Mike Doyle (American politician)
Mike Doyle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 18th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Rick Santorum |
| Constituency | 18th district (1995-2003) 14th district (2003-2019) 18th district (2019–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 5, 1953 Swissvale, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Doyle |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University (BS) |
| Signature |  |
Michael F. Doyle Jr. (born August 5, 1953) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, serving in Congress since 1995, making him the Congressman from Pennsylvania with the most seniority, and the dean of the state's Congressional Delegation. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Pittsburgh and includes most of Allegheny County.
A native of Swissvale and graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Doyle previously served as a member of the Swissvale Borough Council (1977–1981) and an aide to state Senator Frank Pecora (1979–1994). He was first elected to Congress in the 1994 Congressional election.
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Early life, education and career[edit]
Doyle was born in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, to Michael F. and Rosemarie Fusco Doyle.[1] He graduated from Swissvale Area High School in 1971, and then enrolled at Pennsylvania State University. He worked in steel mills during his summers in college, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development in 1975.
After college, he worked as executive director of Turtle Creek Valley Citizens Union (1977–1979) and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977. In 1979, he began work as chief of staff to Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Pecora. Like Pecora, Doyle was once a Republican who later switched parties to become a Democrat. In addition to his work for Pecora, he joined Eastgate Insurance Company as an insurance agent in 1982.
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
Committee assignments[edit]
Caucus Memberships[edit]
- Congressional Arts Caucus[2]
- Congressional Autism Caucus
- Congressional Steel Caucus
- Congressional Human Rights Caucus
- Congressional Internet Caucus
- House Robotics Caucus
- Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus
- Climate Solutions Caucus[3]
Political positions[edit]
Doyle voted against authorizing military force in Iraq and against the $87 billion emergency spending bill to fund US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Doyle is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Coalition on Autism Research and Education,[4] also known as the Congressional Autism Caucus, and he offered an amendment that was included in the health reform law that will ensure that insurance companies will cover treatments for people with autism.[5] He has also introduced legislation that will provide better services for adults with autism.
On abortion, Doyle falls into the category of "Pro-Choice", voting against bills that would ban abortion,[6] as well as receiving very favorable ratings amongst pro-choice interest groups, such as NARAL, while scoring a 0 with pro-life groups such as the National Right to Life Committee.[7] However, Doyle does not support federal funds to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. He does, however, support using federal dollars for Title X, family planning services and support federal funding for Planned Parenthood with the existing provision that federal funds may not be used to perform abortions.[8]
Doyle has fought against gun laws that would allow people to bring firearms into national parks, repeal any part of the assault or military style weapon ban,[8] and voting to maintain parts of the D.C. gun ban.[9] This has led to decreasing ratings with pro-gun interest groups such as the NRA (42% lifetime rating in 2000 to 0% in 2006) and Gun Owners of America. Conversely, he has received overall ratings from pro-gun control groups, receiving a 90% in the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence back in 2003.[10]
Doyle supports comprehensive immigration reform, voting for a bill that would repeal certain green card limitations, as well as the DREAM Act.[11] These views have got him negative ratings from interest groups such as English First (0%) and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (0%). His immigration reviews resonate stronger with the National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute and American Immigration Lawyers Association, in which he has received perfect scores from both groups.[12]
Liberals have praised him for his stance on copyright issues[13] and his support of net neutrality. He is the lead sponsor of HR 1147, the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 which will expand low-power broadcasting to hundreds of new community radio stations. In 2010, he was given the Digital Patriot Award,[14] along with Vint Cerf, one of the creators of the technology that runs the Internet. In February 2013, he became one of the sponsors of the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act to expedite open access to taxpayer-funded research.[15] Doyle is a strong supporter of letting local governments provide Internet services in order to increase competition, improve service, and decrease prices.[16]
He used his position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to lead negotiations on legislation addressing climate change and promoting energy independence while protecting clean domestic manufacturing.[17]
Also, Doyle is an outspoken critic of the genocide in Sudan and Darfur. In a rally on April 28, 2007, he urged President Bush to uphold his promise of sending 20,000 peacekeepers to Darfur. He drew loud cheers when he said, "If we can have a surge in Iraq, there needs to be one in Sudan." He supports LGBT issues.[18]
During the debate over the debt ceiling in 2011, Doyle said about Tea Party Republicans, "We have negotiated with terrorists. This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money".[19]
On October 16, 2012, Doyle released a statement criticizing the Republican budget introduced by Paul Ryan, saying that it would "be devastating for seniors in Pittsburgh." According to his report, this budget would eliminate new preventive care benefits for 113,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district, as well as other cuts to Medicaid affordable housing, and food stamps. "That's why I voted against the Ryan budget when it was considered by Congress earlier this year, and why I am fighting hard to oppose Congressional Republicans' misguided priorities."[20]
On December 18, 2019, Doyle voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. [21]
Legislation supported[edit]
- Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 3675; 113th Congress) - a bill that would make a number of changes to procedures that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) follows in its rulemaking processes.[22] The FCC would have to act in a more transparent way as a result of this bill, forced to accept public input about regulations.[23] Doyle argued in favor of the bill because "the FCC is charged with overseeing industries that make up one-sixth of our national economy."[23]
- Autism CARES Act of 2014 - a bill that would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize research, surveillance, and education activities related to autism spectrum disorders (autism) conducted by various agencies within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).[24] Doyle co-sponsored the bill, saying that "every time new data is realized on autism spectrum disorders, the numbers become more and more troubling... this is why passage of the Autism Cares Act today is so important to continue research into the causes of autism."[25]
Doyle was ranked as the 38th most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the third most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party).[26]
Political campaigns[edit]
In 1994, Doyle was elected to Congress as a Democrat from the state's 18th District, which at the time was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The incumbent Republican, Rick Santorum, was elected to the United States Senate. Doyle won by almost 10 points, in one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Democrats. He was reelected three times with no substantial opposition.
In 2002, the Pennsylvania state legislature reconfigured Doyle's district, combining it with the Pittsburgh-based district of fellow Democrat William J. Coyne. In the process, the state legislature redrew most of western Pennsylvania's heavily Democratic areas into just two districts—the reconfigured 14th District and the 12th District of John Murtha. The potentially explosive situation of having two Democratic incumbents face each other in the primary was defused when Coyne announced his retirement (even though the district contained more of Coyne's former territory than Doyle's) leaving Doyle as the sole incumbent. The new district was by far the most Democratic district in western Pennsylvania, and Doyle was completely unopposed in 2002 and 2004; in 2006 and 2008, his only opposition was Green Party candidate Titus North.[27][28]
2008[edit]
2010[edit]
Doyle was challenged by Republican Melissa Haluszczak and Green Party Ed Bortz.
2012[edit]
Doyle defeated Republican Hans Lessmann by 76%–23%.
2014[edit]
Doyle ran unopposed in 2014.[29] As of October 15, 2014, Doyle had raised $747,107 during the 2013–2014 campaign cycle.[30]
2016[edit]
Doyle defeated Republican Lenny McAllister by 74%–25%.
2018[edit]
Doyle again ran unopposed in 2018 for his 13th term in office, in a redrawn 18th district.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ David M. Brown, Congressman's mother inspired her children
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ [1] Archived July 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rob Cullen (2010-05-27). "Health reform and autism — What If Post". Whatifpost.com. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Voting Records on Issue: - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Ratings and Endorsements - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-11-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Voting Records on Issue: - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Ratings and Endorsements - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Voting Records on Issue: - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ "Mike Doyle's Ratings and Endorsements - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- ^ "The 463: Inside Tech".
- ^ Line: By Steve Smith (2010-05-03). "Consumer Electronics - Computer Retailers - Camera Retailers - CES". twice.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-25. Retrieved 2013-02-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Crawford, Susan (2014-06-27). "How Cities Can Take On Big Cable". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ Sheppard, Kate (2009-06-26). "Pelosi cracks the whips to get climate bill passed". Grist. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ "Completed Federal Questionnaire From MIKE DOYLE Who Is Seeking Re-Election To The United States House Of Representatives In District 14". Stonewalldemocrats.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ Allen, Jonathan; John Bresnahan (2 August 2011). "Sources: Joe Biden likened tea partiers to terrorists". Politico. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Republican Budget Would Devastate Pittsburgh's Seniors".
- ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
- ^ "H.R. 3675 - CBO". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ a b Kasperowicz, Pete (11 March 2014). "House votes for more transparency at the FCC". The Hill. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "CBO - H.R. 4631". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ Marcos, Cristina (24 June 2014). "House votes to reauthorize autism support programs". The Hill. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index (PDF), The Lugar Center, March 7, 2016, retrieved April 30, 2017
- ^ Gary Rotstein (2006-11-08). "Anti-GOP tide costs Rep. Hart a 4th term". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Veteran pair: Doyle and Murtha deserve new House terms". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- ^ "Candidate Listing" (PDF). PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Rep. Mike Doyle". Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
External links[edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael F. Doyle. |
- Congressman Mike Doyle official U.S. House website
- Mike Doyle for Congress
- Mike Doyle at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rick Santorum |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district 1995–2003 |
Succeeded by Tim Murphy |
| Preceded by William J. Coyne |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district 2003–2019 |
Succeeded by Guy Reschenthaler |
| Preceded by Conor Lamb |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district 2019–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by Lloyd Doggett |
United States Representatives by seniority 38th |
Succeeded by Sheila Jackson Lee |
- 1953 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- Autism activists
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Democrats
- Pennsylvania State University alumni
- People from Swissvale, Pennsylvania
