degree at Indiana University Northwest
in Gary, Indiana
and went on to earn his juris doctor
from Notre Dame Law School
. At Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
, Visclosky earned a master's degree in comparative law. He worked as a lawyer and staff member of United States Representative Adam Benjamin before entering the House.
Hometown: Merrillville
Birth: On August 13, 1949
in Gary, IN
. In the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Katie Hall
, Jack Crawford, and Sandra Smith 34%-33%-31%-1%. In the general election, he defeated Republican Joseph Grenchik 71%-29%. In 1986, he won the Democratic primary again with 57%, defeating Hall and three other candidates. He won the general election with 73% of the vote. In 1988, he won the primary 84%-16% against Sandra Smith. He won the general election with 77% of the vote.
In 1990, Hall ran for a third rematch against Visclosky. He defeated her 51%-30%. He won the general election with 66% of the vote. In 1992, he won the Democratic primary with 72% and the general election with 69%. In 1994, he won the Democratic primary with 77% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican John Larson 56%-44%, the worst general election performance of his career.
For the rest of his career, he has never won a primary with less than 71%, and a general election with less than 59%.
Visclosky is one of the 126 Democrats who voted against the Iraq War Resolution. He also is a supporter of high tech solutions as a way to revive the American blue collar work force, and as a way to decrease crime.
PMA Group investigation
The Washington Times reported in March 2009 that Visclosky had received, over ten years, $1.36 million in campaign donations from clients of the PMA Group
. In 2007 and 2008, the United States House Committee on Appropriations
, of which Visclosky is a member, directed $137 million in government purchasing to PMA's clients. The PMA Group is currently under investigation by the FBI. In May 2009, Visclosky received subpoenas in the grand jury
investigation into PMA Group, the first member of Congress to be subpoenaed in the investigation. The Congressman was later cleared of all charges by the House Ethics Committee; who detailed in a 305 page report that "Simply because a member sponsors an earmark for an entity that also happens to be a campaign contributor does not, on these two facts alone, support a claim that a member's actions are being influenced by campaign contributions". In 2009, Representative Visclosky was named one of the 15 Most Corrupt Members of Congress by government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
.
Pete Visclosky has been very actively involved in many non-legislative groups:
Committees along with other caucuses these include:
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 1985. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district lies in Northwest Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and includes all of Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties as well as a major portion of Porter County. Much of the population is based in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career
Of SlovakSlovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
descent, Visclosky was educated at Andrean High School
Andrean High School
Andrean High School is a coeducational Catholic college preparatory school located in Merrillville, Indiana. The school was founded in 1959, and named after the first bishop of the diocese of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary, Andrew Grutka...
in Merrillville, Indiana
Merrillville, Indiana
Merrillville is a town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 35,246 at the 2010 census. Merrillville is located in the east-central portion of Lake County.-Geography:Merrillville is located at ....
. He earned a bachelor's degree at Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University Northwest is a regional university campus in the Indiana University system in Gary, Indiana, USA, established in 1963.-Courses:...
in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
and went on to earn his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
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 &...
. At Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Visclosky earned a master's degree in comparative law. He worked as a lawyer and staff member of United States Representative Adam Benjamin before entering the House.
Hometown: Merrillville
Birth: On August 13, 1949
in Gary, IN
Elections
In 1984, he ran for congress in Indiana's 1st congressional districtIndiana's 1st congressional district
Indiana's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. The district is based in Gary and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs. It consists of all of the counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton, and part of Porter County in the northwestern part of the state...
. In the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Katie Hall
Katie Hall
Katie Beatrice Hall , served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1982 to 1985. She was born Katie Beatrice Green in Mound Bayou, Bolivar County, Mississippi. She attended the public schools of Mound Bayou. Hall received a B.S. from Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi...
, Jack Crawford, and Sandra Smith 34%-33%-31%-1%. In the general election, he defeated Republican Joseph Grenchik 71%-29%. In 1986, he won the Democratic primary again with 57%, defeating Hall and three other candidates. He won the general election with 73% of the vote. In 1988, he won the primary 84%-16% against Sandra Smith. He won the general election with 77% of the vote.
In 1990, Hall ran for a third rematch against Visclosky. He defeated her 51%-30%. He won the general election with 66% of the vote. In 1992, he won the Democratic primary with 72% and the general election with 69%. In 1994, he won the Democratic primary with 77% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican John Larson 56%-44%, the worst general election performance of his career.
For the rest of his career, he has never won a primary with less than 71%, and a general election with less than 59%.
Tenure
Visclosky's parents were involved in Gary's once prominent but now declining steel industry. Reinstating the steel tariff and fighting to save American manufacturing jobs have long been listed as Visclosky's biggest goal while in Congress. As a result, he has received the chairmanship of the Congressional Steel Caucus since the Democrats took control of the House. He also received a position as chair of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, as the leader of which he has used his resources to study alternative energy. Visclosky is a strong advocate of labor and fair-trade.Visclosky is one of the 126 Democrats who voted against the Iraq War Resolution. He also is a supporter of high tech solutions as a way to revive the American blue collar work force, and as a way to decrease crime.
PMA Group investigation
The Washington Times reported in March 2009 that Visclosky had received, over ten years, $1.36 million in campaign donations from clients of the PMA Group
PMA Group
The PMA Group is a defunct lobbying firm based in Washington D.C. It was founded and owned by ex-House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense staffer Paul Magliocchetti....
. In 2007 and 2008, the United States House Committee on Appropriations
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
, of which Visclosky is a member, directed $137 million in government purchasing to PMA's clients. The PMA Group is currently under investigation by the FBI. In May 2009, Visclosky received subpoenas in the grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
investigation into PMA Group, the first member of Congress to be subpoenaed in the investigation. The Congressman was later cleared of all charges by the House Ethics Committee; who detailed in a 305 page report that "Simply because a member sponsors an earmark for an entity that also happens to be a campaign contributor does not, on these two facts alone, support a claim that a member's actions are being influenced by campaign contributions". In 2009, Representative Visclosky was named one of the 15 Most Corrupt Members of Congress by government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is a nonprofit 501 organization that describes itself as "dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials – regardless of party affiliation – who sacrifice the common good to...
.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on DefenseUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on DefenseThe House Subcommittee on Defense is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Appropriations.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentThe House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies is a standing subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
(Ranking Member) - Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentU.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Service and General Government is a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. It was created in 2007 align the operations of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees...
- Subcommittee on Defense
Pete Visclosky has been very actively involved in many non-legislative groups:
Committees along with other caucuses these include:
- Congressional Steel CaucusCongressional steel caucusThe Congressional Steel Caucus is a caucus of the United States Congress.-House Steel Caucus:Founded in the early 1970s by Representatives John Murtha and Ralph Regula , this bi-partisan coalition promotes the health and stability of the domestic steel industry, as well as the interests of its...
(Chairman) - Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
- Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
- Congressional Children's Working Group
- Congressional COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Caucus
- Congressional Croatian Caucus
- Congressional Diabetes Caucus
- Congressional Fire Services Caucus
- Congressional Hellenic Caucus
- Congressional Human Rights Caucus
- Congressional Rural Caucus
- Congressional Rural Health Caucus
- Congressional Serbian Caucus
- Congressional Steel Caucus
- Chairman, Congressional Steel Caucus
- Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
- Congressional Urban Caucus
- Great Lakes Task Force
- House Reading Caucus
- Missing and Exploited Children Caucus
- Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition
- Public Pension Reform Caucus
- Smoking Task Force
- Women's Issues Caucus
External links
- U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky official House site
- Visclosky for Congress official campaign site