Ann Marie Buerkle
Encyclopedia
Ann Marie Buerkle is the U.S. Representative
for , elected in 2010 in an upset of incumbent Dan Maffei
. She is a member of the Republican Party.
. After graduating as a registered nurse from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Syracuse, New York
, she worked at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and at St. Joseph's. She was a substitute school nurse for many years before obtaining her law degree from Syracuse University School of Law.
She has served as the Assistant New York State Attorney General since 1997. She also served one term on the Syracuse, New York
Common Council.
Buerkle defeated incumbent Dan Maffei
in the 2010 midterm election, an outcome not determined until after weeks of absentee ballot counting and precinct recanvassing, in which Buerkle emerged with a narrow 567-vote margin, of over 200,000 ballots cast. Maffei conceded the race on November 23, 2010, when it became clear that challenged votes would not change the outcome of the race.
Maffei had been favored to retain the seat. In addition to rating the district as "Leans Democratic", RealClearPolitics
and other pundits thought it was an unlikely Congressional district to switch parties. Going into the election, other pundits from CQ Politics, The Cook Report, and the Rothenberg Report ranked it as "Lean Democrat" to "Democrat Favored". She was endorsed by former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin
.
of 2010. In 2011 Buerkle voted to renew the Patriot Act
.. On September 16, 2011 President Obama named Buerkle to serve as the U.S. representatives to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Buerkle was selected by John Boehner to represent the Republicans.
, Buerkle is a registered nurse
and health care attorney
. She is the mother of six and grandmother of eleven.
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 , elected in 2010 in an upset of incumbent Dan Maffei
Dan Maffei
Daniel Benjamin "Dan" Maffei is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011, and currently a senior adviser at law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. He is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for his old seat in 2012.-Early life, education and career:Maffei was born in...
. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and career
Buerkle was born Ann Marie Colella in Auburn, New York, the daughter of Sadie M. (née Fiduccia) and Alfred D. "Alf" Colella. All of her grandparents were born in ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. After graduating as a registered nurse from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, she worked at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and at St. Joseph's. She was a substitute school nurse for many years before obtaining her law degree from Syracuse University School of Law.
She has served as the Assistant New York State Attorney General since 1997. She also served one term on the Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
Common Council.
2010 election
Buerkle defeated turkey farm owner Mark Bitz and activist Paul Bertan to win the Republican nomination.Buerkle defeated incumbent Dan Maffei
Dan Maffei
Daniel Benjamin "Dan" Maffei is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011, and currently a senior adviser at law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. He is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for his old seat in 2012.-Early life, education and career:Maffei was born in...
in the 2010 midterm election, an outcome not determined until after weeks of absentee ballot counting and precinct recanvassing, in which Buerkle emerged with a narrow 567-vote margin, of over 200,000 ballots cast. Maffei conceded the race on November 23, 2010, when it became clear that challenged votes would not change the outcome of the race.
Maffei had been favored to retain the seat. In addition to rating the district as "Leans Democratic", RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling data aggregator based in Chicago, Illinois. The site's founders say their goal is to give readers "ideological diversity." They have described themselves as frustrated with what they perceive as anti-conservative, anti-Christian media bias, and...
and other pundits thought it was an unlikely Congressional district to switch parties. Going into the election, other pundits from CQ Politics, The Cook Report, and the Rothenberg Report ranked it as "Lean Democrat" to "Democrat Favored". She was endorsed by former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
.
Major issues
Though Ann Marie Buerkle is a moderate Republican, when it comes to the issue of abortion and the issue of the right to carry fire arms, Buerkle is outspoken and definitive in position. Throughout her campaign, one of her top endorsers was the National Rifle Association (NRA). She has recently earned an “A” rating after her ‘yea’ vote to pass the November National Right to Carry Reciprocacy Act of 2011. In addition to being a congresswoman, Buerkle is also a registered nurse, and focuses much of her energy on passing anti-abortion laws, advocating for her pro life constituents. Among her most generous donors was the special interest group, the Susan B Anthony List, an anti-abortion group. Buerkle is active in what she calls the “fight for the unborn”, describing “the right to life....(as the) most fundamental unalienable right”. Buerkle has additionally sponsored legislation to prohibit abortion coverage in heath care. Beyond the issue of abortion, Buerkle is also a non-supporter of Obama’s universal health care plan, feeling that is it a “federal take over”. She would like less governmental involvement in this aspect of society as well as all aspects of society, these views with which she shares with her Republican colleagues.Tenure
In 2011 Buerkle voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
of 2010. In 2011 Buerkle voted to renew the Patriot Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
.. On September 16, 2011 President Obama named Buerkle to serve as the U.S. representatives to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Buerkle was selected by John Boehner to represent the Republicans.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
- Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaUnited States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South AsiaThe U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia is a subcommittee within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:The subcommittee is one of five with what the committees calls "regional jurisdiction" over a specific area of the globe...
- Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and TradeUnited States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and TradeThe U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade is a standing subcommittee within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
(Vice Chair)
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
- Committee on Veterans Affairs
- 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...
(Chairwoman) - Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Health
Electoral history
Personal life
A native of Auburn, New YorkAuburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, Buerkle is a registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
and health care attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. She is the mother of six and grandmother of eleven.
External links
- Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle official U.S. House site
- Buerkle for Congress official campaign site