Earl Pomeroy
Encyclopedia
Earl Pomeroy is a lobbyist and former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.
in eastern North Dakota. He attended Valley City State University
where he was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Fraternity and later transferred to the University of North Dakota
at Grand Forks
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree
in political science
and went on to do graduate research in legal history
at Durham University
in England
. Pomeroy returned to North Dakota to attend the University of North Dakota School of Law
, having received his Juris Doctor
law degree
in 1979.
in 1980, and became North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
in 1985, a post that he held until 1992.
Pomeroy was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.
in February 2007. He said in a floor speech, "We take care of our soldiers over [in Iraq] by making sure their deployments are only for acceptable periods and at acceptable intervals, with enough time at home in between to heal, to rest, and to train. But beyond these things, we take care of our soldiers over there when we as a Congress make certain the mission they have sent to perform has a reasonable chance of success.
"In a war where so many tragic mistakes have been made, this Congress must not sit quietly by while additional plans are cooked up in Washington whose only certainty is to accelerate the loss of American lives, compound the already severe strain on our military capabilities, and accelerate the burn rate of American dollars spent in Iraq. ... Without the commitment between the warring parties in Iraq to stop the killing, and create a political agreement upon which a national government can exist, 20,000 more U.S. soldiers are not likely to bring about a lasting peace."
in November 2009, stating that the bill was far from perfect, "but so is our present system."
, Kent Conrad
and Byron Dorgan
. Until 2004, he never won more than 57 percent of the vote. However, in 2004 he was reelected with almost 60 percent.
Matthew Mechtel
in the 2006 general election, easily winning re-election to his eighth term. He received a larger percentage of votes (65.68%) than in his previous elections.
Duane Sand
.
Rick Berg
. This marks the first time in 24 years that this seat has been held by a Republican. It has been argued that Pomeroy's "vote for the health care bill
may have cost him his seat in Congress."
giant Alston & Bird
announced that he was joining the firm's health care lobbying
division." Pomeroy joined former Senate
Majority Leader
and presidential candidate
Bob Dole
at Alston & Bird.
, North Dakota; he has two children, Kathryn and Scott. On July 2, 2009, Pomeroy married Mary Berglund in a private ceremony at the site of his family's homestead in Valley Ciy
, North Dakota.
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 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.
Early life, education and career
Pomeroy was born in Valley City in Barnes CountyBarnes County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Hobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Stoney Slough National Wildlife Refuge*Tomahawk National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
in eastern North Dakota. He attended Valley City State University
Valley City State University
Valley City State University is an institution of higher learning in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the eleven-member North Dakota University System. Founded in 1890 as a territorial normal school, VCSU offers four-year degrees in a number of fields in five academic divisions and graduate...
where he was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
Fraternity and later transferred to the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
at Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and went on to do graduate research in legal history
Legal history
Legal history or the history of law is the study of how law has evolved and why it changed. Legal history is closely connected to the development of civilizations and is set in the wider context of social history...
at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Pomeroy returned to North Dakota to attend the University of North Dakota School of Law
University of North Dakota School of Law
The University of North Dakota School of Law is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota at the University of North Dakota and is the only law school in the state of North Dakota. Established in 1899, the law school is home to approximately 235 students and has more than 3,000 alumni...
, having received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1979.
State government
Pomeroy was elected to the North Dakota House of RepresentativesNorth Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
in 1980, and became North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
The North Dakota Insurance Commissioner regulates the insurance industry in North Dakota, licenses insurance professionals in the state, educates consumers about different types of insurance, and handles consumer complaints...
in 1985, a post that he held until 1992.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and ResearchUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and ResearchThe House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. The subcommittee oversees all agricultural matters relating to soil, water, and resource conservation; small watershed program; energy and biobased energy production; rural...
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk ManagementUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk ManagementThe House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. The subcommittee oversees program and markets for major commercial crops, such as cotton, cottonseed, wheat, feed grains , soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, and...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
- Committee on Ways and MeansUnited States House Committee on Ways and MeansThe Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
- Subcommittee on TradeUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on TradeThe House Way and Means Subcommittee on Trade is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on HealthUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on HealthThe U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Health is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.-Jurisdiction:The House Subcommittee on Health has general jurisdiction over bills and resolutions relating to issues within the scope of the Subcommittee's jurisdiction, and has...
- Subcommittee on Social SecurityUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social SecurityThe Subcommittee on Social Security is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:From the House rules...
(Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Trade
Caucuses and coalitions
- Co-Chair of the bipartisan Rural Health Care Coalition
Pomeroy was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.
Iraq War
Although he supported authorizing force in Iraq in 2002, he has increasingly spoken out against the war. Earl Pomeroy supported the House resolution opposing George W. Bush's troop surge planIraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
in February 2007. He said in a floor speech, "We take care of our soldiers over [in Iraq] by making sure their deployments are only for acceptable periods and at acceptable intervals, with enough time at home in between to heal, to rest, and to train. But beyond these things, we take care of our soldiers over there when we as a Congress make certain the mission they have sent to perform has a reasonable chance of success.
"In a war where so many tragic mistakes have been made, this Congress must not sit quietly by while additional plans are cooked up in Washington whose only certainty is to accelerate the loss of American lives, compound the already severe strain on our military capabilities, and accelerate the burn rate of American dollars spent in Iraq. ... Without the commitment between the warring parties in Iraq to stop the killing, and create a political agreement upon which a national government can exist, 20,000 more U.S. soldiers are not likely to bring about a lasting peace."
Health Care
Pomeroy voted for the Affordable Health Care for America ActAffordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
in November 2009, stating that the bill was far from perfect, "but so is our present system."
Controversy
In 2007, Pomeroy was "ambushed" by a group of political activists and asked about the impeachment of President Bush. He said that he "couldn't stand" the president and later referred to him as a "clown," but also noted that he was leery of supporting impeachment because his constituents didn't agree with such a drastic move. Video appeared on YouTube and drew criticism. Critics have said that he should not have used the language he did, as many have argued that the point he was trying to make was out of line, that the people he represent did not support the president's impeachment, and he couldn't disagree with them on something of that magnitude. Pomeroy also said he wasn't aware that he was being videotaped and says he regrets calling the president a name.Political campaigns
Pomeroy was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. Until recently, he did not gain the victory margins scored by North Dakota's two Democratic SenatorsUnited 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...
, Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
and Byron Dorgan
Byron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
. Until 2004, he never won more than 57 percent of the vote. However, in 2004 he was reelected with almost 60 percent.
2006
Pomeroy faced RepublicanNorth Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
Matthew Mechtel
Matthew Mechtel
Matthew Mechtel was the 2006 Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota, and Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, the governing board of the Northern Crops Institute...
in the 2006 general election, easily winning re-election to his eighth term. He received a larger percentage of votes (65.68%) than in his previous elections.
2008
In 2008, Pomeroy easily retained his seat in the House of Representatives beating RepublicanNorth Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
Duane Sand
Duane Sand
Duane Sand is a North Dakota politician, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and a U.S. Navy officer during the Iraq War. Sand ran for the United States Senate in North Dakota on the Republican ticket in 2000 against incumbent Kent Conrad of the Democratic-Nonpartisan League, and was...
.
2010
Pomeroy was defeated by Republican nominee State RepresentativeNorth Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
Rick Berg
Rick Berg
Richard Alan Berg is the U.S. Representative for . Berg serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the state House of Representatives. He served as Majority Leader and Speaker.-Early life, education, and pre-political career:Berg...
. This marks the first time in 24 years that this seat has been held by a Republican. It has been argued that Pomeroy's "vote for the health care bill
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...
may have cost him his seat in Congress."
Post-Congressional career
"[O]n the last day of Pomeroy's 18-year stint as North Dakota's at-large congressman, K StreetK Street (Washington, D.C.)
K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.-Location:...
giant Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird LLP, commonly abbreviated , is the largest law firm in Atlanta and the forty-third largest in the United States.-History:...
announced that he was joining the firm's health care lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
division." Pomeroy joined former 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...
Majority Leader
Party leaders of the United States Senate
The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokespeople for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive...
and presidential candidate
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
at Alston & Bird.
Personal life
Pomeroy lives in MandanMandan, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,647 households, and 4,553 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,642.8 per square mile . There were 6,958 housing units at an average density of 683.7 per square mile...
, North Dakota; he has two children, Kathryn and Scott. On July 2, 2009, Pomeroy married Mary Berglund in a private ceremony at the site of his family's homestead in Valley Ciy
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
, North Dakota.
See also
- United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2004United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2004The 2004 U.S. House of Representatives election for the state of North Dakotas At-large congressional district was held November 2, 2004...
- United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2002United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2002The 2002 U.S. House of Representatives election for the state of North Dakotas At-large congressional district was held November 5, 2002...
- United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2000United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2000The 2000 U.S. House of Representatives election for the state of North Dakotas At-large congressional district was held November 7, 2000...
External links
- Earl Pomeroy for Congress official campaign site