Dan Benishek
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph Benishek is an American
physician
and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
.
in 1952, to a daughter of Polish immigrants
. His father was killed in local iron mines in 1957, so Dan was raised by his widowed mother and extended family. He worked in the family business, the Iron River Hotel, until he went to college. He graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1974 with a degree in biology. From there, he graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine
in 1978. Prior to his election to Congress, he was a general surgeon in the Dickinson County Healthcare System
.
Bart Stupak
. Stupak's vote in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
fueled an outpouring of support for Benishek, who had no Internet presence aside from a basic website on the day the bill was passed. He received more than $50,000 in unsolicited donations in the first 48 hours after Stupak's vote for the bill on March 21, 2010. "It's amazing, I just can't believe it," he said regarding the support he has gotten. "I need to use this momentum to repeal this health care bill and I'm going to do it. We're going to take over, the Republicans are going to regain the House of Representatives and we're going to repeal this health care bill." The American Spectator
called him "The Most Popular Republican in America" on March 21, in the wake of Stupak's yea vote. Stupak announced his retirement on April 9, 2010. Benishek won the Republican primary against State Senator Jason Allen
by 15 votes.
On November 2, 2010, in the general election, Dan Benishek defeated Democratic nominee State Representative Gary McDowell
, Independent Glenn Wilson, Libertarian
Keith Shelton, Green
Ellis Boal, and UST
Patrick Lambert. Benishek was inaugurated on January 5, 2011, as a member of the 112th United States Congress
; he succeeded Bart Stupak.
and socially
conservative, pro-life
and pro-gun rights. In healthcare reform, he supports the Republican position of tort reform
and allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines without federal regulation. He staunchly opposes federal funding for elective abortions. He supports lower taxes and secure borders.
Benishek endorsed Herman Cain
in the 2012 Republican presidential primary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative
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 . 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...
.
Early life, education, and medical career
Benishek was born in Iron River, MichiganIron River, Michigan
Iron River is a city in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,929. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 population estimate for this city was 3,122....
in 1952, to a daughter of Polish immigrants
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
. His father was killed in local iron mines in 1957, so Dan was raised by his widowed mother and extended family. He worked in the family business, the Iron River Hotel, until he went to college. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1974 with a degree in biology. From there, he graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine
The Wayne State University School of Medicine is the largest single-campus medical school in the United States with more than 1,000 medical students. In addition to undergraduate medical education, the school offers master’s degree, Ph.D., and M.D.-Ph.D. programs in 14 areas of basic science to...
in 1978. Prior to his election to Congress, he was a general surgeon in the Dickinson County Healthcare System
Dickinson County Healthcare System
The Dickenson County Healthcare System is a hospital located in Iron Mountain, Michigan....
.
U.S. House of Representatives
2010 election
Dan Benishek formally announced his candidacy for Congress on March 16, 2010, running against incumbent DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bart Stupak
Bart Stupak
Bartholomew Thomas "Bart" Stupak is a lobbyist and American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as the U.S. Representative from from 1993 to 2011....
. Stupak's vote in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient 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...
fueled an outpouring of support for Benishek, who had no Internet presence aside from a basic website on the day the bill was passed. He received more than $50,000 in unsolicited donations in the first 48 hours after Stupak's vote for the bill on March 21, 2010. "It's amazing, I just can't believe it," he said regarding the support he has gotten. "I need to use this momentum to repeal this health care bill and I'm going to do it. We're going to take over, the Republicans are going to regain the House of Representatives and we're going to repeal this health care bill." The American Spectator
The American Spectator
The American Spectator is a conservative U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics, edited by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. and published by the non-profit American Spectator Foundation. From its founding in 1967 until the late 1980s, the small-circulation magazine featured the writings of authors...
called him "The Most Popular Republican in America" on March 21, in the wake of Stupak's yea vote. Stupak announced his retirement on April 9, 2010. Benishek won the Republican primary against State Senator Jason Allen
Jason Allen (Michigan politician)
Jason Allen currently serves as the Senior Deputy Director for Veterans Affairs, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, State of Michigan....
by 15 votes.
On November 2, 2010, in the general election, Dan Benishek defeated Democratic nominee State Representative Gary McDowell
Gary McDowell
Gary McDowell represented the 107th District in the Michigan State House of Representatives from January 2005 until January 2011, and was the 2010 Democratic nominee for .-Early life and education:...
, Independent Glenn Wilson, Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
Keith Shelton, Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
Ellis Boal, and UST
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
Patrick Lambert. Benishek was inaugurated on January 5, 2011, as a member of the 112th United States Congress
112th United States Congress
The One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
; he succeeded Bart Stupak.
Tenure
Benishek considers himself fiscallyFiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
and socially
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
conservative, pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and pro-gun rights. In healthcare reform, he supports the Republican position of tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
and allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines without federal regulation. He staunchly opposes federal funding for elective abortions. He supports lower taxes and secure borders.
Benishek endorsed Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
in the 2012 Republican presidential primary.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Committee on Veterans' AffairsUnited States House Committee on Veterans' AffairsThe standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
Personal life
Benishek lives with his wife Judy in Iron County. They have five children. They also have two grandchildren.External links
- Congressman Dan Benishek official U.S. House site
- Benishek for Congress official campaign site