Rodney Davis (R-Il-13)
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LEGISLATOR US Representative RODNEY DAVIS (R-IL-13) IN OFFICE CONTACT Up for re-election in 2016 Email Contact Form https://rodneydavisforms. 2nd Term house.gov/contact Re-elected in 2014 Web rodneydavis.house.gov http://rodneydavis.house. gov Twitter @RodneyDavis https://twitter.com/ RodneyDavis Facebook View on Facebook https://facebook.com/ RepRodneyDavis DC Office 1740 Longworth House Office Building BGOV BIOGRAPHY By Jonathan D. Salant, Bloomberg News After years as an aide to Republican Representative John Shimkus of Illinois, voters chose Rodney Davis to serve alongside his former boss. When incumbent Tim Johnson decided to retire after winning the Republican primary, Republican leaders turned to Davis, who had just a few months earlier ended a stint as executive director of the state party. President Barack Obama’s health-care law was a major issue in the race, with Davis citing his private health insurance that allowed his wife to get the diagnosis and treatment for cancer that she needed, even as he called for repeal of the law that is intended to provide coverage to millions of Americans without insurance. As he campaigned, Davis derided the law as “government-run health care” -- a term that PolitiFact, a fact-checking project affiliated with the Tampa Bay Times, called its 2010 “lie of the year” when first used during the debate over the proposal. And while Davis called for the law’s repeal, he embraced many of its key provisions, such as prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26. Davis refused to sign the no-tax-increase pledge of Americans for Tax Reform, the Republican-leaning advocacy group headed by Grover Norquist, telling the State Journal-Register of Springfield that a “signature on a piece of paper allows Washington power brokers to kind of lord those pieces of paper over you on individual pieces of legislation.” Even so, he said he was opposed to higher tax rates for wealthy Americans, though he was willing to look at reducing or eliminating tax breaks. He said he wanted to give businesses “the certainty they need to actually create the jobs that we all keep talking about needing. To do that, I think we need to keep tax rates the way they are.” © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved Davis joined Shimkus’s staff after managing the congressman’s 1998 re-election campaign. He earlier worked in his parents’ McDonald’s Corp. franchise and for then-Illinois Secretary of State George Ryan. Later elected governor, Ryan was convicted in 2006 on federal corruption charges stemming from activities when he was secretary of state. Having seen millions of dollars in outside spending poured into his race, Davis said he would support requirements that such groups disclose their donors. “We have to have more disclosure,” Davis said. “I’d be open to making sure that groups disclose where their funding comes from. That’s been my goal in campaign finance reform for years -- transparency and disclosure, so that we know where the money’s coming from.” Updated Jan. 1, 2013 BIO FROM REPRESENTATIVE'S WEBSITE From the Representative's Website Rodney Davis was recently sworn into his second term in Congress serving the 13th District of Illinois, a 14-county district covering both urban and rural areas of Central and Southwestern Illinois. Prior to being elected, Rodney served as Projects Director for Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15) for 16 years helping Illinois citizens and communities cut through government red tape and secure federal funding. During his first term in Congress, Rodney has established himself as an effective lawmaker who is able to work with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation. Serving on both the House Agriculture Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has allowed Rodney to be a leader on issues essential to commerce in Illinois. He was the only member of the 113th Congress to serve on two conference committees tasked with bridging the gap between the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill and water resources legislation. Rodney's work on the Farm Bill helped Congress produce a five-year bill that provides certainty to our farmers, strengthens crop insurance and cuts $23 billion in spending. Additionally, Rodney led the way to ensure farmers, who understand agriculture better than anyone, have a seat at the table when the EPA creates new rules and regulations impacting the agriculture industry. While working to reform the Water Resources and Development Act, Rodney was successful in including language that allows the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to partner with private businesses to complete projects needed to improve our waterways. This initiative and other streamlining provisions to cut the approval process for projects from 15 years to 3 years will save millions of taxpayer dollars and significantly improve our nation's ability to move goods and products to market. Rodney's first term in Congress has demonstrated his ability to lead even in a divided government ^ being the first freshman this Congress to have legislation signed into law. Furthermore, his bill, the Hire More Heroes Act, to help small businesses hire more of our nation's veterans overwhelmingly passed the House with more than 400 supporting votes. Rodney has worked with his colleagues to ensure a more efficient, effective government for generations to come. Rodney resides in Taylorville with his wife, Shannon, and their three children, Toryn, Clark and Griffin, where he continues to coach Taylorville Junior Football and his son's Little League team. PERSONAL PROFILE COMMITTEES Birthdate 01/05/1970 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS House Committee on Agriculture Birthplace Des Moines, IA Education House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Political Party Republican Party Millikin University Joint Committee on Printing Bachelor's Degree 1992 Marital Status Married House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards Spouse Shannon © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved Spouse Shannon CAUCUSES 1992 - 2012 Member, (IL)Secretary of State 01-03-2013 - Present Residence Taylorville, IL House Biofuels Caucus Representative:Illinois, (US)House of Representatives Congressional Mississippi River Family 3 children Valley and Tributaries Caucus Religion Roman Catholic House Republican Study Committee © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved.