Justin Amash
Encyclopedia
Justin Amash, , is an American
attorney, politician, and member of Congress
. He has been the U.S. Representative
for which encompasses the Grand Rapids
area, since 2011.
A conservative Republican
, Amash is backed by the Tea Party movement
and was elected to the House in the 2010 election
. He is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 72nd District, which consists of the city of Kentwood
and the townships of Caledonia
, Cascade
, and Gaines
. At the age of , Amash is the second youngest current U.S. Representative, behind -year-old Aaron Schock
of Illinois.
Justin Amash has endorsed Ron Paul
for President of the United States
in 2012 election
.
and raised in Kentwood
, Amash is a second generation Arab-American of Palestinian Christian
and Syrian descent
. He attended Kelloggsville Christian School and Grand Rapids Christian High School
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
magna cum laude with an B.A. in Economics and earned his J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School
in 2005.
and John McCain
.
with over 40% of the vote. Amash was a favorite of the Tea Party movement
, having been endorsed by iCaucus. He was also endorsed by The Club for Growth
, Rep. Ron Paul
, and FreedomWorks PAC
during his primary campaign.
During the general election campaign, Amash ran on a conservative platform. On November 2, 2010, Amash defeated Democrat Pat Miles by a 59.6% to 37.4% margin out of the 224,063 votes cast.
s. He believes that Congress has the power to declare war. He believes there should be a two-state solution
to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He supports the Second Amendment
as a safeguard against violations of Americans' liberty. He believes that schools should be managed locally. He believes that the federal government should not be able to expand its powers using the General Welfare
, Commerce
, or Necessary and Proper clauses.
's "40 under 40 - Rising Stars of U.S. Politics." At the age of 30, Amash was the youngest federal candidate in the United States on the list of new civic leaders.
. Amash is married and the father of three children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney, politician, and member of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He has been 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 which encompasses the Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
area, since 2011.
A conservative Republican
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...
, Amash is backed by the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
and was elected to the House in the 2010 election
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S...
. He is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 72nd District, which consists of the city of Kentwood
Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
and the townships of Caledonia
Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan
The Charter Township of Caledonia is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,964 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The Village of Caledonia is within the township on M-37 in the southeast part of the township....
, Cascade
Cascade Township, Michigan
Cascade Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,107 at the 2000 census.The township is situated in the southeastern section of Kent County, approximately 10 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. A defining feature of the township is the...
, and Gaines
Gaines Township, Kent County, Michigan
Gaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,112 at the 2000 census.The township is about 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. The Charter Township of Caledonia and Village of...
. At the age of , Amash is the second youngest current U.S. Representative, behind -year-old Aaron Schock
Aaron Schock
Aaron Schock is the United States Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Peoria and includes part of Springfield. At the age of , Schock is currently the youngest U.S. representative and the first member of the U.S. Congress born...
of Illinois.
Justin Amash has endorsed Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 2012 election
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
.
Early life and education
Born in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and raised in Kentwood
Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
, Amash is a second generation Arab-American of Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
and Syrian descent
Syrian American
Syrian Americans are residents of the United States of Syrian ancestry or nationality. This group includes Americans of Syrian ancestry, Syrian first generation immigrants, or descendants of Syrians who emigrated to the United States. Syrian Americans may be members of a number of differing...
. He attended Kelloggsville Christian School and Grand Rapids Christian High School
Grand Rapids Christian High School
Grand Rapids Christian High School is a parentally-controlled, private, Christian secondary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1920, "Christian High" is a member of and Christian Schools International...
. 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...
magna cum laude with an B.A. in Economics and earned his J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 2005.
Election
Amash ran for state representative in 2008, winning the 72nd District seat. During this time, he donated to the campaigns of Congressman Ron PaulRon Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
and John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Tenure
After taking his seat in the Michigan House of Representatives in January 2009, conservatives claimed Amash had been the first legislator to use his Facebook Page to explain all of his votes in real time and to interact with constituents. Additionally, Amash was one of the first state representatives to post all of his office expenses, staff salaries, and legislative benefits online. In the 2009 annual State Capitol Leadership Survey, Amash was the most frequently named freshman legislator in response to the question, "Who is the most effective member of the Michigan House?"2010 election
On August 3, 2010, Amash won the five-way Republican primary for the seat vacated by retiring Republican Vern EhlersVern Ehlers
Vernon James "Vern" Ehlers is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party....
with over 40% of the vote. Amash was a favorite of the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
, having been endorsed by iCaucus. He was also endorsed by The Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, Rep. Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
, and FreedomWorks PAC
FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks is a conservative non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., United States. FreedomWorks trains volunteers, assists in campaigns, and encourages them to mobilize, interacting with both fellow citizens and their political representatives....
during his primary campaign.
During the general election campaign, Amash ran on a conservative platform. On November 2, 2010, Amash defeated Democrat Pat Miles by a 59.6% to 37.4% margin out of the 224,063 votes cast.
Committee assignments
- Committee on the BudgetUnited States House Committee on the BudgetThe U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management
- Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
Political positions
Amash opposes central government involvement in the economy and believes it causes unemployment, inflation, and dangerous economic cycles. He believes health care insurance should not be mandatory, and that reform should consist of insurance companies being able to sell insurance across state lines and programs like health savings accountHealth savings account
A health savings account is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan . The funds contributed to an account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. Unlike a flexible spending account...
s. He believes that Congress has the power to declare war. He believes there should be a two-state solution
Two-state solution
The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the consensus solution that is currently under discussion by the key parties to the conflict, most recently at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007...
to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He supports the Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
as a safeguard against violations of Americans' liberty. He believes that schools should be managed locally. He believes that the federal government should not be able to expand its powers using the General Welfare
General Welfare clause
A General Welfare clause is a section that appeared in many constitutions, as well as in some charters and statutes, which provides that the governing body empowered by the document may enact laws to promote the general welfare of the people...
, Commerce
Commerce Clause
The Commerce Clause is an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution . The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." Courts and commentators have tended to...
, or Necessary and Proper clauses.
Recognition
In its October 25, 2010 issue, Amash was named one of Time magazineTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
's "40 under 40 - Rising Stars of U.S. Politics." At the age of 30, Amash was the youngest federal candidate in the United States on the list of new civic leaders.
Personal life
He has said his biggest heroes are economists F.A. Hayek and Frédéric BastiatFrédéric Bastiat
Claude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
. Amash is married and the father of three children.
External links
- Justin Amash for Congress, official campaign site
- Justin Amash at MichiganVotes.org
- Voting record: 2009-2010
- Campaign contributions and reports from the Michigan Secretary of State