Jo Bonner
Encyclopedia
Josiah Robins Bonner, Jr. (born November 19, 1959) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
(but was raised in Camden, Alabama
), to Imogene Virginia Lyons and Josiah Robins Bonner. He was educated at the University of Alabama
, graduating in 1982.
Two years later he started working as campaign press secretary for U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan
, a Republican representing Alabama's 1st congressional district
. In 1989 Bonner was promoted to Callahan's chief of staff and moved to Mobile
.
Bonner has served as a member of the board of directors for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Club, Leadership Mobile, and the Mobile Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Association. In 2000, the College of Communications at The University of Alabama honored him as their Outstanding Alumnus in Public Relations. He was a member of Leadership Mobile, Class of 2000, where his classmates elected him co-president.
, with 62% of the vote. In the general election, he won with 60% of the vote, and won re-election in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 by even larger margins.
(LNG) terminals for Mobile, but went on to propose an off-shore option for the future. He pushed for Representative Callahan's seat on the House Appropriations Committee
but did not carry the support of his colleagues. One notable achievement has been his maintenance of the "Gulf Coast Congressional Report
", which started airing in 1973 and bills itself as the longest running televised public service program hosted by a member of Congress.
Prior to being sworn in to the 108th Congress, Majority Whip Roy Blunt
, R-MO, named Bonner an Assistant Whip. The appointment made Bonner one of a number of freshmen who are now part of weekly leadership meetings with Blunt, the second-ranking member in the Republican Leadership behind only the Majority Leader
. December 14, 2005 he voted for the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act
. On June 29, 2005 he voted for the increase of funds by $25 million for anti-marijuana
print a TV ads. On October 6, 2005 he voted for the Department of Homeland Security
. On July 13, 2006 he was one of 33 votes against HR 9 - Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act.
Taxes
Bonner is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
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 2003. 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 early political career
Bonner was born in Selma, AlabamaSelma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
(but was raised in Camden, Alabama
Camden, Alabama
Camden is a city in Wilcox County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2,257 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Camden is located at ....
), to Imogene Virginia Lyons and Josiah Robins Bonner. He was educated at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, graduating in 1982.
Two years later he started working as campaign press secretary for U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan
Sonny Callahan
Herbert Leon "Sonny" Callahan is a politician from Alabama.Callahan was born in Mobile, Alabama he had eight brothers and sisters and he attended classes at a branch of the University of Alabama that was located in Mobile. He did not graduate. Callahan served in the United States Navy from 1952 to...
, a Republican representing Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It includes the counties of Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties...
. In 1989 Bonner was promoted to Callahan's chief of staff and moved to Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
Bonner has served as a member of the board of directors for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
Club, Leadership Mobile, and the Mobile Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Association. In 2000, the College of Communications at The University of Alabama honored him as their Outstanding Alumnus in Public Relations. He was a member of Leadership Mobile, Class of 2000, where his classmates elected him co-president.
Elections
In 2002, he ran for seat vacated by retiring U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan. In the primary, he qualified for a run-off and lead over six opponents with 40% of the vote. In the primary run-off, Bonner defeated Tom Young, Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Richard ShelbyRichard Shelby
Richard Craig Shelby is the senior U.S. Senator from Alabama. First elected to the Senate in 1986, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007....
, with 62% of the vote. In the general election, he won with 60% of the vote, and won re-election in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 by even larger margins.
Tenure
In the House, Bonner has earned a consistent voting record and has made few waves as a party loyalist. Perhaps his most notable dissention was his opposition to on-shore liquefied natural gasLiquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....
(LNG) terminals for Mobile, but went on to propose an off-shore option for the future. He pushed for Representative Callahan's seat on the House Appropriations Committee
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
but did not carry the support of his colleagues. One notable achievement has been his maintenance of the "Gulf Coast Congressional Report
Gulf Coast Congressional Report
The Gulf Coast Congressional Report, or Congressional Report, is a public service television program broadcast by WKRG-TV in Mobile, Alabama from 1973 to 2006. Originally hosted by Representatives from the congressional districts within the reach of WKRG's signal, the commercial-free talk show gave...
", which started airing in 1973 and bills itself as the longest running televised public service program hosted by a member of Congress.
Prior to being sworn in to the 108th Congress, Majority Whip Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
, R-MO, named Bonner an Assistant Whip. The appointment made Bonner one of a number of freshmen who are now part of weekly leadership meetings with Blunt, the second-ranking member in the Republican Leadership behind only the Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
. December 14, 2005 he voted for the reauthorization of the USA 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 June 29, 2005 he voted for the increase of funds by $25 million for anti-marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
print a TV ads. On October 6, 2005 he voted for the Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
. On July 13, 2006 he was one of 33 votes against HR 9 - Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act.
Taxes
Bonner is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesThe United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is a standing committee of the U.S. House subcommittees and is within the United States House Committee on Appropriations.-Members, 112th Congress:...
(Vice Chair) - Subcommittee on DefenseUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on DefenseThe House Subcommittee on Defense is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Appropriations.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General GovernmentU.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Service and General Government is a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. It was created in 2007 align the operations of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Committee on Ethics (Chairman)
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Travel & Tourism 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...
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
- Sportsmen's Caucus
Electoral history
Personal life
Bonner is married to the former Janée Lambert of Mobile. They are parents of a daughter, Jennifer Lee, age 12, and a son, Josiah Robins, III, age 10. The Bonners make their home in Mobile and are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.External links
- U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner official U.S. House site
- Jo Bonner for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Collected news and commentary from PoliticoPolitico (newspaper)The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...