David McKinley
David McKinley | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 1st district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2011 | |
Preceded by | Alan Mollohan |
Chair of the West Virginia Republican Party | |
In office 1990–1994 | |
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 3rd district | |
In office December 15, 1980 – December 1, 1994 | |
Personal details | |
Born | David Bennett McKinley March 28, 1947 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Mary Gerkin |
Children | 4 |
Education | Purdue University (BS) |
Website | House website |
David Bennett McKinley (born March 28, 1947) is an American businessman and politician who has been the U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. McKinley was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from December 15, 1980 to December 1, 1994, and he was Chair of the West Virginia Republican Party from 1990 to 1994.
Contents
Early life, education, and business career[edit]
After graduating with his B.S. degree in engineering from Purdue University, McKinley worked as a civil engineer for 12 years until founding his own firm, McKinley and Associates, based in Wheeling. The 40-member firm has been involved in $1 billion in construction projects over the past 30 years. Many of McKinley's projects have been government-funded.[1]
McKinley has renovated structures of historic significance in West Virginia communities such as the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling. The venue for years was home to the legendary Jamboree, USA.[2]
State politics[edit]
McKinley formerly was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.[3]
From 1990–94, he was chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. As chairman, he was very critical of West Virginia's two Democratic senators. In 1991, he criticized U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller for running for president against President George H. W. Bush.[4]
In 1994, he criticized U.S. Senator Robert Byrd for opposing a Balanced Budget Amendment.[5]
In 1996, McKinley ran for governor against Astronaut Jon McBride and Cecil Underwood, a former governor, but lost to Underwood who went on to win the general election that year.[6]
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
Elections[edit]
- 2010
McKinley decided to run in West Virginia's 1st congressional district. The Democratic incumbent, Alan Mollohan, lost the Democratic primary to moderate State Senator Mike Oliverio.[7] McKinley won the six-candidate Republican primary field with 35% of the vote. Mac Warner ranked second with 27% of the vote and State Senator Sarah Minear ranked third with 21% of the vote.[8]
David McKinley received many endorsements during his 2010 campaign, including Parkersburg News,[9] National Right to Life,[10] the West Virginians for Life PAC,[10] the National Federation of Independent Business,[11] House Republicans Fund,[12] West Virginia Farm Bureau,[13] and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.[14]
McKinley narrowly defeated Oliverio, 50.4%–49.6%, a difference of just 1,440 votes or 0.8% margin.[15][16] He became only the fourth person to represent the district since 1953.[citation needed]
- 2012
McKinley ran for re-election in 2012 in the newly redrawn 1st district. He faced Democratic candidate Sue Thorn, a former community organizer, in the general election. On November 6, 2012, McKinley defeated Thorn 62%-38%, winning every county in the district.[17]
- 2014
In 2013, McKinley announced that he would not be a candidate for the open United States Senate seat being vacated by Jay Rockefeller in 2014.[18][19]
McKinley defeated the Democratic nominee, West Virginia State Auditor Glen Gainer III in the general election 64%-36%.[20]
- 2016
McKinley defeated former State Delegate Mike Manypenny in the general election 69%-31%.[21]
Tenure[edit]
McKinley has broken ranks with the Republican majority a few times in his tenure in Congress. In April 2011, McKinley was one of only four Republican members of Congress to vote against the Republican budget proposal of 2012.[22] He explained "As it relates to the Medicare, I applaud what Paul Ryan was trying to do, because we need to have an adult conversation about it. The Congressional Budget Office determined that some of the out-of-pocket costs could double for seniors and that sent up a red flag for me that we need to look at it."[citation needed]
In October 2011, he was the only Republican freshman to vote against all three of the trade deals passed by Congress: Panama, Colombia, and South Korea.[23] He said “Free trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have been nothing more than broken promises that shipped our jobs overseas, and I won’t vote for any free trade agreements unless they’re fair to my constituents.”[24]
McKinley has expressed concern over the "unchecked spending" of the United States, which he says results in us being "beholden to countries like China and Japan who own a significant amount of our debt."[25]
McKinley was ranked as the 22nd most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia) 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 positions[edit]
Jobs[edit]
McKinley is an active supporter of the Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act. Also known as the Stop the War on Coal Act, fights to protect American jobs and prevents against future legislation from being passed that would reduce mining jobs. McKinley believes, "The constant attacks on coal have to stop." [27]
McKinley was one of 233 representatives who were in favor of the act that passed earlier this year in September 2012. McKinley stated, “Our job creators need a consistent and predictable regulatory program that will protect jobs we have and create new one.”[28]
Gun control[edit]
McKinley is a strong supporter of the notion that people should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. McKinley has been consistent in his voting patterns regarding gun control and continued this trend when voting yes to Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms. He received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. In 2012 the NRA is one of McKinley’s main endorsers.[citation needed]
Abortion[edit]
McKinley is a supporter of the Pro-Life movement. He believes, "The use of federal funds to pay for ending the life of an unborn child is appalling,” even though federal funds are not used to pay for abortions, per the Hyde Amendment passed on September 30, 1976. Since he contains this set of beliefs he voted for the passing of the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in July 2012, which did not pass. This act would prohibit an abortion in the District of Columbia. McKinley consistently votes in support of the Pro-Life movement. Therefore, the National Right to Life Committee gave McKinley an “A” rating for his constant support from 2011 to the present.[citation needed]
Climate change[edit]
In May 2014, McKinley offered an amendment to the Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 that bars the Department of Defense from using funds to assess climate change and its implications for national security.[29] This despite a Department of Defense report that found that climate change impacts are threat multipliers, and that the rapid rise of global temperatures and associated extreme weather events could "exacerbate conditions that enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence." The amendment passed on a near party-line vote.[citation needed]
On May 23, 2013, McKinley introduced the Better Buildings Act of 2014 (H.R. 2126; 113th Congress) into the United States House of Representatives. The bill would amend federal law aimed at improving the energy efficiency of commercial office buildings.[30] The bill would create a program called "Tenant Star" similar to the existing Energy Star program.[31] He argued in favor of the bill, saying that "finding ways to use energy efficiently is common sense. We ought to be promoting efficiency as a way to save energy, money and create jobs."[32]
He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.[33]
Committee assignments[edit]
Caucus memberships[edit]
- United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[35]
- Marcellus Shale Caucus (Founder)
- Tea Party Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus[36]
- Congressional Cement Caucus
Personal life[edit]
David McKinley is a seventh-generation resident of Wheeling, West Virginia and father of four children. He has six grandchildren. His wife, Mary, has been a critical care nurse for 39 years. She holds a master's degree in nursing.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Past Projects". McKinley & Associates. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ a b "David McKinley profile". Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
- ^ McNulty, Timothy (2010-10-11). "Democrat tries to hold on in W.Va. House race". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Point Pleasant Register". News.google.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "Williamson Daily News – Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ Toner, Robin (May 14, 1996). "Political briefs; The states and the issues". The New York Times.
- ^ "WV SOS – Elections". Apps.sos.wv.gov. May 11, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – WV District 1 – R Primary Race". Ourcampaigns.com. May 11, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "David McKinley – Parkersburg News and Sentinel". NewsandSentinel.com. April 19, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ a b "Pro-Life Group Supports McKinley". Theintelligencer.net. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "NFIB-endorsed candidates for federal and state elections". Nfib.com. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ "House conservatives fund". Houseconservatives.com. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ "West Virginia Farm Bureau". Wvfarm.org. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ "International brotherhood of electrical workers". Ibew.org. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ Miller, Tom (November 6, 2010). "Election showed modest gains for GOP in W.Va". The Herald-Dispatch.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – WV – District 01 Race". Ourcampaigns.com. November 2, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – WV – District 01 Race". Ourcampaigns.com. November 6, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ Livingston, Abby (February 25, 2013). "McKinley Opts Not to Run Against Capito". RollCall.com. Roll Call. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ "McKinley won't take on Capito in 2014 Senate race". The Charleston Gazette. February 22, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "West Virginia Statewide Results General Election – November 4, 2014 Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "West Virginia Statewide Results General Election – November 8, 2016 Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ^ "Final vote results for roll call 277". Clerk of the House of Representatives. 2011-04-15. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Trade Votes Signal GOP Evolution". Rollcall.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ Kevin Bogardus. "Tea Party buys in to trade". TheHill. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "Election Candidate Profile". Election Candidates. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index (PDF), The Lugar Center, March 7, 2016, retrieved April 30, 2017
- ^ "Congressman David McKinley". Mckinley.house.gov. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "Congress.gov". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "House Directs Pentagon To Ignore Climate Change". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "CBO – H.R. 2126". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
- ^ Howard, Bryan (January 30, 2014). "House committee clears important legislation for commercial tenants". U.S. Green Building Council. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ "House committee approves 'Better Buildings Act'". American Chemistry. January 30, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
External links[edit]
- Congressman David McKinley official U.S. House site
- David McKinley for Congress
- David McKinley 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 Alan Mollohan |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 1st congressional district 2011–present |
Incumbent |
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded by Billy Long |
United States Representatives by seniority 171st |
Succeeded by Steven Palazzo |
- 1947 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- American civil engineers
- American Episcopalians
- Businesspeople from West Virginia
- Environmental skepticism
- Engineers from West Virginia
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia
- Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates
- Politicians from Wheeling, West Virginia
- Purdue University alumni
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- State political party chairs of West Virginia
- Tea Party movement activists
- West Virginia Republicans