Chris Chocola
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Chris Chocola | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district | |
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 | |
Preceded by | Tim Roemer (Redistricting) |
Succeeded by | Joe Donnelly |
Personal details | |
Born | Joseph Christopher Chocola February 24, 1962 Western Michigan University (JD ) |
Occupation | Banking executive, agribusiness executive, attorney |
Joseph Christopher Chocola (born February 24, 1962) is an American businessman, lawyer, and former politician who served as the U.S. Representative from Indiana's 2nd congressional district from 2003 to 2007.
In 2002, Chocola ran for the U.S. House, defeating former
After leaving Congress, Chocola served as president of the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization, from 2009 through the end of 2014.[2][3]
Early life, education, and career
Chocola was born in
Chocola attended
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.[4]
In August 2002, CTB International was sold to Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm of billionaire Warren Buffett. The Chocola family received 55% of the $140 million paid to shareholders of the company.[5]
Congressional elections
2000
In the
In the October 8, 2000, edition of the
2002
Roemer retired after his 2001–2003 term. In 2002, Chocola ran again for the open seat, which had been renumbered as the 2nd District after redistricting. In November, he defeated former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson[8] by a 51–46 margin with 188,446 votes cast, in a race that included campaign appearances by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and other top Republicans, to assist his bid.
2004
In 2004, Chocola defeated Democrat Joe Donnelly by a 54–45% margin with 259,355 votes cast, 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. Chocola was assisted by a fundraising visit from Vice President Dick Cheney during the campaign.
2006
Chocola defeated Tony Zirkle, an attorney, Navy veteran, and frequent candidate, in the Republican primary on May 2, 2006, by 70% to 30%. In the November general election, Chocola lost to Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly, whom he had defeated in 2004, by a 54–46% margin with 191,861 votes cast.
House of Representatives (2003–2007)
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2015) |
According to a 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. 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 18, 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 Actin July 2006, which restricts credit card companies from processing payment towards Internet gambling companies.
- Voted for the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Voted against overriding President George W. Bush's veto of the embryonic stem cell researchand allowed for federal funding of the research.
Fiscal and economic issues
- Introduced a bill that would place currency manipulation tariffs on China. He later denounced this bill when he became president of the Club for Growth.[9]
- Voted against increasing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programby $1 billion in March 2006.
- Voted for the Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act in May 2006, which extended tax cuts set to expire over the next seven (7) years.
- Voted for the Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act in June 2006. The bill permanently exempted personal estates of less than $5 million per spouse from estate taxes, and lowered 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.
- One of two cosponsors of HELPS Retirees Act (H.R. 2177), also known as the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety Retirees Act of 2005, which enables retired public safety officers to designate up to $5,000 per year from governmental pension or deferred compensation funds for health care premiums on a pre-tax basis. This earned Chocola an endorsement from the International Association of Fire Fighters, one of his only endorsements from organized labor.
References
- ^ Report, South Bend Tribune. "Former Indiana congressman leaving position at Club for Growth". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
- ^ "Club for Growth". Club for Growth. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ Schroeder, Peter (December 11, 2014). "Club for Growth chief Chocola stepping down". The Hill. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ "CBSi". FindArticles.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ "CTB International Corp. to be Acquired". Berkshirehathaway.com. 2002-08-19. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-03-23. Retrieved 2006-03-10.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Chocola wins key Indiana district". CNN. November 5, 2002. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ Wong, Scott. "Sessions challenges right on China." POLITICO, 10 October 2011.
External links
This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (August 2022) |
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Collected news and commentary at The Christian Science Monitor
- Collected news and commentary at Politico
- Collected news and commentary at The Washington Times
- Chris Chocola, 100 People to Watch This Fall, The Hill, August 7, 2013
- Campaign finance at Influence Explorer