Rod Blum
| Rod Blum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st district | |
|
Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Braley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rodney Leland Blum April 26, 1955 Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Alma mater |
Loras College University of Dubuque |
| Occupation | Software Executive |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Rodney Leland "Rod" Blum (born April 26, 1955) is an American politician who was elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. A member of the Republican Party, he took office on January 3, 2015.
Career
Blum attended Loras College where he earned a degree in finance, and the University of Dubuque where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. A businessman, Blum is a former CEO of Eagle Point Software (1990–2000) and owner of Digital Canal, a software company, since 2000.[1][2]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
After winning the Republican primary in June 2014, Blum defeated Democrat Pat Murphy with 51% of the vote in the November 4, 2014, general election. This was considered a surprise Republican victory, as the seat had a D+5 Cook PVI Score.[3] Blum succeeded Democrat Bruce Braley, who vacated his U.S. House seat to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.[4]
Blum is running for re-election in 2016.[5]
Tenure
Blum cast his first vote in Congress against John Boehner's speakership.[5]
According to USA Today, Blum has "made it his central focus to change the way Congress treats itself by supporting efforts to strip away the trappings of elective office." Blum and Democrat Beto O'Rourke started the Congressional Term Limits Caucus. He co-sponsored legislation to end lawmakers' access to first class travel and luxury car leases, he supports ending the congressional pension system, and he has introduced a bill to institute a lifetime ban on lawmakers ever becoming lobbyists.[6]
In March 2016, in light of a $2 billion redevelopment of D.C.’s Southwest waterfront, Blum said that Washington D.C. "needs a recession."[7][8]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Slovak Caucus[10]
- Congressional Term Limits Caucus[11]
- Freedom Caucus[12]
Personal life
Blum, the son of a World War II veteran, was born and raised in Dubuque. He resides there with his wife, Karen and five children.[13] He is Episcopalian.[2]
References
- ↑ DES (9 May 2014). "Iowa Election 2014". Des Moines Register.
- 1 2 "Rod Blum Announces Campaign for Congress in 1st CD | The Iowa Republican". theiowarepublican.com.
- ↑ "Cook PVI website" (PDF).
- ↑ "Rod Blum wins 1st Congressional District race". Des Moines Register. November 5, 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- 1 2 Cahn, Emily (June 12, 2015). "Blum Says Others Will Support Him If Republicans Don’t". Roll Call. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Davis, Susan (May 7, 2015). "Freshman Rod Blum flies solo on his mission to change Congress". USA Today. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Stein, Perry (March 23, 2016). "Iowa congressman says D.C. needs a recession because it has ‘cranes everywhere’". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ↑ Freed, Benjamin (March 23, 2016). "This Iowa Congressman Really Hates the Wharf in Southwest DC’". Washingtonian. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ↑ Henderson, O. Kay (December 4, 2014). "New Iowa congressmen given key committee assignments". Radio Iowa. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Lynch, James (June 1, 2015). "Blum joins Congressional Slovak Caucus". The Gazette. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Marcos, Cristina (April 2, 2015). "Lawmakers form Term Limits Caucus". The Hill. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Bialik, Carl; Bycoffe, Aaron (25 September 2015). "The Hard-Line Republicans Who Pushed John Boehner Out". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
- ↑ "Project Vote Smart – The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Rod Blum official U.S. House site
- Campaign website
- Rod Blum at Ballotpedia
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bruce Braley |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st congressional district January 3, 2015 – present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by Mike Bishop R-Michigan | United States Representatives by seniority 384th |
Succeeded by Mike Bost R-Illinois |
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