Bill Shuster
Encyclopedia
William Shuster is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party
. He is a son of former Congressman Bud Shuster
.
and graduated from Dickinson College
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in History. Shuster also became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
while at Dickinson. He then earned a Master of Business Administration
from American University
.
Prior to entering politics, Shuster owned a Chrysler
dealership near Altoona, Pennsylvania
. He also worked as a district manager for a pair of tire companies in Goodyear
and Bandag.
. Michael DelGrosso, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, ran for the Republican nomination trying to capitalize on some of the discontent within the Republican ranks. During the campaign, Shuster was in the news for a spying incident against DelGrosso, in which a Shuster aide was caught spying on DelGrosso's headquarters and on a fundraiser at the DelGrosso's family amusement park. The incident raised serious ethical concerns about Shuster and his campaign staff. Charges of the incident were dropped after the campaign ended even though the aide admitted on television that Shuster put him up to it. Shuster squeaked by in the primary
with 51 percent and went on to take nearly 70 percent in the general election
.
A strong supporter of gun rights. Shuster has supported the interests of Gun Owners of America and received an A rating from the National Rifle Association in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Shuster does not rate highly with education unions. The National Education Association has given Shuster a grade of F and he was given a rating of 25 percent by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2007.
On the subject of education, Shuster states that “Congress should set strong and innovative standards for our schools to achieve.” He supports lowering student loan interest rates as a method to increase the amount of students attending post secondary schools. He also supported the “student and Teacher Safety Act” which allows the search of any minor student suspected of holding illegal items in their possession.
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 2001. 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...
. He is a son of former Congressman Bud Shuster
Bud Shuster
Elmer Greinert "Bud" Shuster is an American politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from 1973 to 2001. He is best known for his advocacy of transportation projects that critics deride as "pork barrel" spending.-Career:Shuster was born...
.
Early life, education and career
Shuster was born in McKeesport, PennsylvaniaMcKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
and graduated from Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in History. Shuster also became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
while at Dickinson. He then earned a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
.
Prior to entering politics, Shuster owned a Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
dealership near Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
. He also worked as a district manager for a pair of tire companies in Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
and Bandag.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- 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...
(Chairman) - 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
Caucus memberships
- Army Corps Reform Caucus
- Depot Caucus
- Intelligent Transportation Caucus
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Older Americans Caucus
- Sportsmen's Caucus
Political campaigns
After his father resigned from Congress in 2001, Shuster ran for and won the seat in a special election with 52 percent of the vote. There were some rumblings from disgruntled Republicans that the process had been rigged to favor the younger Shuster's nomination. Despite the concerns, Shuster easily won re-election in 2002 with 71 percent of the vote.2004
In 2004, Shuster had some trouble in the Republican primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Michael DelGrosso, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, ran for the Republican nomination trying to capitalize on some of the discontent within the Republican ranks. During the campaign, Shuster was in the news for a spying incident against DelGrosso, in which a Shuster aide was caught spying on DelGrosso's headquarters and on a fundraiser at the DelGrosso's family amusement park. The incident raised serious ethical concerns about Shuster and his campaign staff. Charges of the incident were dropped after the campaign ended even though the aide admitted on television that Shuster put him up to it. Shuster squeaked by in the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
with 51 percent and went on to take nearly 70 percent in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.
2010
Shuster ran unopposed in the 2010 General Primary as the Republican candidate. Democrat Tom Conners and Independent Chad Cloppers both ran against Bill Shuster as write-in candidates.Interest Group Ratings
Shuster is a pro-life advocate evidenced by his consistent 0 percent rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood and his 100 percent rating by the National Right to Life Committee.A strong supporter of gun rights. Shuster has supported the interests of Gun Owners of America and received an A rating from the National Rifle Association in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Shuster does not rate highly with education unions. The National Education Association has given Shuster a grade of F and he was given a rating of 25 percent by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2007.
Major Policy Stances
Shuster recognizes America as a nation of immigrants and he does not support amnesty for illegal aliens. He supports stronger border security with the national guard being deployed on the border. Along with a modernization of the visa program, Shuster desires a stricter set of penalties and incentives for business to hire legal workers.On the subject of education, Shuster states that “Congress should set strong and innovative standards for our schools to achieve.” He supports lowering student loan interest rates as a method to increase the amount of students attending post secondary schools. He also supported the “student and Teacher Safety Act” which allows the search of any minor student suspected of holding illegal items in their possession.
External links
- Congressman Bill Shuster official U.S. House site
- Bill Shuster for Congress official campaign site