Richard Alan Berg (born August 16, 1959) is an American businessman and politician who served as the U.S. representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2013.[1] Berg served on the House Ways and Means Committee.[2] He is a member of the Republican Party. Before his election to Congress in 2010, he served in the state North Dakota House of Representatives, with stints as majority leader and speaker. On May 16, 2011, Berg announced his run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad but lost narrowly to Democrat Heidi Heitkamp on November 6, 2012.
Rick Berg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the North Dakota Republican Party | |
| In office March 20, 2018 – June 21, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Armstrong |
| Succeeded by | Perrie Schafer |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Earl Pomeroy |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Cramer |
| Majority Leader of the North Dakota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Wesley Belter |
| Succeeded by | Al Carlson |
| Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 45th district | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Swiontek |
| Succeeded by | Joe Heilman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Alan Berg August 16, 1959 Maddock, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Tracy Martin |
| Education | North Dakota State University (BA) |
Early life and education
editBerg was born in Maddock and raised on a farm in Hettinger. His father was a large animal veterinarian and his mother was a writer.[3] His grandfather immigrated to the United States from Norway.[4]
Berg graduated from Hettinger High School. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the North Dakota State College of Science.[5] He attended for a year before transferring to North Dakota State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in agricultural economics.
Early career
editIn 1982, after college he co-founded Midwest Management Company (which became Goldmark Property Management in 1994), a real-estate management firm in Fargo. In 1987 he moved on to an affiliate commercial real estate company spun off from Midwest. In 1996 along with other early partners in Midwest he founded Goldmark Commercial Corporation which has since been renamed to Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate.[6][7][8]
North Dakota House of Representatives
editElections
editBerg first ran for the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1984 in the 10th House District, based in Fargo. He won and was re-elected every four years after, until his congressional run in 2010.
In 2002, after redistricting he decided to run in the newly redrawn 45th House District, and won a seat with 31%.[9] In 2006, he won re-election with 28%.[10]
Tenure
editIn 1991, he became the chair of the House Republican caucus. In 1993, he briefly served as speaker of the House. In 2003, he became the House majority leader.
As speaker, he proposed a controversial new education funding system aimed at making payments more equitable.[11]
Berg supported President George W. Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security through private accounts in 2005.[12]
In 2007, Berg voted on ND House Bill 1489, which proposed making abortion a class AA felony, even in the case of rape and incest.[13]
In 2009, he earned the Petroleum Council's Legislator of the Year and the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce's Greater North Dakotan award.[14]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElection
editOn January 20, 2010, Berg officially announced he was seeking the GOP endorsement to run for the United States House of Representatives.[15][16] In March 2010, Berg won the GOP nomination at the Republican state convention to challenge incumbent Democratic Representative Earl Pomeroy for the state's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives.[17] In the general election Berg unseated Pomeroy by a vote of 129,802 (55%) to 106,542 (45%) becoming the first Republican since 1980 to represent North Dakota's at-large congressional district. At the time of his election, Berg was the 13th wealthiest member of Congress.[18]
The biggest donor to Berg's campaign was Goldmark Property Management, Inc.[19] As of 2011, Berg worked at Goldmark since 1981 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services in 2005.[20]
Tenure
editBerg voted for the Paul Ryan budget, which would restructure Medicare and Medicaid.[21]
Berg strongly supports a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.[22]
He voted in favor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and has received "A" and "A+" ratings from the NRA Political Victory Fund for his stance on gun rights.[23][24][25]
Berg joined almost 60 other members of Congress in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that urged committee members not to cut the critical access hospital (CAH) program. The CAH program provides assistance to rural hospitals. 36 CAHs exist in North Dakota, including one in Hettinger, Berg's hometown.[26]
Berg has voted to curtail EPA regulations, stating: "In North Dakota, we know the damaging effects that overreaching government regulations can have on our small businesses and their ability to create jobs."[27] He has also proposed drilling for oil in federal lands, including North Dakota's own Theodore Roosevelt National Park, as a way to provide funding for Social Security.[28] In 2009, he was presented with the Greater North Dakotan Award by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce for his support of business interests.[29]
Berg is anti-abortion and has voted to prohibit federal funds from being used for health care plans that cover abortions.[30] He is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.[31]
Berg is against same-sex marriage.[32]
Committee assignments
edit.png)
Berg was a member of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee.
- Caucus Memberships[33]
- Congressional Western Caucus
- Unmanned Systems Caucus
- General Aviation Caucus
- Coal Caucus
- Friends of Norway Caucus
- Job Creators Caucus
- E-911 Caucus
- National Archives Caucus
- Rural Health Care Coalition
- Sportsman Caucus
- Sugar Caucus
- Congressional Prayer Caucus
- House National Guard and Reserve Caucus
2012 U.S. Senate election
editOn May 16, 2011, Berg announced he would run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad.[34]
Election night results indicated that Berg had lost to former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp by a vote of 161,337 (50%) to 158,401 (49%). As the difference was less than 1% of the ballots cast, Berg declined to concede immediately. The next day, however, Berg acknowledged his Democratic opponent's victory.[35]
References
edit- ^ Wetzel, Dale (November 2, 2010). "GOP's Berg beats Dem Pomeroy for ND US House seat". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Statement on Latest Unemployment Report". November 4, 2011. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
- ^ "Rep. Rick Berg (R-ND, At-Large) NationalJournal.com". www.nationaljournal.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Rick Berg for Senate » 45 Facts About Rick". Archived from the original on August 9, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ "Biography". Archived from the original on November 30, 2011.
- ^ Smith, Nick (October 13, 2012). "Berg sees Senate as key to country's turnaround". TheBismarck Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ Nowatzki, Mike. "Passion for business drives Berg". INFORUM. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ "Election 2012". AP Election Guide. NPR. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ "ND State House 45 Race – Nov 05, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "ND State House 45 Race – Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "The Legislatures Speaker Presents N.D. School Plan". March 10, 1993. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "HCR 3056 Roll Call" (PDF).
- ^ "House Bill No. 1489" (PDF). Sixtieth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2021.
- ^ "Congressman Rick Berg : Biography". Berg.house.gov. May 17, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Berg Announces. Archived June 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KXMBTV Bismarck. January 19, 2010.
- ^ Berg to begin campaign for US House. Archived February 17, 2013, at archive.today WDAY News. January 16, 2010.
- ^ Cadei, Emily. North Dakota: Berg To Face Pomeroy in November. Archived March 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics. March 20, 2010.
- ^ [cite web|title= The 50 Richest Members of Congress 2011|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307215521/http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html]
- ^ "Rick Berg Campaign Finances". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Agent Profile: Rick Berg, CCIM". Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ "House Vote 277 – Passes Ryan Budget Bill". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ Rick Berg (November 10, 2011). "The Time for a Balanced Budget Amendment is Now". Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ^ "HR 822 Voting Record". November 16, 2011.
- ^ "Ratings and Endorsements".
- ^ "ND House candidates attract dueling endorsements for pro-gun groups". Grand Forks Herald. Fargo. October 13, 2012. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "Berg Fights to Protect Rural Hospitals". November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
- ^ Rick Berg (November 13, 2011). "Berg Fights for Regulatory Relief from EPA Overreach". Archived from the original on November 2, 2011.
- ^ Darren Goode (September 10, 2010). "GOP Candidate Suggests Drilling for Oil in Teddy Roosevelt National Park". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
- ^ Rick Berg. "About Rick". Archived from the original on May 8, 2012.
- ^ "HR 358 Voting Record". October 13, 2011.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses". Archived from the original on June 9, 2012.
- ^ "Candidates Discuss Debate over Same Sex Marriage on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader". Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "Congressman Rick Berg : Committees & Caucuses". Berg.house.gov. May 17, 2012. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Toeplitz, Shira House Freshman Berg Will Run for Senate in North Dakota Roll Call, May 16, 2011.
- ^ Democrat Heidi Heitkamp defeats Republican Rick Berg to win US Senate race in North Dakota Associated Press November 7, 2012
External links
edithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections#North_Dakota
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org (U.S. Senate)
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org (U.S. House)
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission (U.S. Senate)
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission (U.S. House)
- Appearances on C-SPAN