Bill Posey

Bill Posey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Daniel Webster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 15th district
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Dave Weldon
Succeeded by	Dennis Ross
Member of the Florida Senate from the 24th district
In office 2003–2009
Preceded by	Lisa Carlton
Succeeded by	Thad Altman
Member of the Florida Senate from the 15th district
In office 2001–2003
Preceded by	Patsy Ann Kurth
Succeeded by	Paula Dockery
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 32nd district
In office 1993–2000
Preceded by	Dixie Sansom
Succeeded by	Bob Allen
Personal details
Born	December 18, 1947 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Katie Ingram
Residence	Rockledge, Florida
Alma mater	Brevard Community College
Profession	real estate executive
Religion	Methodist – UMC

William J. "Bill" Posey^[1] (born December 18, 1947) is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 8th congressional district, serving in Congress since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He formerly served in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.

Early life, education, and business career

Posey 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.^[2] Posey moved to Florida in 1956, as his father took a job in engineering with NASA. In 1969, he graduated from Brevard Community College with an Associate of Arts degree.

He obtained his own work at NASA, but was laid off at the end of the Apollo Space Program. From 1974 to 1976, Bill Posey worked on the Rockledge Planning Commission. In 1976, he was elected as 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 then founded his own real estate company in the 1970s. He 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

In 2006, Posey authored Activity Based Total Accountability, which outlines his suggestions for improving American politics.

While 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.^[3]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2008

In 2008, Posey ran to replace retiring U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon, who had occupied the 15th District seat since 1995, when the district first voted Republican. He was opposed by Democrat Stephen Blythe, and the independent, libertarian leaning Frank Zilaitis. Posey won with 53% of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, Blythe, by 11%.^[4]

2010

Posey won re-election against former NASA executive and public administrator Shannon Roberts.

2012

Posey won re-election with nearly 60% of the vote against Democratic nominee Shannon Roberts and non-partisan candidate Richard Gillmor.^[5]

Tenure

Bill Posey is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.^[6]

On March 12, 2009, Posey introduced into the United States House of Representatives H.R. 1503.^[7] Posey claims that the bill, which would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificate, is a reaction to claims that President Barack Obama is not a natural born U.S. citizen.^[8][9] Critics, including the editorial board of The Orlando Sentinel, have claimed that the bill further perpetuates the theories.

When asked whether or not he believed Obama to be a natural born citizen, Posey remarked that his beliefs on the matter were irrelevant.^[10] Posey's bill gained the support of 12 Republican co-sponsors.^[11][12]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • United States House Science Subcommittee on Space
  • United States House Science Subcommittee on Oversight
• Liberty Caucus
• Republican Study Committee

References

1. http://www.city-data.com/elec2/10/elec-ROCKLEDGE-FL-10.html
2. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/posey.htm
3. https://web.archive.org/20090111201910/http://posey.house.gov/about/index.shtml. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. "Posey wins 3rd term in House". Florida TODAY. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
6. Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers
7. Text of H.R. 1503
8. Birther bill hits Congress, The Politico, March 13, 2009
9. Republican wants WH candidates to prove citizenship, CNN, March 13, 2009
10. Posey: Future presidential candidates should show their birth certificates; won’t say whether he believes Obama is a US citizen, Orlando Sentinel, March 13, 2009
11. Rep. Bob Goodlatte [VA-6] – 5/5/2009, Rep. John R. Carter [TX-31] – 6/12/2009, Rep. John Culberson [TX-7] – 6/12/2009, Rep. Randy Neugebauer [TX-19] – 6/12/2009, Rep. John Campbell [CA-48] – 6/17/2009, Rep. Marsha Blackburn [TN-7] – 6/26/2009, Rep. Ted Poe [TX-2] – 7/7/2009, Rep. Dan Burton [IN-5] – 7/7/2009, Rep Kenny Marchant [TX-24] – 7/9/2009, Rep. Louie Gohmert [TX-1] – 7/28/2009, Rep. Trent Franks – 9/9/2009, Rep. Mike Conaway – 4/28/2010
12. "Bill Summary & Status – 111th Congress (2009 – 2010) – H.R.1503 – Cosponsors – THOMAS (Library of Congress)". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-23.

External links

• Congressman Bill Posey official U.S. House site
• Bill Posey for Congress
• Bill Posey at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress