Tom Petri
Encyclopedia
Thomas Evert Petri is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1979. He is a member of the Republican Party
. The district includes most of the east-central part of the state.
, his father was killed during World War II
and he adopted the name Petri after his mother remarried when he was still a young child. He graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
. He represented his high school as a delegate to the youth government and leadership program Badger Boys State
in 1957. Petri then attended Harvard University
, where he received his bachelors of arts and law degrees. During 1966–67, he worked with the Peace Corps
and the United States Agency for International Development
in Somalia
.
Early political career
Petri served in the Wisconsin State Senate
from 1973 to 1979. Petri was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
in 1974, losing to incumbent Democrat Gaylord Nelson
.
, who had died shortly after being re-elected in 1978. He won the seat in his own right in 1980 and has been reelected 14 times. He has only won re-election with less than 64% once, in 1992. That year, he defeated State Representative Peg Lautenschlager
53% to 47%. He won ten of the district's thirteen counties. He lost Manitowoc
, Brown, and Outagamie
counties. He has run unopposed in 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2006. He faced no major-party opposition in 1986 and 1998.
and supports stem-cell research, although he generally opposes abortion rights. Although he also has called for a moratorium on the death penalty
, he has voted against other restrictions on it.
Petri is generally viewed as a political centrist and is well known in Congress for his willingness to work with Democrats
to address major issues. "Maybe I'm missing something," he's said. "Sometimes I think you can be more effective by working with people."
Petri endorsed Mitt Romney
in the 2008 GOP presidential primary. Petri subsequently endorsed John McCain
in the 2008 presidential election
.
Petri was honored by U.S. English, Inc. in May 2008 for his votes and co-sponsorships of official English legislation in the 110th Congress. Petri had previously sponsored legislation declaring English as an official language in 1999.
Education
One of Petri's top priorities since arriving in Congress has been to improve education and student loan and grant programs. As a member of the Education Committee in Congress, he has introduced several bills to help students get access to low-cost loans.
In 2006, Petri introduced the Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act, which encourage colleges and universities to voluntarily participate in the more cost-effective student loan programs and retain $10 billion in savings for increased Pell Grant
aid for their students. The legislation could boost Pell Grants by up to $800 per student while also devoting more than $3 billion of the savings toward deficit reduction — at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Petri plans to reintroduce his Income-Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Act in the 110th Congress. IDEA streamlines student loan repayment through an improved income-contingent loan repayment with direct IRS collection.
In 2005, Petri introduced the Direct Loan Reward Act to achieve savings of some $18 billion over the next 10 years in the federal student loan program. Petri says the present student loan program includes big subsidies for private banks that are unnecessary. “If we stop subsidizing banks and just provide the loans directly from the U.S. Treasury, we could free up billions of dollars to be used for Pell scholarships,” said Petri, vice-chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.
Local
According to The Reporter (the newspaper in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
), Petri has secured funds for the construction of the North Fond du Lac bridge overpassing the Canadian National Train Yard.
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 1979. 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...
. The district includes most of the east-central part of the state.
Early life, education, and early career
Born as Thomas Evert in Marinette, WisconsinMarinette, Wisconsin
Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee...
, his father was killed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and he adopted the name Petri after his mother remarried when he was still a young child. He graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
. He represented his high school as a delegate to the youth government and leadership program Badger Boys State
Badger Boys State
Badger Boys State is a week-long youth program held each June to teach Wisconsin high-school students leadership and the workings of government. Forty-nine states have a similar yet distinctive program for boys and a separate program for girls...
in 1957. Petri then attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he received his bachelors of arts and law degrees. During 1966–67, he worked with the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
and the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Early political career
Petri served in the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
from 1973 to 1979. Petri was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1974, losing to incumbent Democrat Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Anton Nelson was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a United States Senator and governor. A Democrat, he was the principal founder of Earth Day.-Public service and leadership:...
.
Elections
In 1979, he won a special election to finish the term of the late U.S. Congressman William A. SteigerWilliam A. Steiger
William Albert "Bill" Steiger was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1967 until his death in 1978. He served as a Republican from Wisconsin.-Early life:Steiger was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin...
, who had died shortly after being re-elected in 1978. He won the seat in his own right in 1980 and has been reelected 14 times. He has only won re-election with less than 64% once, in 1992. That year, he defeated State Representative Peg Lautenschlager
Peg Lautenschlager
Peggy A. "Peg" Lautenschlager was Attorney General of the State of Wisconsin from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2007. She succeeded fellow Democrat James Doyle when Doyle was elected Governor of Wisconsin in 2002...
53% to 47%. He won ten of the district's thirteen counties. He lost Manitowoc
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 82,887. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The United States Census Bureau's Manitowoc Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Manitowoc County.-Government:...
, Brown, and Outagamie
Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Outagamie is a county in the northeast region of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its county seat is Appleton. As of the 2009 census estimate, its population was 177,155....
counties. He has run unopposed in 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2006. He faced no major-party opposition in 1986 and 1998.
Tenure
Petri is a member of The Republican Main Street PartnershipRepublican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
and supports stem-cell research, although he generally opposes abortion rights. Although he also has called for a moratorium on the death penalty
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
, he has voted against other restrictions on it.
Petri is generally viewed as a political centrist and is well known in Congress for his willingness to work with Democrats
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...
to address major issues. "Maybe I'm missing something," he's said. "Sometimes I think you can be more effective by working with people."
Petri endorsed Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
in the 2008 GOP presidential primary. Petri subsequently endorsed 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....
in the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
Petri was honored by U.S. English, Inc. in May 2008 for his votes and co-sponsorships of official English legislation in the 110th Congress. Petri had previously sponsored legislation declaring English as an official language in 1999.
Education
One of Petri's top priorities since arriving in Congress has been to improve education and student loan and grant programs. As a member of the Education Committee in Congress, he has introduced several bills to help students get access to low-cost loans.
In 2006, Petri introduced the Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act, which encourage colleges and universities to voluntarily participate in the more cost-effective student loan programs and retain $10 billion in savings for increased Pell Grant
Pell Grant
A Pell Grant is money the federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree or who are not enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating...
aid for their students. The legislation could boost Pell Grants by up to $800 per student while also devoting more than $3 billion of the savings toward deficit reduction — at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Petri plans to reintroduce his Income-Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Act in the 110th Congress. IDEA streamlines student loan repayment through an improved income-contingent loan repayment with direct IRS collection.
In 2005, Petri introduced the Direct Loan Reward Act to achieve savings of some $18 billion over the next 10 years in the federal student loan program. Petri says the present student loan program includes big subsidies for private banks that are unnecessary. “If we stop subsidizing banks and just provide the loans directly from the U.S. Treasury, we could free up billions of dollars to be used for Pell scholarships,” said Petri, vice-chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.
Local
According to The Reporter (the newspaper in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
), Petri has secured funds for the construction of the North Fond du Lac bridge overpassing the Canadian National Train Yard.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and Labor
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationThe House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
- 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 AviationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on AviationThe Subcommittee on Aviation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation, including most aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration , the Transportation Security Administration, and the National...
(Chairman) - 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 Aviation
External links
- Congressman Tom Petri official U.S. House site
- Tom Petri 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...
- Peace Corps biography of Thomas Petri
- Republican Main Street Partnership