Phil Hare
Encyclopedia
Philip G. "Phil" Hare is the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
The district is based in Illinois' share of the Quad Cities
area and includes Rock Island
, Moline
, Quincy
, Decatur
, Galesburg
and part of Springfield
.
in 1967. The son of a machinist, Hare went to work at Seaford Clothing Factory in Rock Island where he stayed for 13 years. He received his A.A. degree at Black Hawk College
in Moline, Illinois
. While working there Hare served as a union leader and was President of the UNITE HERE Local 617. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969 to 1975.
in support of the presidential candidacy of Senator Edward Kennedy
of Massachusetts
. He was one of six candidates running for alternate delegate but the three Kennedy delegates were defeated by the three candidates supporting President Jimmy Carter
of Georgia
. In 1982 Hare left his union position to help his friend Lane Evans
, who was running for the U.S. House of Representatives in an attempt to unseat 16-year incumbent Republican Tom Railsback
. Hare first met Evans in 1976 when the two were volunteers in Senator Fred R. Harris
's campaign for president. However, Railsback was upset by conservative State Senator Kenneth McMillan
in the Republican primary. Evans defeated McMillan in November, and appointed Hare as district director.
For the next 24 years Hare worked as an aide to Evans, assisting the congressman primarily on constituent issues and labor problems. In the last few years of Evans' time in Congress, Hare attended several speaking engagements and even debated Evans' opponents in 2002 and 2004 because of the congressman's Parkinson's disease, which often prevented Evans from participating in the engagements.
, of which Evans was a founding member.
, saying, "I will not support any plan that does not contain a robust public option because, a plan without a public option is sort of like a car without a motor. It may look good on the outside, but in the end it will get you nowhere." After many local health care town halls and public polling, Hare has since backed off of his support of the public option. Hare is quoted as saying that, he ultimately supports a public option but that "It [the public option] is not a deal breaker."
.
.
on this to be honest," in relation to Congressional health-care reform efforts. The cameraman, who was affiliated with the St. Louis Tea Party, was heard to say "jackpot, brother!" after Hare said this, to which Hare responded, "Oh, please." Hare's communications director, Tim Schlittner, later explained that Hare's quote was "taken out of context" and he meant that "he is not worried about this health care law being ruled unconstitutional." However in the same interview, Hare said, "I believe it (the Constitution) says 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" When it was pointed out to him that was actually from the Declaration of Independence, Hare said, "It doesn't matter to me."
Phil Hare has been accused of distorting his military service. Mr. Hare, who served in the Army Reserves in the United States during the Vietnam War, claims to be a Vietnam veteran even though, legally, he is not. By federal law Hare's military service does not make of him a "veteran" of the Vietnam War because he had never served in Vietnam. When challenged about his military record by an actual Vietnam vet, Mr. Hare demanded to know the identity of the man. When the vet refused to give his name Mr. Hare reportedly told an aide to follow the man to his car and get his license plate number so he could find out who the man was. According to the vet, "As Mr. Hare was turning to walk away form me he paused, and turning back to my direction, he glared at me intently, and while leaning forward pointed his finger at me, and in a threatening and intimidating manner said, "I'll find out who you are!" Given the nature of Illinois politics, and Mr. Hare's reputation as a mean politician, I felt intimidated by the power of Mr. Hare's office and what he might do."
, with 57% of the vote in the November election.
nominee Bobby Schilling
and Green Party nominee Roger K. Davis.
The race was rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report
, CQ Politics, and the New York Times. RealClearPolitics
rates it "Leans Republican".
In the November 2 election, Schilling defeated Hare taking 53 percent of the vote to Hare's 42 percent. Hare lost his home district, normally solidly Democratic Rock Island County, by 9 percentage points.
Hare appeared on the March 15, 2007 episode of The Colbert Report in the show's "Better Know a District
" series.
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 from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic 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...
.
The district is based in Illinois' share of the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
area and includes Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, Moline
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
, Quincy
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
, Decatur
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
and part of Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
.
Early life, education and career
Hare was born in Galesburg but was raised in Rock Island. He graduated from Alleman High SchoolAlleman High School (Rock Island, Illinois)
Alleman Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Rock Island, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria.-School history:Alleman High School was established in 1949. It was named in honor of Rev...
in 1967. The son of a machinist, Hare went to work at Seaford Clothing Factory in Rock Island where he stayed for 13 years. He received his A.A. degree at Black Hawk College
Black Hawk College
Black Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in the city of Moline and near Kewanee, Illinois.-History:Black Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in Moline and in Galva, Illinois...
in Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
. While working there Hare served as a union leader and was President of the UNITE HERE Local 617. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969 to 1975.
Early political career
Hare began his political career in 1980 when he ran as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National ConventionDemocratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in support of the presidential candidacy of Senator Edward Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was one of six candidates running for alternate delegate but the three Kennedy delegates were defeated by the three candidates supporting President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 1982 Hare left his union position to help his friend Lane Evans
Lane Evans
Lane Allen Evans is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until 2007, representing the 17th District of Illinois...
, who was running for the U.S. House of Representatives in an attempt to unseat 16-year incumbent Republican Tom Railsback
Tom Railsback
Thomas Fisher Railsback served eight terms in the United States Congress from 1967-1983 for in Moline.- Early life :...
. Hare first met Evans in 1976 when the two were volunteers in Senator Fred R. Harris
Fred R. Harris
Fred Roy Harris is a former Democratic United States Senator from the state of Oklahoma. He served from 1964 until 1973.-Biography:...
's campaign for president. However, Railsback was upset by conservative State Senator Kenneth McMillan
Kenneth G. McMillan
Kenneth McMillan served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1977 to 1983. McMillan ran for U.S. Congress in 1982 on a conservative platform and defeated moderate Republican incubent Tom Railsback. McMillan however lost in the general election to Democrat Lane Evans by 6%,...
in the Republican primary. Evans defeated McMillan in November, and appointed Hare as district director.
For the next 24 years Hare worked as an aide to Evans, assisting the congressman primarily on constituent issues and labor problems. In the last few years of Evans' time in Congress, Hare attended several speaking engagements and even debated Evans' opponents in 2002 and 2004 because of the congressman's Parkinson's disease, which often prevented Evans from participating in the engagements.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and Labor
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsThe House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
- 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 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
Political positions
Hare's voting record was decidedly liberal, mirroring that of his boss, Evans. Hare is also a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Progressive CaucusCongressional Progressive Caucus
The Congressional Progressive Caucus is the largest caucus within the Democratic caucus in the United States Congress with 83 declared members, and works to advance progressive issues and positions....
, of which Evans was a founding member.
Health care
Hare has been an advocate for health care reform since becoming Congressman on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006. During the summer of 2009, Hare took a hard line stance on a public health insurance optionPublic health insurance option
The public health insurance option is a proposed government-run health insurance agency which competes with other health insurance companies. It is not the same as Publicly-funded health care. Called the public insurance option or public option, for short, it was a proposed health insurance plan...
, saying, "I will not support any plan that does not contain a robust public option because, a plan without a public option is sort of like a car without a motor. It may look good on the outside, but in the end it will get you nowhere." After many local health care town halls and public polling, Hare has since backed off of his support of the public option. Hare is quoted as saying that, he ultimately supports a public option but that "It [the public option] is not a deal breaker."
Labor
Hare is a supporter of organized labor, including the living wage and the Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act was a legislative bill that was introduced into both chambers of the U.S. Congress on March 10, 2009. The bill's purpose was to,...
.
Abortion
Hare has consistently supported access to and funding for contraception, as well as keeping most methods of abortion legal. He has received the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice AmericaNARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
.
Controversies
At an April 2010 town hall meeting, Hare stated on camera, "I don't worry about the ConstitutionUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
on this to be honest," in relation to Congressional health-care reform efforts. The cameraman, who was affiliated with the St. Louis Tea Party, was heard to say "jackpot, brother!" after Hare said this, to which Hare responded, "Oh, please." Hare's communications director, Tim Schlittner, later explained that Hare's quote was "taken out of context" and he meant that "he is not worried about this health care law being ruled unconstitutional." However in the same interview, Hare said, "I believe it (the Constitution) says 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" When it was pointed out to him that was actually from the Declaration of Independence, Hare said, "It doesn't matter to me."
Phil Hare has been accused of distorting his military service. Mr. Hare, who served in the Army Reserves in the United States during the Vietnam War, claims to be a Vietnam veteran even though, legally, he is not. By federal law Hare's military service does not make of him a "veteran" of the Vietnam War because he had never served in Vietnam. When challenged about his military record by an actual Vietnam vet, Mr. Hare demanded to know the identity of the man. When the vet refused to give his name Mr. Hare reportedly told an aide to follow the man to his car and get his license plate number so he could find out who the man was. According to the vet, "As Mr. Hare was turning to walk away form me he paused, and turning back to my direction, he glared at me intently, and while leaning forward pointed his finger at me, and in a threatening and intimidating manner said, "I'll find out who you are!" Given the nature of Illinois politics, and Mr. Hare's reputation as a mean politician, I felt intimidated by the power of Mr. Hare's office and what he might do."
2006
In March 2006, Evans announced his withdrawal from the general-election race after winning renomination; afterwards, Hare announced his candidacy to succeed Evans. In a special Democratic caucus of precinct committee members from across the 17th Congressional District Hare received the endorsement of his former boss and prevailed over the four other candidates to replace Evans as the Democratic nominee. Hare defeated his Republican opponent, Andrea ZingaAndrea Zinga
Andrea Lane Zinga is a former television reporter, and was twice the Republican nominee for Congress in .-Personal history:Zinga was born and raised in Macomb, Illinois and is a graduate of Macomb High School...
, with 57% of the vote in the November election.
2008
Hare ran unopposed in 2008.2010
Hare was challenged by RepublicanRepublican 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...
nominee Bobby Schilling
Bobby Schilling
Robert Todd "Bobby" Schilling is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. Schilling is a member of the Republican Party and was backed by the Tea Party movement in the November 2010 election...
and Green Party nominee Roger K. Davis.
The race was rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
, CQ Politics, and the New York Times. 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...
rates it "Leans Republican".
In the November 2 election, Schilling defeated Hare taking 53 percent of the vote to Hare's 42 percent. Hare lost his home district, normally solidly Democratic Rock Island County, by 9 percentage points.
Election history
- Nomination of precinct committeepersons U.S. House 2006
- Phil Hare — 17,011 — 64%
- John M. SullivanJohn M. SullivanJonathan Mark 'John' Sullivan is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 47th District since 2002. The district is anchored by Quincy and Macomb....
— 7,530 — 28% - Mark SchwiebertMark SchwiebertMark William Schwiebert was Mayor of the City of Rock Island, Illinois from May 1989 until May 2009. Prior to his election as Rock Island Mayor, Schwiebert served the people of his City as an attorney and City Councilman since the mid-1970s...
— 1,370 — 5% - Michael Boland — 612 — 2%
- Rob Mellon — 98 — 0%
- Election of November 7, 2006 for U.S. House Dist. 17
- Phil Hare (D) — 114,638 — 57%
- Andrea ZingaAndrea ZingaAndrea Lane Zinga is a former television reporter, and was twice the Republican nominee for Congress in .-Personal history:Zinga was born and raised in Macomb, Illinois and is a graduate of Macomb High School...
(R) — 85,734 — 43%
- Election of November 4, 2008 for U.S. House Dist. 17
- Phil Hare (D) —- 220,961—99.77%
- Mark E. Lioen—517—0.23%
Personal life
Hare and his wife Beckie currently live in Rock Island and have two grown children, Amy and Louis.Hare appeared on the March 15, 2007 episode of The Colbert Report in the show's "Better Know a District
Better Know A District
Better Know a District is a recurring segment on The Colbert Report. It offers a humorous explanation of a different United States Congressional district in each segment and generally includes an interview with that district's member of Congress.- Structure :Each segment begins with basic...
" series.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Phil Hare official U.S. House site
- Friends of Phil Hare official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...