Joseph Christopher "Chris" Chocola

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district
Term of office: 2003-present
Political party:	Republican From http://www. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Republican Party (often referred to as the GOP, for Grand Old Party) is one of the two major political organizations in the United States two party system; the Democratic Party is the other. ...
Preceded by:	Mike Pence
Succeeded by:	Incumbent
Born:	February 24, 1962 Jackson, Michigan

Joseph Christopher "Chris" Chocola (born February 24, 1962) has, since 2003, been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd congressional district (map). He is or has been a member of the Agriculture, Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means committees of the House of Representatives. Rep. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... Country United States State Michigan County Jackson Mayor Martin J. Griffin (D) Area    - City 11. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... // The Republican Party (often referred to as the GOP, for Grand Old Party) is one of the two major political organizations in the United States two party system; the Democratic Party is the other. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... // History Jurisdiction Subcommittees Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture, and Technology Members Republicans Donald Manzullo (IL) Chairman Roscoe Bartlett (MD) Sue Kelly (NY) Steve Chabot (OH) Sam Graves (MO) W. Todd Akin... The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over: Aviation Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Railroads Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Highways, Transit, and Pipelines Water Resources and Environment A subcommittee represents each area of jurisdiction. ... The Committee on Ways and Means is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. ...

Early life, education, and career

Chocola was born in Jackson, Michigan. He grew up in Michigan, graduating from Williamston High School in 1980. He graduated in 1984 from Hillsdale College, in Hillsdale, Michigan, with a double major in business administration and political economy. After graduation, he went to work Society National Bank, now known as KeyBank, which had recruited him into its management program in Cleveland. When he left to go to law school, he was a foreign exchange trader for the bank. Country United States State Michigan County Jackson Mayor Martin J. Griffin (D) Area    - City 11. ... Hillsdale College is an independent, conservative, co-educational, nonsectarian, post-secondary liberal arts institution located on the north side of the city of Hillsdale in central southern Michigan. ... Hillsdale is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Key Bank is a bank headquartered in the Key Tower in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Nickname: The Forest City Motto: Progress and Prosperity Location in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Ohio County Cuyahoga Founded 1796 Incorporated 1836 Mayor Frank G. Jackson (D) Area    - City 82. ...

Chocola attended law school classes at night at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing, Michigan, while working as a credit manager for his family's business, Chocola Cleaning Materials. He graduated in 1988. // A law school is an institution where future lawyers obtain legal degrees. ... Thomas M. Cooley Law School, located in Lansing, Michigan, is the largest law school in the United States measured on the basis of both full- and part-time enrollment. ... Michigan State Capitol Flag Seal Location Location in Ingham County, Michigan1 Coordinates: , Government Country State County United States Michigan Ingham, Eaton, Clinton Mayor Virg Bernero (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 35. ...

In 1988, Chocola was hired as corporate counsel by CTB International in Milford, Indiana, a manufacturer of products for the poultry, egg, swine, and grain production industries, which his grandfather, Howard Brembeck, had founded. He initially managed all the legal aspects of the business as corporate counsel. He then held various management positions until he was named CEO in 1994. In April 1999, he left the CEO position to become chairman of the board.[1] Milford is a town located in Kosciusko County, Indiana. ...

In August 2002, CTB International was sold to Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the investment firm of billionaire Warren Buffett. The Chocola family (Chris, his parents, and other relatives) received 55% of the $140 million paid to shareholders of the company. [2] Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKa, NYSE: BRKb) is a company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. ... Warren Edward Buffett (born August 30, 1930) is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. ...

Chocola and his wife, Sarah, have a daughter and a son, now teenagers. They live in Bristol, Indiana, outside of the district he represents. Bristol is a town located in Elkhart County, Indiana. ...

Congressional elections

2000

In the 2000 election, Chocola made an unsuccessful bid for Congress, losing to incumbent Democrat Timothy J. Roemer by a 52-47 margin. In that campaign, Chocola spent more than $1 million, including $465,000 of his own money. The U.S. House election, 2000 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 2000 which coincided with the election of George W. Bush as President. ... Timothy J. Roemer is president of the Center for National Policy (CNP) and a distinguished scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, a non-profit research and educational institution dedicated to improving public policy outcomes. ...

In the October 8, 2000, edition of the Elkhart Truth, an Elkhart, Indiana newspaper, Chocola was quoted as saying that "Bush's plan of individual investment of 2 percent of the money is a start. Eventually, I'd like to see the entire Social Security system privatized. It's not a 'risky scheme'." [3] In late October, after Roemer had featured that statement in political ads, Chocola said, "There is no one proposing, including me, a plan of total privatization." The newspaper, saying Chocola had made his statement in meeting its editorial board, refused to retract the story. Roemer refused to stop running the ad despite Chocola's contention that the quotation was taken out of context. [4] October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Elkhhart Truth is a daily newspaper published in Elkhart, Indiana. ... Elkhart (IPA: ) is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... Social Security in the United States is a social insurance program funded through a dedicated payroll tax. ...

2002

Roemer retired after his 2001-2003 term. In 2002, Chocola ran again for the open seat. In November, he defeated former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson by a 51-46 margin, in a race that included campaign appearances by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and other top Republicans, to assist his bid. Jill Lynette Long Thompson (July 15, 1952 - ) Is an American politician and educator. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ...

2004

In 2004, Chocola defeated Democrat Joe Donnelly by a 54-45 margin, in an election where Bush received 56 percent of the district's vote. In that race, Chocola outspent Donnelly $1.4 million to $700,000. Joe Donnelly is an American politician from Indiana, running as a Democrat for Congress in the Second Congressional District. ...

2006

Primary

In the Republican primary on May 2, 2006, Chocola faced Tony Zirkle [5], an attorney, Navy veteran, and frequent candidate, who he had defeated in 2004. Chocola won 70% to 30%. Zirkle, who said he was "willing to debate the idea of returning the guillotine and lynch mob for those who prey on children under the age of 12", was unable to get Chocola to debate him on that or any other subject.[6]

Fundraising

On February 23, 2006, President George W. Bush flew to north-central Indiana on Air Force One that helped Chocola raise more than $600,000. Individuals paid $4,000 each to attend the event. [7] [8] February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... Air Force One is the air traffic control call sign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. ...

As of June 30, Chocola had raised $1.9 million and had about $1.5 million cash on hand. [9]. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ...

In mid-August, in a report on National Republican Congressional Committee planned spending, the Associated Press reported that "the GOP has not reserved advertising time to aid Rep. Chris Chocola in Indiana even though Democrats plan to spend at least $700,000 to win the district. House Republicans have told Chocola that he must fend for himself, given his personal wealth and his ability to raise large amounts of money." [10] The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Republicans to that body. ...

Democratic opponent

In the November general election, Chocola will again face Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly [11]. As of June 30, Donnelly had raised about $550,000 and had about $435,000 on hand.[12]. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ...

Polls and ratings

A poll released in mid-June by the Donnelly campaign showed Donnelly leading 48% to 38% with 14% undecided. The campaign did not release all of the poll findings. [13]

A poll released six days later, taken by the South Bend Tribune, showed the race to be at the margin of error with Donnelly at 46% and Chocola at 41%. The telephone poll interviewed 400 likely voters who were asked who they would vote for "if the election were held now". [14]

On August 16, the Cook Political Report changed the rating for the race from "Lean Republican" to "Toss-Up", saying "Despite a significant fundraising advantage over Democrat Joe Donnelly, which has helped fuel a barrage of negative attack ads, incumbent GOP Rep. Chris Chocola looks more like an underdog than the frontrunner." [15] August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Founded in 1984, [The Cook Political Report] is an independent, non-partisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the US House of Representatives, US Senate, Governors and President as well as American political trends. ...

Also in August 2006, Sabato's Crystal Ball, a Web site run by the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, added the race to their "Ferocious Forty" list of the 40 most competitive House races in the nation. [16]

Actions as Representative

According to the profile by the Associated Press, "Chocola is a strong supporter of President Bush." The two do differ on some positions, such as illegal immigration. Chocola has supported (against the President's position) the "tough enforcement first" House version of changes in immigration law, in opposition to the President's calls for a guest worker program.

In January 2006, Chocola said that great strides were being made in transitioning Iraq from military coalition to police control. But he said it was too early to predict when the job will be done

Social issues

• Chocola was a cosponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2003 and voted for that Amendment when it came to the floor in 2004. He again was a cosponsor of the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2006 (H.J. Res. 88) and voted for the amendment on July 18th, 2006.
• He voted in 2005 for an amendment to the Constitution preventing the desecration of the American flag.
• Voted for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in July of 2006, which restricts credit card companies from processing payment towards Internet gambling companies.
• Voted for the Pledge Protection Act in mid-July of 2006, which would prevent federal courts from ruling on cases involving the Pledge of Alligence.
• Voted against overriding President George W. Bush's veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in July of 2006. The bill would have modified restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and allowed for federal funding of the research.

The Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would define marriage in the United States as a union of one man and one woman. ... The Safe Port Act (HR4954) [1] is a piece of United States legislation that covers two principal, unrelated topics: security of ports and online gambling. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was the first bill ever vetoed by United States President George W. Bush, more than five years after his inauguration. ... Mouse embryonic stem cells. ...

Fiscal and economic issues

• Voted against increasing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by $1 billion in March of 2006.
• Voted for the Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act in May of 2006, which extended tax cuts set to expire over the next 7 years.
• Voted for the Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act in June of 2006. Bill permanently exempted personal estates of less than $5 million per spouse from estate taxes, and lower the tax rate on larger estates.
• In the summer of 2006, voted for a bill that would allow private companies to drill for oil in ANWR.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Map The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers about 19,600,000 acres (79,318 km²) in northeastern Alaska, in the North Slope region. ...

External links

• Official website
• Chocola's campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Associated Press profile
• Voting record maintained by the Washington Post