Martha Roby
Encyclopedia
Martha Dubina Roby is the U.S. Representative
for . She is a member of the Republican Party
. She narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Bobby Bright
on November 2 during the United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010
and assumed office in January 2011.
and attended New York University
, where she received a bachelor of music
degree. She then entered the Cumberland School of Law
at Samford University
in Birmingham, Alabama
, receiving her J.D.
in 2001. She is the daughter of Judge Joel F. Dubina, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Before entering politics, she worked at the law firm of Copeland, Franco and served on the board of directors of Sav-A-Life Montgomery, a Christian organization.
in 2003, defeating a total of five opponents, and winning 54.88% of the votes cast in her district. In her first term on the Council, Roby joined 3 other council members and then mayor Bobby Bright in opposing the building of a shopping mall in East Montgomery, opposed privatizing the disposal of household garbage, supported a 10 cent cigarette tax increase, but also argued for a state sales tax holiday. She also took a hard line on illegal immigration, spear heading a committee focused on the issue. The committees goal was to create a law that revoked business licenses for companies that used illegal aliens.
The republican party had 2 primary candidates, Martha Roby and tea party activist Rick Berber. Roby was endorsed by both Newt Gingritch and Sarah Palin. In the general election, Matha Roby beat incumbent Bobby Bright by 4,867 votes.
It was the most expensive race in the district's history. Martha Roby spent a total of $1,240,275.64 on her 2010 election. Most of her funds came from large individual contributions. Her top contributor was Jim Wilson and Associates. They contributed $25,300.00. Robys top industry contributor was leadership PAC's. They contributed a total of $106,010.
Immigration
Martha Roby believes in cracking down hard on illegal immigrants. She has taken this approach from the very beginning of her political career when she served on the Montgomery, Alabama city council. In a 2010 debate she was quoted as saying "I will never support any legislation with the word 'amnesty' in it." In 2011, Martha was listed as a cosponsor on a bill that blocked wage increases for seasonal employers, who are often immigrants. She claimed that seasonal jobs could not be filled by the local workforce and would make a legal work force too expensive.
Reproductive Issues
Martha Roby has prevented the use of federal funds for abortions by voting "yea" for bill HR 358 and HR 3. Both bills prohibited any taxpayer money from going towards abortions. Representative Roby even introduced HConRes36, which had the main goal to defund Planned Parenthood
in order to prevent abortions. Roby believes "The more taxpayer dollars awarded to Planned Parenthood, the more abortions the group will perform,"
Agriculture
As a member of the subcommittee for agriculture, energy, and forestry Martha is quite active in this area. Representative Roby believes that federal agencies need to be "reigned in" . She has introduced legislation accordingly. She believes that Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) should be limited. Roby believes CRP is causing a loss of farming production. She has also stated that CRP is no longer helping the environment. She also has spoken out against many of the Environmental Protection Agency
actions, specifically the MACT ruling.
Health Care Reform
Martha Roby is against government payed for or sponsired healthcare. She has repeatedly voted to repeal the health care bill also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
She also voted for the Ryan Budget Bill, which would change medicare into a voucher system.
Defense
Representative Roby has continuously voted and promised to prevent any defense spending cuts. She has voted to against a reduction in Navy and Aircraft Procurement as well as voting "yea" for various extension of the armed forces budgets. She has only focused on cutting "non-defense" spending.
War in Afghanistan
Martha voted "Nay" to remove American forces from Afghanistan by December 31, 2011.
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 . She 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...
. She narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Bobby Bright
Bobby Bright
Bobby Neal Bright, Sr. is an American politician who served as U.S. Representative for from 2009 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes just over half of the state capital, Montgomery, as well as most of the Wiregrass Region in the southeastern part of the state....
on November 2 during the United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010
United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010
The 2010 congressional elections in Alabama were held on November 2, 2010, to determine will represent the state of Alabama in the United States House of Representatives. Alabama has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census...
and assumed office in January 2011.
Early life, education, and legal career
Roby was born in Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
and attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where she received a bachelor of music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree. She then entered the Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law is an ABA accredited law school at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The 11th oldest law school in the United States, it is 160 years old and has more than 11,000 graduates. Its alumni include two United States Supreme Court Justices; Nobel Peace Prize recipient...
at Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, receiving her J.D.
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...
in 2001. She is the daughter of Judge Joel F. Dubina, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Before entering politics, she worked at the law firm of Copeland, Franco and served on the board of directors of Sav-A-Life Montgomery, a Christian organization.
Montgomery City Council
Roby was elected to the Montgomery City CouncilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 2003, defeating a total of five opponents, and winning 54.88% of the votes cast in her district. In her first term on the Council, Roby joined 3 other council members and then mayor Bobby Bright in opposing the building of a shopping mall in East Montgomery, opposed privatizing the disposal of household garbage, supported a 10 cent cigarette tax increase, but also argued for a state sales tax holiday. She also took a hard line on illegal immigration, spear heading a committee focused on the issue. The committees goal was to create a law that revoked business licenses for companies that used illegal aliens.
Election
see also: House of Representatives elections in Alabama 2010The republican party had 2 primary candidates, Martha Roby and tea party activist Rick Berber. Roby was endorsed by both Newt Gingritch and Sarah Palin. In the general election, Matha Roby beat incumbent Bobby Bright by 4,867 votes.
It was the most expensive race in the district's history. Martha Roby spent a total of $1,240,275.64 on her 2010 election. Most of her funds came from large individual contributions. Her top contributor was Jim Wilson and Associates. They contributed $25,300.00. Robys top industry contributor was leadership PAC's. They contributed a total of $106,010.
Tenure
Martha Roby is a conservative member of the republican party. When asked what the true conservative values are she replied with "I believe in the sanctity of life. I believe in the protection of the second amendment. I believe in small, limited government and lower taxes. I believe that we should live within our means and I believe in the central role of faith and family in our lives." Roby is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.Immigration
Martha Roby believes in cracking down hard on illegal immigrants. She has taken this approach from the very beginning of her political career when she served on the Montgomery, Alabama city council. In a 2010 debate she was quoted as saying "I will never support any legislation with the word 'amnesty' in it." In 2011, Martha was listed as a cosponsor on a bill that blocked wage increases for seasonal employers, who are often immigrants. She claimed that seasonal jobs could not be filled by the local workforce and would make a legal work force too expensive.
Reproductive Issues
Martha Roby has prevented the use of federal funds for abortions by voting "yea" for bill HR 358 and HR 3. Both bills prohibited any taxpayer money from going towards abortions. Representative Roby even introduced HConRes36, which had the main goal to defund Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
in order to prevent abortions. Roby believes "The more taxpayer dollars awarded to Planned Parenthood, the more abortions the group will perform,"
Agriculture
As a member of the subcommittee for agriculture, energy, and forestry Martha is quite active in this area. Representative Roby believes that federal agencies need to be "reigned in" . She has introduced legislation accordingly. She believes that Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) should be limited. Roby believes CRP is causing a loss of farming production. She has also stated that CRP is no longer helping the environment. She also has spoken out against many of the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
actions, specifically the MACT ruling.
Health Care Reform
Martha Roby is against government payed for or sponsired healthcare. She has repeatedly voted to repeal the health care bill also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
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...
She also voted for the Ryan Budget Bill, which would change medicare into a voucher system.
Defense
Representative Roby has continuously voted and promised to prevent any defense spending cuts. She has voted to against a reduction in Navy and Aircraft Procurement as well as voting "yea" for various extension of the armed forces budgets. She has only focused on cutting "non-defense" spending.
War in Afghanistan
Martha voted "Nay" to remove American forces from Afghanistan by December 31, 2011.
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, Energy, and Forestry
- 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...
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on ReadinessUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on ReadinessHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:The Readiness Subcommittee exercises oversight and legislative jurisdiction over:...
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- 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 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 Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
- 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...
Organizations
Martha Roby is a member of:- Alabama Bar Association
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts
- Trinity Presbyterian Church
- Young Men's Christian Association, Britton and Cleveland avenue
- Sav-a-life Montogomery
External links
- Congresswoman Martha Roby official U.S. House site
- Martha Roby for U.S. Congress official campaign site