William Joseph Posey (/ˈpoʊzi/ POH-zee; born December 18, 1947) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 8th congressional district, in Congress since 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he formerly served in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.
Bill Posey | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2016 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Weldon |
| Constituency | 15th district (2009–2013) 8th district (2013–present) |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 7, 2000 – November 4, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Patsy Ann Kurth |
| Succeeded by | Thad Altman |
| Constituency | 15th district (2000–2002) 24th district (2002–2008) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
| In office November 3, 1992 – November 7, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Bob Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Joseph Posey December 18, 1947 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Katie Ingram (m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Brevard Community College (AA) |
Early life, education, and business career
editPosey was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Beatrice (née Tohl) and Walter J. Posey. His mother's family immigrated from Russia and is of Jewish heritage and his father is a Protestant of primarily English ancestry.[1] Posey moved to Florida in 1956 when his father took a job in engineering with McDonnell Douglas, working on the Delta rocket.[2] In 1969, he graduated from Brevard Community College with an Associate of Arts degree.
Posey got a job with McDonnell Douglas, and did Apollo Space Program work at Kennedy Space Center until he was laid off.[3] From 1974 to 1976, he worked on the Rockledge Planning Commission. In 1976, he was elected a member of the City Council, and from 1986 to 1992, he was a member of the Brevard County Business and Industrial Development Commission. Posey also founded a real estate company during the 1970s, and later became director of the state Association of Realtors. While serving in local politics, he also became a researcher on government accountability and transparency.
Florida legislature
editWhile serving in the state legislature, Posey was a chief sponsor of a bill designed to modernize the Florida election process in response to the 2000 presidential election controversy. He also worked to revise insurance policy so as to aid hurricane victims.[4]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2008
editPosey ran to replace retiring U.S. Representative Dave Weldon, who had held the 15th District seat since 1995, when the district first voted Republican.
Posey defeated Democratic nominee Stephen Blythe with 53.1% of the vote to Blythe's 42.0%.[5]
2010
editPosey was reelected over former NASA executive and public administrator Shannon Roberts with 64.7% of the vote to Roberts's 35.3%.[6]
2012
editPosey was reelected with 58.9% of the vote over Roberts and nonpartisan candidate Richard Gillmor.[7]
2014
editPosey was reelected with 65.84% of the vote over Democratic nominee Gabriel Rothblatt.
2016
editPosey was reelected with 63.11% of the vote over Democratic nominee Corry Westbrook.
2018
editPosey was reelected with 60.50% of the vote over Democratic nominee Sanjay Patel.
2020
editPosey was reelected with 61.36% of the vote over Democratic nominee Jim Kennedy.
2022
editPosey was reelected with 64.91% of the vote over Democratic nominee Joanne Terry.
Committee assignments
editFor the 118th Congress:[8]
Caucus memberships
editPolitical positions
editBirther bill
editShortly after entering Congress, Posey introduced legislation (H.R. 1503) to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require candidates for the presidency "to include with the [campaign] committee's statement of organization a copy of the candidate's birth certificate" and supporting documentation.[15] Introduced without the Republican leadership's knowledge,[16] the bill, Florida Today wrote, "stems from fringe opponents of President Barack Obama who, during the 2008 election campaign, questioned whether Obama was born in Hawaii". Florida Today added that Posey's office "does not question Obama's citizenship."[17] Posey said his motivation was to "prevent something like this from happening in the future" by requiring "the birth certificate up front and take [the issue] off the table". His initiative was strongly criticized by Florida Democrats, who accused him of trying to "fan the rumors on the extreme fringe of the Republican Party" and "pandering to the right wing".[18] Posey said that there was now "no reason to question" that Obama is a U.S. citizen.[19] The 111th Congress never voted on the bill.[20]
Environment and energy
editIn 2016, Posey sponsored legislation to reauthorize and reprioritize funding to clean up America's estuaries signed into law by President Obama.[21][22][23]
At a May 2018 hearing in the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Posey promoted the claim that climate scientists in the 1970s believed the Earth was cooling;[24] expressed skepticism that humans contribute to climate change, asking whether climate change was occurring because carbon dioxide captured in permafrost was now leaking out;[24] and asked whether warming would be beneficial for habitats and to people.[24] Posey said, "I don't think anybody disputes that the Earth is getting warmer; I think what's not clear is the exact amount of who caused what, and getting to that is, I think, where we're trying to go with this committee."[24]
Foreign policy
editIn June 2021, Posey was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[25][26]
Posey was among 19 House Republicans to vote against the final passage of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.[27]
In February 2022, Posey co-sponsored the Secure America's Borders First Act, which would prohibit the expenditure or obligation of military and security assistance to Kyiv over the U.S. border with Mexico.[28]
In 2023, Posey was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[29][30]
In 2024, Posey voted against the $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine, although much of the money would go to his constituency.[31]
Gun law
editPosey supports legislation that mandates concealed carry permit reciprocity among states.[32]
From 2015 to 2016, Posey accepted $2,000 in direct campaign contributions from the NRA Political Victory Fund;[33] from 2008 to 2016 he accepted $13,500 from NRA political action committees.[34]
Posey was one of the original cosponsors of the Repeal of the Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, which repealed Obama-era legislation aimed at preventing the mentally infirm from legally purchasing firearms.[35]
After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Posey expressed support for legislation that would ban bump stocks.[36]
Healthcare
editPosey supported repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), calling it a "fiasco" that "was passed under a lot of misrepresentation."[37]
Net neutrality
editPosey was the only Republican representative to vote with the Democratic-controlled House for the Save the Internet Act of 2019, which would overturn the Federal Communications Commission's repeal of net neutrality and "restore Obama-era net neutrality protections."[38][39]
Public health
editPosey is a proponent of the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism.[40][41] He wrote a foreword for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2015 book Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak, which espoused the debunked theory that thimerosal causes autism.[42]
Tax reform
editPosey voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[43]
Immigration
editPosey sponsored H.R. 6202, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021, introduced by Representative Jim Banks. The legislation would establish a wage floor for the high-skill H-1B visa program, thereby significantly reducing employer dependence on the program. The bill would also eliminate the Optional Practical Training program that allows foreign graduates to stay and work in the United States.[44]
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
editPosey was among the 71 House Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.[45]
References
edit- ^ "Bill Posey ancestry". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- ^ Takala, Rudy (July 5, 2016). "The red tape keeping private companies from getting us into space". The Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013). 2014 Almanac of American Politics. The University of Chicago Press.
- ^ "Biography - Congressman Bill Posey, Representing the 15th District of Florida". Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
- ^ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Florida Secretary of State.
- ^ "November 2, 2010 General Election". Florida Secretary of State.
- ^ "Posey wins 3rd term in House". Florida TODAY. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ "Bill Posey". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "What is the House Freedom Caucus, and who's in it?". Pew research center. October 20, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Ben (March 13, 2009). "Birther bill hits Congress". Politico.com. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ Preston, Mark (March 13, 2009). "Republican wants WH candidates to prove citizenship". CNN. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ Kim Eun Kyung (March 14, 2009). "Posey to president hopefuls: Prove it". Florida Today. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ Matthews, Mark (March 13, 2009). "Posey: Future presidential candidates should show their birth certificates; won't say whether he believes Obama is a US citizen". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ Matthews, Mark K. (April 9, 2009). "New Rep. Bill Posey gains his footing after rough start". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
- ^ "Bill Summary & Status: 111th Congress (2009 - 2010): H.R.1503". Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
- ^ Posey, Bill. "Posey's Bipartisan Plan to Help Estuaries with Critical Needs Heads to the President's Desk". Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ "S.1523 - A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes". US Congress. May 20, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ "Obama signs bill to help Indian River Lagoon". TC Palm. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Republican lawmaker: Rocks tumbling into ocean causing sea level rise". Science | AAAS. May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- ^ "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News. June 17, 2021.
- ^ "Final vote results for roll call 172". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "S. 1605: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 -- House Vote #405 -- Dec 7, 2021".
- ^ "H.R.6648 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Secure America's Borders First Act". February 8, 2022.
- ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023". March 8, 2023.
- ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". U.S.News. Associated Press. March 8, 2023. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023.
- ^ Thiessen, Marc (April 25, 2024). "These politicians voted against their states' best interests on Ukraine aid". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). "Tracking Bill Posey In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (February 21, 2018). "These Florida lawmakers accepted money from the National Rifle Association". CNN. Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Aaronson, Trevor (February 20, 2018). "Thoughts, Prayers and NRA Dollars: How the Gun Lobby Supports and Opposes Members of Florida's Congressional Delegation". Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018.
- ^ "In the wake of school shooting, follow the money". SunSentinel. Broward County, Florida. February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Rangel, Isadora (October 7, 2017). "U.S. Rep. Bill Posey: Outlaw bump stocks". Florida Today. Brevard County, Florida. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Berman, Dave. "Posey, Rothblatt take their shots at congressional debate". Florida Today. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Reardon, Marguerite (April 10, 2019). "Democrats' net neutrality bill passes House". CNET. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 167". Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ Mak, Aaron (October 24, 2019). "The Congressman Who Grilled Mark Zuckerberg About Vaccines Is Sharing Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theories on Facebook". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Rep. Posey at center of vaccine-autism fight". Orlando Sentinel. August 21, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ Jr, Robert F. Kennedy; Hyman, Mark; M.D, Martha Herbert Ph D.; Posey, Bill (September 1, 2015). Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak: The Evidence Supporting the Immediate Removal of Mercury―a Known Neurotoxin―from Vaccines (Revised, Updated ed.). Skyhorse. ISBN 978-1-63450-442-3.
- ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ "Cosponsors - H.R.6206 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Tech Workforce Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". U.S. Congress. December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
External links
edit
- Congressman Bill Posey official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart